In the obscure slum of Hegdenagar, amid the dilapidated state of its houses, the kind faces of its women, and the sparkling eyes of its children, the Aasha Build team experienced a transformation that only rural India is capable of inspiring. Over 14 days, each of our 14 members graduated from construction workers, to friends, to confidantes, to mentors, to one among Hegnenagar’s children, whose hearts are so pure, faces so innocent, and smiles so cheerful. We became a part of the families of Hegdenagar, and they of The Aasha Build, and our hopes are now one; we dream for them and they with us.
It is impossible to summarize in one post the experience that was Hegdenagar and the journey that was The Aasha Build, so our 2 weeks (or an alternate lifetime) will be documented through a series of posts, pictures & videos. For now, we leave you with a glimpse of Hegdenagar.
This is your opportunity to flaunt your ideas and talent! The Building Aasha Contest is now accepting entries. Put on your thinking cap and lend Raj a helping hand.
There are really no limits. You can treat some broad issues in the scenario, or narrow it down to a specific problem, like homelessness or poverty. Think of yourself as a consultant. Raj, your client and friend, wants you to identify how he can make a difference in his society. Stay realistic and practical, but remember, if you aim for the stars, you’ll at least reach the moon!
Upon request from some readers, below are 3 sample entries:
A short film intended to create awareness about a pressing issue that Raj could push through various social media, with an aim for a tangible outcome.
A powerpoint presentation addressed to a specific company / individual who Raj could approach to put into practice a particular initiative.
A video / ppt illustrating a socially entrepreneurial idea that Raj could implement, thereby generating income while giving back to his society.
There will be points for feasibility of the idea, tangibility of the outcomes, & creativity of expression. Depending on the number of entries, the first round of shortlisting will be done by The Aasha Build team, followed by an online voting.
On another note, don’t do it just for the iPod, although we respect your freedom to find your own motivation! Sometimes we forget our social responsibilities as citizens of the world. We let our ideas and talents decay, knowing full well that the two could make such a significant difference in our society.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyong measure.” – The History Boys
The countdown has started! In less than a week, The Aasha Build team will be in Kamanahalli, equipped to battle the May heat, ready to get their hands dirty, and excited to give someone their first real home. Till the actual learning begins, here is a beautiful poem by George Eliot to keep you inspired.
Count that day lost
If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine where it went-
Then you may count that day well spent.
But if, through all the livelong day,
You’ve cheered no heart, by yea or nay-
If, through it all
You’ve nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face-
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost-
Then count that day as worse than lost.
The Aasha Build team is less than a month away from heading out to the slum region in Kamanahalli / Devanahalli. Despite the stress of ongoing exams, the end of term chores, and the infinite logistic requirements, the enthusiasm level is high. Several intricate details have been settled, and the team is almost ready to go. The next few days, it seems, will drag along slowly, teasing us with fluctuating expectations of the build.
Raj, a 21-year old boy from a small village from India’s hinterlands is about to complete his Bachelors’ Diploma from a National University in one of India’s biggest metropolitan cities. Unlike most of his friends, Raj was lucky to be encouraged to study by his family while most of his friends had to start working to support the family at a young age.
He has recently starting using the internet and is looking for ways to help his community and solve the compelling issues of abominable living conditions, homelessness and poverty. You met Raj in a chat room and have some ideas of your own to make a sustainable difference. He asks to you make a video about your idea (s) and upload it to Youtube so that he can get a better understanding of the idea.
Kannada language workshop minutes: Although bits of Hindi, Tamil and English are spoken in the region, Kannada is the most prevalent language. A basic conversational language session is soon to be conducted by the Bangalorians within the team.
Real time blogging: We are seeking to engage an amateur blogger from SMU to blog while we build, updating The Aasha Build supporters about our experiences in India, our interaction with the local community, and the status of the houses we aim to complete.
“We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill
The Aasha Build got featured in today’s edition of Tabla, an English weekly in Singapore. Grab your copy today or view an e-version on the Tabla website.
Phase 1 of The Aasha Build fund-raiser was a tremendous success! After 3 days of agressive hard-selling, The Aasha Build pool of funds is richer by $3,900. The funds have flown in primarily from the generous SMU community of students and professors, and some visitors who frequent the SMU campus. For the team, the collections so far are extremely motivating. It’s not just about the money; it’s the support we have received from the various contributors, their compliments, wishes and words of encouragement.
We will be embarking on phase 2 of our fundraiser in the coming week, through guerilla marketing pitches to students attending classes in SMU. Professors whose classes we have taken during our years in SMU have permitted us to intrude into their class times and create awareness about our cause.
Together with guerilla marketing, we are in the midst of getting media publicity through local television and print networks, and if luck favors us, our second love, CNN IBN! The next few weeks look promising, and we hope to reach our target of $7,000.
Thank you for your support and contributions!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead
Message from a contributor
Elizabeth (right) pitching to a potential contributor
If you live in Singapore, you must walk down the concourse at SMU and look out for a mini Aasha Build wall. There is something about launching a marketing campaign for a social cause, something that tugs at your heart and makes you stir. It might be just another campaign for you, but for somebody, somewhere, it’s the a ray of hope.
The Aasha Build Wall in the concourse is a mock construction exhibit, trying to urge people to help us build the residents of Devanahalli a real home.
Exhibit 1: Next to B.E. in the SMU concourse
Exhibit 2: Opposite Settler's Cafe in the SMU concourse
Message with the exhibits
The Aasha Build fund-raiser is an extension of the wall campaign. Our booth opposite Pick & Bite has a mini brick wall, pasted on a notice-board. Anyone who contributes above $10, is essentially donating a brick, and can inscribe his/her name on one. This paper brick wall will be carried by The Aasha Build team to Devanahalli, and will be presented to the community as a list of their supporters and well-wishers from Singapore.
Art is unintended creativity, unless you are gifted. Yesterday was a day of artistic revelations for The Aasha Build organizing committee, as we strived to design bookmarks for our fundraiser. The room was segregated into the artists, and well, the non-artist, who indulged in creating blooper-art!
The Aasha Build fund-raiser is just around the corner. Starting March 10th, we are going to be sourcing donations (big and small) and giving out gorgeous hand-made bookmarks and Aasha Build T-shirts as soveniers.
The Aasha Build Donate-A-Brick campaign will start on Tuesday, opposite Pick & Bite at SMU, during which we will attempt to build a wall filled with messages, wishes and support from the people. Mock construction exhibits will go on display in the SMU concourse, together with posters and flags, this week.
We are keeping our fingers crossed that our cause will garner support from people and help us raise funds. All the funds collected through our fund-raising drive will be chanelled into the costs for the construction of the houses in Devanahalli.
“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” -Edmund Burke
Sometimes, in the midst of all our efforts to organize The Aasha Build, some of us wonder whether our 5 house contribution to a country of 170 million slum dwellers will really make any difference at all. Today, I stumbled upon the Starfish story and found us an answer. This is how the story goes:
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.The surf is up and the tide is going out.If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back safely into the surf.Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference for that one.”
"Wish for the Aasha Build Team to build long lasting connections with the people they are serving, so that together a strategic partnership can bring sustainable benefits for a stronger and safer community in Devanahalli. Cheers!" - Jacqueline Tan
"Wonderful project! Hope its a huge success and inspires more people to do similar things." - Raghav Gupta
