DUTY AND DANCE
Students in the US raise funds for Indian NGOs
Mumbai: With Indians comprising the largest international community in colleges in the US, underprivileged sections back home are getting much-needed financial help with desi student associations raising funds for charitable causes.
Recently, the University of Pennsylvania hosted an inter-collegiate dance exhibition
called Ehsaas 07, Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia organised Kadam: Step Into Our World, while students at University of Illinois tutored peers to raise funds.
Various colleges in the United States, including those in the Ivy League, participated in Ehsaas to raise funds for the charitable organisation, Asha for Education.
Hundred per cent of the proceeds benefited the education of impoverished children in India. Asha for Education works to catalyse socio-economic change through the education of underprivileged children. It was a great opportunity for different colleges to work together and unite under a greater cause, said Priya Iyer, one of the organisers of Ehsaas and a student of Lehigh University.
We also worked with Stop HIV/AIDS In India, the Association for Indias Development and InSPIRE to raise awareness about their causes, added Iyer.
From bhangra to acapella, the show had everything. My favourite team had to be Penn Hype from my college, but even Yale Jashan from Yale University did a great job. It certainly made me miss home, but I feel good knowing that the money from Ehsaas will go to those who need it most, said Sonakshi Khaitan, a Mumbai-based student who is pursuing an undergraduate degree at UPenn.
Ehsaas brought together not only a great group of performers for a unique cause, but also students from different universities with a similar mindset, said Iyer.
Similarly, the South Asian Womens Association of Bryn Mawr College organised a cultural programme called Kadam: Step Into Our World to raise funds for charitable organisation Service and Education for Women Against Abuse (Sewaa).
Some of the students danced to popular Bollywood songs while others took to classical singing. The Indian jewellery and mehndi art stalls were a great success. People, especially those not of Asian origin, were quite fascinated with the idea of mehndi, said Mumbai-based Namita Johri, who is in her final year at Bryn Mawr.
The annual cultural show is our greatest opportunity to portray Indian culture to the larger Bryn Mawr community. Kadam 2007 dispelled stereotypes and raised awareness about issues facing the community today. We are happy that we were able to encourage support towards Sewaa, said co-president of Bryn Mawr South Asian Womens Association Naomi Phillip.
At the University of Illinois, a group of students from Mumbai raises funds for Asha for Education by tutoring peers. The tutoring fees are $5 an hour, the proceeds of which are sent to the NGO.
mansi.choksi@timesgroup.com
Recently, the University of Pennsylvania hosted an inter-collegiate dance exhibition
called Ehsaas 07, Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia organised Kadam: Step Into Our World, while students at University of Illinois tutored peers to raise funds.
Various colleges in the United States, including those in the Ivy League, participated in Ehsaas to raise funds for the charitable organisation, Asha for Education.
Hundred per cent of the proceeds benefited the education of impoverished children in India. Asha for Education works to catalyse socio-economic change through the education of underprivileged children. It was a great opportunity for different colleges to work together and unite under a greater cause, said Priya Iyer, one of the organisers of Ehsaas and a student of Lehigh University.
We also worked with Stop HIV/AIDS In India, the Association for Indias Development and InSPIRE to raise awareness about their causes, added Iyer.
From bhangra to acapella, the show had everything. My favourite team had to be Penn Hype from my college, but even Yale Jashan from Yale University did a great job. It certainly made me miss home, but I feel good knowing that the money from Ehsaas will go to those who need it most, said Sonakshi Khaitan, a Mumbai-based student who is pursuing an undergraduate degree at UPenn.
Ehsaas brought together not only a great group of performers for a unique cause, but also students from different universities with a similar mindset, said Iyer.
Similarly, the South Asian Womens Association of Bryn Mawr College organised a cultural programme called Kadam: Step Into Our World to raise funds for charitable organisation Service and Education for Women Against Abuse (Sewaa).
Some of the students danced to popular Bollywood songs while others took to classical singing. The Indian jewellery and mehndi art stalls were a great success. People, especially those not of Asian origin, were quite fascinated with the idea of mehndi, said Mumbai-based Namita Johri, who is in her final year at Bryn Mawr.
The annual cultural show is our greatest opportunity to portray Indian culture to the larger Bryn Mawr community. Kadam 2007 dispelled stereotypes and raised awareness about issues facing the community today. We are happy that we were able to encourage support towards Sewaa, said co-president of Bryn Mawr South Asian Womens Association Naomi Phillip.
At the University of Illinois, a group of students from Mumbai raises funds for Asha for Education by tutoring peers. The tutoring fees are $5 an hour, the proceeds of which are sent to the NGO.
mansi.choksi@timesgroup.com