# Singing Skylarks

Singing Skylarks - Music for a cause is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Bangalore, India. It was formed in 2006 by music enthusiasts working for different software firms in Bangalore. Initially, the members were primarily involved in producing music programs for television. Once the band started growing, attracting different artists and volunteers who wanted to contribute towards the society, the NGO increased in size and the team of engineers and musicians started working on different social projects. Projects include the sponsorship of education for Poor and Deserving Students of all standards, Empowering Government Schools, Counseling Students for Evils of Alcoholism, curbing Corruption and Planting trees in and around Bangalore as part of environmental "go green" initiatives.

## Vision

Singing Skylarks aims to make India a country free from illiteracy, poverty, child labor and corruption. Singing Skylarks members visit various villages and outskirts of cities to identify the children who need education and help children employed in hotels, shops, and other industries to get education. The team strongly believes that every child deserves equal education and proper education will lead the country free from poverty, child labor and corruption. The NGO has worked on providing scholarship for deserving poor children, and aims to provide "education for all" to enable schools in cities, towns and villages to provide quality education at nominal cost for poor and deserving children.

## Mission

The objectives of Singing Skylarks broadly include the following:
* Curbing illiteracy
* Curbing poverty
* Curbing child labor
* Curbing corruption

## ACTIVITIES
### Education Sponsor Programs

Singing Skylarks has been sponsoring education expenses for deserving students every year. As part of scholarships, the organization allocated 1-2 Lakhs INR towards this cause. The students who had been sponsored till date are monitored continuously for progress and counseled with successful tie-up with software companies that were helping in this program.

### Better Living Conditions

Singing Skylarks learned about a village named Kerethanda which is located in the North Karnataka region in Hospet town. The village lacked even basic amenities, and the school was poorly maintained and without basic materials. Around 20 volunteers from Singing Skylarks from software companies visited the village twice in 2010 to counsel the students and donate books and geometry boxes to the school. The NGO has also arranged for employment for the youngsters as security guards in the Bangalore area.

### Environmental Initiatives

In 2010, Singing Skylarks learned about the problems existing in a lake in Bangalore near Bagmane Tech Park.
With the help of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Motorola Foundation, and Bagmane Builders, Singing Skylarks completed beautification of the lake, including the installment of a fountain and the planting of about 100 saplings.

## Mobile Library Project

Singing Skylarks was presented with the CEO Award for Volunteerism 2009 from the Motorola Foundation, which brought in a grant. The grant was used for sponsoring education for children and mobile library projects.

## Education Sponsorship Projects

Two students from the KR Puram area studying in a government school and two students studying in a government school in the Karur area of Tamil Nadu have been sponsored in this program. Singing Skylarks volunteers managed the efforts and continue to monitor the progress regularly.

## The Quest For Knowledge Project (q4K)

Mobile Library Singing Skylarks as an NGO, has set up Library for 30 Government schools till date in Bangalore East area. Volunteers of the organisation with the help of software organisations has gathered close to 4000 books till date benefiting around 2000 students in this area.
All the government schools identified had no Library or Library with least books which were not used much by the students. The program is having a great impact on the students since the volunteers keep visiting each of the schools identified in round robin basis, set up an effective library system and trained the teachers and students to start using the library in an effective manner to gain skills on various subjects such as Maths, Science, Social studies and General Knowledge.

## Village Upliftment Project

Singing Skylarks has planned to execute and extend the various activities (Mobile Library and Education Sponsorship). Kerethanda in North karnataka (Introduced transformation over 2 phases with the citizens on the evils of alcoholism and importance of Education and uplifted the government school there).

### Equal Opportunity For Disabled Persons

Singing Skylarks volunteers visited the Shrishti Special Academy in Bangalore in 2008 to provide counseling for the physically disabled children. Many volunteers from the group visit the NGO every year to provide support and guidance to the children there.