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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 28, 2024 | The Indian Eye 22

Ekal Vidyalaya’s fundraiser on

Long Island a huge success

Ekal NY Chapter President Mohan Wanchoo addressing the gathering Audience attentively listening to the speech by Mohan Wanchoo

OUR BUREAU sponsored over 500 schools in remote
Ekal villages, provided tablets for the
Hicksville, NY
e-Shiksha program, provided com-
he Indian American communi- puter education through the “Ekal
ty opened its wallets and hearts on Wheels” program, and is provid-
Tonce again to support Ekal ing support for the Integrated Village
Vidyalaya at a successful fundraiser Development (IVD) project in Am-
organized on June 8 by its New York rabad, Telangana.
chapter. With over 92,000 one-teach- Speaking on behalf of the Per-
er schools in underserved areas in In- fection of Man Foundation, Lynnette
dia and 2.8 million enrollments, Ekal Iglesias appreciated Ekal’s innova-
Abhiyan is a charitable organization tive approach and openness to new
dedicated to empowering rural and ideas. This Foundation was started by
tribal communities through social, Satish Mallick, a long-time supporter
economic, and gender equality. of Ekal who sponsored many schools
Popular singers Kedar Godbole Singer Kedar Godbole entertaining audience in remote Ekal villages. The Founda-
and Minal Kapadia serenaded over tion has provided support for three
100 guests at the “Ek Surili Shaam cation in reading, writing, arithmetic Ekal has been bringing literacy, health- Tailoring Centers and is supporting
Ekal Ke Naam” event at Antun’s in and Sanskar Shiksha (value educa- care and economic prosperity to thou- the Integrated Village Development
Hicksville, NY. tion) under a tree or at a makeshift sands of villages in India. The reach (IVD) project.
Mohan Wanchoo, President of facility, making it cost-effective. of Ekal into remote areas has enabled Other donors included commu-
Ekal Vidyalaya’s, New York Chapter, The emphasis on teaching girls has it to touch the lives of 10 million peo- nity leaders Animesh Goenka, Chan-
made video and Powerpoint presen- brought their numbers in Ekal schools ple. The mission of Ekal is the holistic dra Bhansali, Kanak Golia and many
tations to highlight Ekal’s exemplary to 50%. After all, a country cannot development of villages through the others. The event was supported
pan-India work and unique model. He succeed unless its women are invest- empowerment of tribal (vanvasi) and by Dr. Vijaypal Arya, Dr. Urmilesh
said you can support and sponsor an ed in it fully, he added. After receiv- rural communities with basic educa- Arya, Dr. Rajendra Modi, Mukesh
Ekal school that runs on just $1 a day. ing primary education, students go tion, digital literacy skill development, Modi and Ashok Vyas. Speaking to
Wanchoo’s impactful appeal met to Vidya Bharti and other schools. health awareness, imparting modern TV presenter Ashok Vyas, Mohan
with enthusiastic response. Many gen- Ekal has been innovating in keep- and productive agricultural practices, Wanchoo stated that what differen-
erous people in the audience instantly ing with the times and with an empha- and rural entrepreneurship. He in- tiates Ekal from other similar initia-
gave their checks. Speakers included sis on social and economic upliftment. formed the gathering that the galas tives in India is its broader vision. It
Ekal donors Mukund Padmanabhan, Under the e-Shiksha scheme, tablets in the US, like the ones he has been is working towards Viksit Bharat, a
Founder and Chairman of Guru Kru- are provided to schools. As part of hosting for some years now, bring in a developed and strong India.
pa Foundation, and Lynnette Iglesias, Ekal on Wheels program, Ekal buses significant portion of the total budget The evening concluded with the
Managing Director of Perfection of fitted with computers go to villages to of Ekal Abhiyan. melodious rendering of popular Hindi
Man Foundation, as well as think tank give computer education to children Speaking on the occasion, tech- film songs by Ekal volunteers Kedar
Vibhuti Jha and Navneet Agarwal. and grown-ups so people can get com- preneur Mukund Padmanabhan Godbole and Minal Kapadia, mes-
Wanchoo explained that Ekal’s puter jobs locally. appreciated the work of Ekal Vidya- merizing the guests as they enjoyed a
single teacher model provides edu- Wanchoo said that for 35 years laya. His Guru Krupa Foundation has sumptuous dinner.

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