Partnership with Project Why

volunteer in indiaProject Profile

Project Why (www.projectwhy.org) has been operating for ten years in New Delhi, India, offering primary and secondary-level educational support to children living in slums throughout the city. In addition to teaching over 600 children in 10 different locations, Project Why also offers daily support to mentally disabled children and adults, emergency medical and foster care to children in need, and vocational training for disadvantaged single mothers at its Women´s Center. At the moment, Project Why runs on private donations, but it is on track towards total sustainability: by 2010, directors hope to inaugurate Planet Why, an eco-friendly guesthouse staffed and maintained by students and graduates of Project Why schools. The income generated by this guesthouse will cover all operating costs of Project Why, thus enabling the project to continue offering education and employment to some of Delhi’s neediest. To join in these efforts, contact willy@omprakash.org.

Read the Project Why blog>>


Partnership History
volunteer in indiaProject Why has been an Omprakash partner since August, 2007.

 

-In October, 2007, we donated $8,804.70 to Project Why to cover all expenses for one year at two of its primary schools in the slums of New Delhi: the Okhla school and the Sanjay Colony school. A total of 177 students attend these two schools.

-In November, 2007, we donated $6,000 to support Project Why´s new Women´s Center. This donation covered all operating costs for six months.

-In July, 2008, Project Why received over 20,000 children’s books (223 boxes) as part of Omprakash Foundation’s book-distribution project. These books– along with shelves and trunks also donated by Omprakash– allowed Project Why to establish two separate community libraries and provide a trunk full of books to each of its slum schools. Additional books have been set aside so that a third library can be established at Planet Why upon its inauguration.  Learn more about the 2008 India Book Distribution Project>>

-In July, 2008, Omprakash donated $15,000 to enable Project Why to continue payingvolunteer at project why india classroom rent,teacher salaries, and other operating costs as resources and energy begin shifting towards establishing Planet Why and increasing sustainability. One-third of this donation was made possible by Microsoft, Inc., as part of its matching-grant program. Learn more about the Project Why budget>>

Need for Volunteers

Project Why constantly needs volunteers to help with its ever-expanding number of initiatives. Prospective volunteers should be aware that this experience will be physically and psychologically challenging. The heat, pollution, and traffic in New Delhi can be difficult, and volunteers will be asked to work in areas that are far from glamorous. Volunteers are encouraged to communicate extensively with Project Why administrators before arriving so that they can begin to formulate teaching strategies and objectives. Volunteers might find themselves engaged in activities ranging from teaching art to caring for children in the Foster Center, but they should especially be prepared to teach English. Project Why teachers and students often speak limited English, so volunteers are encouraged to learn some basic Hindi before arriving or at least possess a good English-Hindi dictionary. With proper preparation, creativity, flexibility, and determination, volunteers will find that Project Why students are eager and able to improve their English skills.

Need for Material Resourcesvolunteer in india

Anybody passing through New Delhi can deliver books, medical supplies, clothes, or children´s toys to Project Why– all of these resources are greatly needed!

Read Project Why Fundraising Report>>

In addition, Project Why is always seeking funds to further its activities. Visit http://projectwhy.org/expenses.htm to learn about the monthly costs of Project Why´s different primary and secondary schools, or download the current budget. The text below indicates some monthly and annual costs of Project Why´s schools and Women´s Center, as well as its latest initiative, Planet Why.

Click here to download a PDF describing the needs of Pwhy’s Foster Care Programme

WOMEN´S CENTER

Located in Madanpur Khader village, the why women centre has two units: one is a small flat that will be a refuge for women who want to rebuild their lives, and the other will house a host of activities for children and local women all aiming at empowering each one to take responsibility for her life.

SLUM SCHOOLSvolunteer in india


Below is an abbreviated summary of the monthly costs at several of Project Why´s schools:

-Primary Sanjay School: $322.50 for 80 children
-Primary Okhla School: $232.50 for125 children
-Primary Govindpuri School: $207.50 for 65 children
-Early Education Govindpuri School: $235 for 35 children
-Senior Secondary School: $312.50 for 80 children

 

Project Why’s schools face the constant threat of being demolished by bulldozers as slum areas are “beautified”– click here for an example. In response to this threat, Project Why has adopted a very flexible methodology that allows its schools to pack-up and relocate at any time– teachers, students, and all. However, as the plan for Planet Why unfolds, Project Why will have a piece of land, a profitable business, and a large building to call its own: http://planetwhy.blogspot.com/2007/10/planet-why-project-report.html. This will provide unprecedented stability and continuity to a project that thus far has been forced to remain somewhat nomadic.