Goal: $1,065,000 over 10 Years
Deadlines: Ongoing
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BIRDS is a non-profit center that serves and empowers the Dahlits (Untouchable Caste), the poorest of the poor, through microfinance loans to women’s cooperatives, training of village health workers, legal rights advocacy, organic farming and water treatment advocacy, a health care clinic, a training center, and two boarding homes for poor children. BIRDS works in partnership with PCUSA Self-Development of People programs.
The recently established school is the foundation of what BIRDS must become for the future.
The school needs a number of things now to begin to move it toward becoming self-sustaining.
•A building of sufficient size and quality to allow students and teachers to focus on learning instead of problems
• Teacher salaries high enough to attract and keep teachers
• A system of support for students that cannot afford to pay for lunches, fees and transportation
• A communication system allowing professional teachers from the US to collaborate with the current BIRDS faculty and provide specialized teaching to students
• A full complement of sponsors for BIRDS children to stay on the farm
The key to BIRDS' future is to build and support the development of the school. A first-world school is the key to the success of its students. The school and its administration must also become the training and coordination center for microfinance groups, community health workers, sustainable farming and community advocacy. US teachers, connected by high speed internet to BIRDS' teachers, can constitute a collaborative beneficial to both.
A Draft Proposed Budget (near-term, less than 5 years)
A school building with classrooms, plumbing and electrical structures
sufficient to keep children safe and focused on learning $ 40,000
Teacher salary subsidies for three years to keep the current faculty, work with BIRDS
teachers, replace vacancies and reduce class sizes to 30 $ 30,000
Scholarship fund to pay student fees, lunches and transportation
for those that cannot now afford it for three years $ 25,000
Four new buses to replace the used vehicles now being used and a maintenance
shop to keep everything running $100,000
Equipment to ensure a high-speed internet connection between BIRDS and St. Mark
Church in the U.S. for teacher training and student lectures $ 40,000
Computer labs and classroom supplies so teachers have the resources to
effectively teach students $ 25,000
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Near-term funding $265,000
A Draft Long-term Budget (future development, 10+ years)
Additional buildings and infrastructure related to education, student
housing and child development $100,000
Transportation (buses and maintenance) $ 50,000
Internet, electronic equipment and supplies $ 50,000
Beginning of an endowment to ensure self-sufficiency $600,000
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Long-term funding $800,000
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Total $1,065,000
There is an immediate need for a seed grant of $100,000 to $200,000, to show foundation funding sources they are serious and that their money will build on an already successful proposal and a history of successful education and advocacy by BIRDS over the past 19 years.
BIRDS is providing a life-saving presence for thousands of families in the State of Andhra Pradesh, South India. The investment in the future of BIRDS builds on this life-saving mission as well.
Project ID: 32
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