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The day Kanchan, 7, was born, her father passed away. Several months later her mother went abroad for a job and never returned. Kanchan grew up with her grandmother, 70, and uncle, a retired health worker. Needless to say, life has been very difficult for the family. But when it came to educating Kanchan, they turned to a local community school – Jyotidaya. Jyotidaya provides free education to Kanchan and 40 other children. In addition, about 300 children who would not have access to quality education currently benefit school’s services. Sarvodaya USA is competing to win $50,000 to construct school building for Jyotidaya. So here's how this works. Three organizations that attract most unique donors using online tools for non-profit causes will be awarded $50,000. That's the "America's Giving Challenge ." With your support, we can help Sarvodaya USA win the challenge and $50,000 and build a school in Nepal. Inspired by the Sarvodaya Movement and Dr. A.T...

July 17, 2009 Braving monsoon rain, slippery muddy road, we went to Bulaki Chaur yesterday. It had been a while since we had actually visited the village. Min Bahadur dai, a villager, had sought our help with local school, which only has class upto 2nd grade. He and several other villagers had told us that the teacher at the school never shows up. So, the children don’t get education. We had found teacher’s, who lives in the city, phone number from District Education office, contacted the teacher. And, we requested that we go up to village together. Teachers agreed, with some reservations. We had never been to the village during monsoon. On slipper muddy road with Shafia, my friend from Madison, riding on her first real bike ride as an adult, we left for two hours of bike ride and almost an hour of hike. Rain had slipped some parts of the trail to the village, at times, making it more narrower than I had seen in the past. Most of the green hills were covered in clouds, cloaking ever...

A story of a shramadana in a village.

Sharama is a Sanskrit word for labor Dana is to donate or to give “Bhai (brother), why take trouble and bring your students and friends here?” Said Min Bahadur. “Just give us 50,000 rupees and we will perform the work that of 100,00 rupees,” he added. Min Bahadur lives in Bulaki Chaur where we have been visiting for several months now to organize. The village on the hills that surround Kathmandu valley is inaccessible by transportation. The only trail that reaches to the village needed some work, especially at the point where the village begins. Last week on our visit, we proposed that we fix the trail through shramadana (gift of labor). Villagers agreed, with some hesitation. Several days earlier they had asked whether Sarvodaya Nepal will provide khaja (snacks or food) for the work? We were non-committal but were planning that we would just go to village and beg for a handful of rice or whatever they would offer so we could cook on the spot. We had also proposed that we would bring s...

Feb 3, Kathmandu As I handed my passport to immigration officer at Kathmandu’s International Airport, the lights went off. The airport’s rather dark looking immigration control area became further dark. “Nothing works in this country,” said the immigration officer taking my passport. “Where are you coming from?,” he asked me. “Well Delhi on this flight but actually from America,” I said. “Why would anybody want to return to this country?” looking for stickers to put on my passport. “No wonder everybody wants to leave.” “Why are you back bhai (brother)?” “I have all my family here and most people have their families too,” I said. And, “but some people think that they must return for the country,” I added. “I fall on latter category,” I said with a smile. He laughed out. Ha ha ha ha “Well everybody thinks they need to do something for the country but nobody does,” he responded with further laugh. “If we meet here after 20 years we will have this conversation again,” I said joking. “I ...

You can sponsor a child with as little as $10 a month To support, visit : Sarvodaya USA

Peace cannot be wishful thinking, it has to be action. As long as silent majority hopes and dreams peace, violent minority will continue to rule. We must live peace and not wish for it. Wish and hope for peace empowers the ones who seek violence, despite majority in number they are timid largely because they lack the guts to live and practice non-violence. Gandhi called non-violence a weapon of strong.

“What programs are we taking to villages?” “Is it classes on adult-education? On   community health?” Sanitation?”   Our challenge. It’s not 1958. The proliferation of NGOs that began in 1980s and caught speed in 1990s in Nepal (like many other developing countries) has been amazing. While many organizations are providing valuable services to Nepalese people, the term NGO has almost become synonymous with educated elite enriching   on poor’s name.   At least a few organizations have found their way to every village that run variety of program. Mostly, during the ‘project period’.   Frequently, organizations find funds and go to the villages to implement them. Thus, there is an expectations among villagers that when people from the city come (especially the one from organizations), they come with handouts.   ********** Sarvodaya is about identifying local needs and working to solve through community participation.   “I don’t know what program, we can take,” I would say...

All TV networks are now calling OBAMA a nominee of a democratic party.  First time, an african american candidate on a major party's ticket. This is a historic moment. OBAMA '08

After a very long winter, I took to biking today. The bike had been sitting out through the record snow fall and was little creaky. When I stopped to put air, the tire blew. I brought it to Yellow Jersey to fix the tire, it wasn't expensive at all, which I feared it might.  On the return, back after barely making through little uphill, I lost the balance and fell hard on the road.  I don't recall ever falling from the bike, in very very long time. Perhaps, not since I really learnt riding a bike.  I bruised myself on the knee and hand. Fortunately, there weren't any vehicle on the road.  I guess its fine to fall once in a while, teaches you how to pick up and move on.  Happy Spring!

