Helen's Fundraising Mission to Educate Women & Girls in India

Exploring further, I discovered that joining a group on this Uniting World mission in September will fund the entire North India Education Project for a year. Everything from teachers to books and even food for the students. If each member of the group raises $7,000 we can help many, many women and girls who would otherwise remain trapped in a cycle of poverty.

At first it seemed like too big an 'ask' with three young sons and a very busy life at times - but then I thought of all those girls who would go without schooling in India if everyone gives up at the first hurdle? How privileged we all are to have education as a right in our countries. In fact, just imagine if only boys, or no children at all, could go to school in America, Australia or Europe?

So, with more than a little trepidation yet determined, nevertheless, I have put my name down for the North India Challenge. I will also be training between now and September to get fit for the trek across Himalayan mountain peaks, visit schools and volunteer with the local development arm of Uniting World. 

I will be running a few fundraising events locally here in Australia, but I'm also setting up this web appeal page for the many wonderful friends and family we have around the world.

All donations go directly to Uniting World and the Education for Disadvantaged Children project, so I ask humbly for your support.

To highlight the impact any donation will make, here is Ami's story. It has a way of taking you outside your own problems and putting them into perspective:

"Ami is five. She goes to school.                                                                        

For many of us going to school would not be part of a usual introduction. But for this Indian child it is a chance not every girl in her village gets. She is now an orphan and lives with her grandparents. Her elder sister Kiran goes to school too, she had another sister who died and her 12 year old brother works in the fields for a landlord.

Ami, aged five, is from Kangra Girls’ Hostel, India – a home and school for girls. A few months ago she was too shy to meet people. Today she introduces herself with pride and would happily recite a poem or two if asked.

“Education for an Indian girl is of utmost importance as it’s the female who later has to uphold, build and nourish her family. Empowerment comes through the liberation of the mind but it will also help Ami to ensure that the dharohar (deposit) she passes on to her children will build a better nation for us all. I wait for the day when every Indian girl has the freedom to a full education and the career of her choice.”, says Yuthika Austin, a teacher from the Amritsar Diocese.

The hostel girls shared with us their aims in life to become teachers, nurses or doctors. There was no mention of an actor or a model like many teenagers. These girls aspire to develop into women who would change society.

We asked Ami what she likes and what her dream is. She flashed the brightest smile. “I love to dance! And I want to be a teacher!”

We will post more news about the project, fundraising progress and our fitness efforts for the trek on a Facebook page in the coming months - but if you'd like to find out more now visit http://www.unitingworld.org.au/programs/relief-and-development/relief-and-development-programs/asia-projects/india-education-for-disadvantaged-children/

Please feel free to RSVP with any thoughts, suggestions, advice or very gratefully received offers of help to helen.beeby@gmail.com

To the women and girls of Northern India and their educational future...

Love and peace

Helen Beeby

"The wise man does not lay up treasure. The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own." Lao-Tze, chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, 600BC