AIF Charity Gala
by Swathi Nakkana
“To have meaningfully touched the life of someone you may never meet is rewarding. AIF creates an emotional bond across oceans”-Raj Sharma, Board of Directors, and Nalini Sharma, New England Leadership Council.
Fun and philanthropy – the ideal way to describe the recent AIF Charity Gala hosted by Nandini and Deepak Chopra.
The night started with cocktails and a silent auction. Guests placed bids on various signed sports and entertainment memorabilia. The atmosphere was formal, but also relaxed and friendly. The ambiance of the exquisite Palos Verdes estate added the perfect backdrop for this generous event.
A fashion show with designs provided by Fashion by Rohini wowed and entertained. We were then treated to dinner and more entertainment in the form of fire dancers. A quick interview of the guests revealed the same shared sentiment though: “We are here to give back. Give back to our Homeland”. Most were already long time supporters of AIF.
I admit to not knowing much about AIF before this event. I was surprised to learn former President Bill Clinton was a founding father of the organization and sponsor for their Fellowship for Service in India.
AIF was created soon after the 2001 earthquakes in Gujarat and raised significant funds towards that relief effort. The slogan, “A Decade of Action, A Lifetime of Impact” spoke volumes about their mission.
“AIF’s sustained work over the last decade has not only made a tangible difference to thousands of Indians who are yet to see the benefits of the country’s macro-economic success but is increasingly having scale impact by influencing government policy on meeting the needs and rights of the poor” -Salil Shetty, Secretary General, Amnesty International.
Though AIF (American India Foundation) has several charitable programs, the proceeds of this evening were specifically focused on the Digital Equalizer (DE) program.
The Digital Equalizer program is a computer and technology based program that gives students in government schools an equal footing in a digital economy. Currently there are programs implemented in schools in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.
Other AIF programs include:
LAMP (Learning And Migration Program) which provides primary education to children of migrant workers who otherwise would drop out of school at a young age. It also advocates the right of education for all in India at a community and government level.
MAST (Market Aligned Skill Training) which trains and provides jobs for marginalized young people in formal sector jobs in high-growth industries. It also advocates for equal opportunity for women and individuals with disabilities.
Rickshaw Sangh which enables rickshaw drivers to own their own rickshaws through formal credit and income stability.
MANSI (Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative) designed to reduce maternal and child mortality in impoverished areas and improve local health systems and strengthen communities.
I was moved by the testimony of Mr. Jatinder Pal Singh, a math teacher at Government High School Bhago Majra near Mohali in Punjab. In his own words, he spoke of how the access to technology transformed the lives of his students. Students were, more than ever, motivated to attend school and excel due to the DE program.
Mr. Singh described some of the students who were benefiting from the program.
One boy went to school and then sold vegetables after work to earn money for his family. Another child was a difficult student who was academically challenged. With the exposure to computers and technology, they became engaged and excelled and went on to win numerous awards at the state and national level.
Only the poorest children go to government schools. Those who can afford it, will make the effort to send their children to private schools. Most of these children are first generation learners. Their parents and grandparents are illiterate. The mindset is changing where they want to send their children to school versus send them to work.
The teachers are being motivated as well with the introduction of more advanced teaching tools and technology. We take PowerPoint and the Internet and simulations for granted here. These people do not have any access to computers at home. The Headmaster himself was computer illiterate and had to get formal training from the DE certified trainers.
In the short film that documented the DE program at its grassroots, we saw the actual faces of the children using these computers. We heard their excitement. We saw the “atmosphere change” Mr. Singh spoke of. It was palpable even in a short video. We saw the involvement of the teachers; the enthusiasm of the kids. These computers gave them a true chance at a better livelihood, increased opportunities and an equal footing in a competitive world.
Schools with the new DE programs boasted 100% pass rates in Mathematics. But the access to computers did not just increase the academic acumen and success of these students. They also showed marked increases in creativity, critical thinking, debating, discussing, analyzing and other forms of multiple intelligence.
Adjectives that described the response to the program included “joyful learning”, “increased curiosity”, and “inquisitiveness”.
The words that resonated with me though were that these children now have CHOICE, EXPLORE, PARTICIPATE, EXCEL, HAVE POSSIBILITES, OUTPERFORM. These children are no longer “passive recipients but active constructors of information”.
The night ended with numerous pledges to this amazing cause, music and dancing. Our host, Deepak Chopra was an expert at “encouraging” his guests to open their pocketbooks to this charity. He went table to table, racking up the pledges. The smallest pledge was $1000; the highest was $25,000. My favorite moment was when he called for all the investment bankers and anyone under 35 with an Indian name, to stand up so they could pledge. His humor and tenacity were a powerful fund-raising combination.
Kudos to the AIF team for organizing such a splendid event.
I applaud the AIF organization for their efforts and their successes. The real winners are the children back home in India.
For more information about AIF, their mission and their programs, please visit www.aif.org