A new year (Year 2065) begins in Nepal with promises of transformation. I am astounded by election results that are coming in from Nepal. While, this is a result (Maoist wining very big) is something I neither expected nor I hoped for, I am humbled by the power and collective wisdom of people in Nepal. The desire for Change in Nepal was clearly reflected in the verdict and I hope this ensures a new positive beginning and most likely the institutionalization of peace in Nepal. Perhaps in the history of the world, a dynasty that ruled for 250 years will be uprooted peacefully and and first time in Nepal, people's representatives will make a new governing system. I am sure psychological and physical intimidation played a major role for Maoists victory, I believe that their victor is reflection of their organization, freshness and opposition to "old guards" and "politics as usual". I am aware of the challenges that faces Nepal, perhaps very very difficult one, I...

I am with Mrs. Ariyaratne, Dr. A.T.Ariyaratne, Justice Weeramantry (another receipient of the honor today), Dr. Vinya and Mrs. Weeramantry Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, founder of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, received Sri Lankaabhimanya (Pride of Sri Lanka), country’s highest honour today. I had the privilege of witnessing the event Presidential Secretariat in Colombo when Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapkase conferred the highest honour to Dr. Ariyaratne. Dr. Ariyaratne was recognized for exceptional honor and glory brought to the country through Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement. The proclamation to the honour recognizes Dr. Ariyaratne’s five decades long service to upliftment of socially marginalized and oppressed, and his unwavering commitment to non-violent transformation of societies. The proclamation reads, “ In recognition of the exceptional honour and glory brought to the motherland by his pioneering endeavors in establishing, and carrying forward for five decades, the Sarvodaya Move...

Through Sarvodaya USA , we were able to send $2000 to support flood relief in Nepal. Ramesh shares his experience distributing the relief supplies in Janakpur area. Shisir dai Namaste, The long awaited trip to Janakpur was wonderful and turned out to be great success. I have to say that the delayed Flood Relief Program in Janakpur was beyond our previous thought and it was beyond our expectation. We went to Janakpur on 17th of November (Saturday) and stayed there for four days, till 20th November. Initially, we thought of staying there only for a day and come back to Kathmandu after handing over the items to the Rad Cross. But we changed our modality after we reached Jankapur. On the first day after reaching Jankapur, we contacted the local NGOs, local Red Cross, Amnesty and local journalists to read the situation in Janakpur. On the second day, we went to flood affected sites (Katrait and Musharniya). We chose these two places upon the request of the NGOS working for social developmen...

In New York, October 14, 2007

As the world sleeps by my side, Eyes keep on wondering whether I can get some rest. In a cold night, over heated room in Wisconsin Wonders when the light will go off. Over worked computer Worries when browsers will leave. As the world sleeps by my side, Tuesday slips into Wednesday. Still a weekday. A work day. Isn't it time to sleep yet?

They were right at the gate as we entered Tanamalvilla center. I hadn't seen those children before and was wondering who they were. They must be here to play, I thought. On the narrow dirt road, there wasn't a space for us to pass them through. The vehicle we were on came to halt. One of the boys came around and knocked the windwo where Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Founder of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, was seated. He slid his window and the boy said something and pointed to a girl nearby. I didn't understand. They seemed little hestitant. Finally, a girl took a book out from a bag laying on the ground. They brought the book and handed it over to Dr. Ariyaratne. We learnt it was a 10th grade English book published by government. One of the chapters read: The Meeting With Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, The President, The Lanka Jathika Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement . The children, I could see, were thrilled to meet the person on the book. It was amazing, I couldn't believe it. They as...

More Photos About Dambulla About Sigiriya

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I was in Matara district in Southern Sri Lanka. This year, Sarvodaya USA has committed to support Sarvodaya Matara District activities, especially their core budget. It was an opportunity for me and district staff to discuss the priorities and how we could work together. Most of my time was spent in discussing about the program activities for 2007/2008 year. In between, I was also able to visit to villages where Sarvodaya USA is developing Village to Village networks, a program that would connect communities in the US with villages in Sri Lanka. As our first projects, we are working to develop pre-schools in these villages supported by groups in the US. In the villages, I received an warm welcomed, spoke with the villagers and listened to their plans. It's amazing to notice most of the village level Sarvodaya Society members were energetic womens in both the villages.

After three weeks of non stop work, including the weekend, I found myself with a weekend off. That is half a day of Saturday and a full Sunday. I was looking forward to getting away from Moratuwa and convinced Samantha and Sandaruwan to go with me to Unwatuna. I had heard that beach at Unwatuna was beautiful. So, we took off on Saturday afternoon. It was about two and half hours on a bus. We checked into a nice resort for Rs. 1500 (about $15) a night for a duplex room. There weren't many westerners around and we got local rate (at that point I wasn't known to be a foreigner). Rest of evening and Sunday was really relaxing, we swam, walked on the beach, and I read a book - biography of Gandhi, Binoba Bhave and Jayaprakash Narayan.

Yesterday evening I cooked for the first time here. For us who live at Sarvodaya hostels it is always canteen food, which can be too boring at times, especially sine we eat rice, dal, and curry (which is always tooooo hot for my taste) three times a day. So, I had been thinking of cooking for a while. Actually, almost a week back I had gone shopping had discovered that buying food can be as expensive here, the prices were comparable to US prices. Offcourse, I bought from a super market, which I am sure is off the reach of an average Sri Lankan. I had Samantha and Thiyaga as my dinner guests. I find cooking for myself too boring. We had dinner of Rice, Soyameat (I dont' like that meat thing, it's a wrong word), fried potatoes and lady's finger, and dal. Honestly, the food wasn't the best but edible...rice was little over cooked and I didn't have all the spieces I needed. Anyway, it was a welcome change from Canteen food. But, I am not sure how often I will cook, most...