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 BODHI (Manaswita Newsletter) Jun 2010

FROM EDITOR’S
DESK...................... 2 ISSUE
ISSUE
1 1 VOLUME
VOLUME11 2010
FEB 2010

MANASWITA, W HO
ARE
W E? ……………….3
W HAT W E W ANT TO
DO? ………………3

CURRENT STATUS/
PROGRESS REPORT
………..………… ... 4

FUTURE PLANS.... 4

MEET MANASWITA
MEMBERS............... 5
Bodhi
From Editor’s Desk
I distinctly remember Rajesh Sir, one of my seniors back at college. My lifestyle then was, in short,
stereotypical, while his never conformed to any standards. One thing, which was common, was that
we would both bunk lectures. But while I used to do that to hang out with friends at one of those typical
tea joints, he would visit families in nearby slums and convince them to send their children to that
makeshift school which he used to run under the shade of a tree. He provided the children with all the
needed books and stationery. For funds and volunteers he would visit our hostels and persuade us to
join him for the cause.
Given our extra-curricular activities, both of us adopted the one-night-out-per-exam study methodology
to pass the semester exams. While I managed to scrape through with just about decent grades, he
was one of the toppers. And being one of the toppers, he had an option to take up a job with any of
the multinationals, which visited our college for campus. He did not. He instead opted for a job with a
government firm surprising each one of us. He said that he had other things to focus on and joining an
MNC would not give him the required amount of time.
The makeshift school he started years ago resides today in a 3 room concrete house and is run by
college students who pass on his reign year after year. Underprivileged children are imparted
education there for no charge at all. Rajesh, is an IPS officer today serving the country, and continues
to do work at the ground level helping the underprivileged.
Each of us has different priorities hence not all of us can be Rajesh. However, we can all contribute
within our own capacities in one form or the other. Pitching in with what we can, together, we can work
towards, well the common goal, which is making this world a better place to live.
I got my chance when some of my friends came up with this idea of forming MANASWITA. Today
MANASWITA is taking its baby steps, but when so many bright dedicated individuals come together
for a good cause, there is no stopping them.
Respond to your calling. Join us and help make a difference.

2
Manaswita
BODHI (Manaswita Newsletter) Jun 2010

MANASWITA, Who Are we?

Founded in 2009, MANASWITA is a startup non-profit volunteer

organization. We at MANASWITA work towards satisfying one of India’s most critical
needs – educating children in need. By promoting volunteerism and direct contribution
towards this cause, our mission is to strengthen India’s young and enrich lives by
imparting education and the right values to our future generation. We believe that a small
step in the right direction can create waves. What could be a small step can create waves
to bring immense difference in the lives of children who were not fortunate enough to get
education because of lack of money and resources. We dare to dream and believe that a
great journey starts with a small and humble beginning.

What We Want To Do?

Throughout the year, MANASWITA will provide direct volunteer service to the children in
need in India. We will help the homeless children, guide the at-risk youth, tutor the
disadvantaged children, feed the hungry and do much more. MANASWITA will offer a
variety of meaningful volunteer projects that will benefit the children of India. We will
provide volunteers with flexible volunteer opportunities to create positive change. We want
to simplify the process by organizing and promoting incredible
volunteer opportunities to make community service accessible to Education is the
all. most powerful
weapon, which you
can use to change
the world.

-Nelson Mandela

Manaswita
3
BODHI (Manaswita Newsletter) Jun 2010

Current Status/ Progress Report:

• Active Members: 22
• Active Moderators: 13
• Members contribute financially/ efforts and energy in once a week meeting and on
restricted forum on Orkut Community – MANASWITA Moderators
• Geographic Locations of Members: Bangalore, Mumbai, Charlotte, San Jose, Boston,
Chicago
• Website: www.manaswita.org (under construction)

• MANASWITA members and volunteers, in India, have worked real

hard and discovered a very well deserved candidate - Rohit, who
is a student of standard 7. He has been topper in his class for last
3 years. In his 6th class December examinations, Rohit secured
98.5% marks. His father is a daily wage laborer. He is staying with
his family in Majra Khurd (a small village in Mahender Garh district
in Haryana, India). Rohit has an elder brother, who is studying in
12th standard and is equally talented. The school he is studying in
is quite competitive and has a good reputation in the town.

• Financial Condition: We are currently in a position to support a child’s education for life
by pooling the funds from moderators in 18 months.

Near Future Plans:

• Go public after selection of first child to be sponsored

• Spread awareness about MANASWITA and its cause
• Add donors and generate more funds for sponsoring more and more children
• Sponsor education for at least 5 children in 2010
• Acquire legal status (501 ©) in USA
• Short term Goal for next year – Add Volunteers, be 150 members strong volunteer
organization

Manaswita
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BODHI (Manaswita Newsletter) Jun 2010

Few MANASWITA Members:

Hot, muggy and overcrowded “City of Joy” has no dearth of poverty.
In this city worked a little lady named “Agnesë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu” who
came all the way from Albania to help the poor in then Calcutta, West
Bengal and India.

She is more famously knows as Mother Teresa. Isn’t there anymore

beautiful reason that Kolkata is righteously called “City of Joy” and for
me to get into the act?

Judhajit Dutta from Kolkata.

I remember in our childhood my granny used to say – Earn money
and invest in education...if you keep in bank the government will take
it, if you keep in house the thieves would have an eye but if you
educate a child the investment will grow with time. This encouraged
us to be educated and understand how important it is to be
educated.

I am Reema from Jharsugda, Orrisa and want to help make this world
a better place to live. Please join us and remember no help is too
small.
I strongly endorse the deed of providing for the underprivileged and
as Churchill rightly said, “We make a living by what we get, but we
make a life by what we give.”

A Marketing Graduate from Chicago. I am an ex-employee of Infosys

and a native of Bangalore.
I believe that education provides an opportunity for a better future and
I hope to help someone achieve it. That's the reason I'm here.

I am Swetha Manda, an IT professional from Hyderabad.

With the help of friends, here we are trying to take one small step in a
direction I had been thinking about for quite a few years now.

On behalf of MANASWITA I request you to contribute in the best way

you can. Help us bring a smile on a well-deserved face.

I am Vikrant. Belong to a small town in Haryana. Working as an IT

professional with Infosys.

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Manaswita
BODHI (Manaswita Newsletter) Jun 2010

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Manaswita