Ketto.org Fundraiser by Sohm & Ahaan - Raise money for textbooks and stationery for rural kids
Channel: Vinita Contractor
Date: 2020-08-26

Urban children from privileged backgrounds have access to quality education and even during this difficult time of the pandemic are able to cope through online schooling. It comes with its own share of challenges and can make children feel isolated and disconnected at times keeping them a bit indifferent. On the other hand the vast majority of children in rural areas do not have access to schooling and definitely not online schooling. Many of their parents have lost their livelihoods due to COVID and find providing for their childrens’ education difficult if not impossible. 

Sohm (12) and Ahaan (14) from Bombay, study at Rishi Valley School in AP (a residential school). They are currently at home with their parents due to the pandemic. This is their campaign.

The idea behind this campaign is KIDS EARNING TO SUPPORT OTHER KIDS.


It is about urban children helping out in their own homes by working, by doing useful and life skill enhancing chores and getting paid for them for their parents. They can then donate the amount they collect at the end of every month or as they wish to the campaign.  We are collecting money for textbooks, stationery and possibly even budget android phones.

If parents or any adults with old android phones which are in a working condition and happy to offer them for online schooling for rural children, we request to directly send them to the address and details at the end of this page.

Why get kids to do this?
It will give them:
1.    A chance to get involved in the many activities that go to make a home run well and to experience them first hand.
2.    To develop respect towards these unseen jobs and empathy towards the people who usually do them for us.
3.    To realise the value for money
4.    The satisfaction of doing something for someone else and thinking beyond one’s own wants.
5.    And most importantly make a difference and contribute for a cause which makes a difference to other kids and in a profound way to themselves. 

The NGO we plan to donate to is called Grampari, based in Panchgani.

Grampari stands for Grameen Va Paryavaren Kendra (Rural and Ecology Centre). An initiative of Initiatives of Change (IofC), India, Grampari is a rural development organisation that works with communities in Maharashtra, India in Watershed Management, Agriculture and Organic Farming, Livelihoods Development, Governance, Water Sanitation and Hygiene and Youth. Using a community centered, needs based approach, the core of Grampari’s work is based on the values of IofC of transformation of self to foster ethical and transformative rural development.

There are 7000 students who go to school in Jaoli block, Satara. Of these 7000, 1000 come from the poorest of the poor. School has begun online and 6000 students have some kind of access to a mobile phone (one of their parents or someone in their family) but for about 1000 students they have NO access at all. It would be great if you donate your spare/old android mobile phone to enable these children to continue with schooling.

Used Android phones in a working condition to be sent to: c/ o Ganesh Pujari, Sohm & Ahaan’s campaign, Grampari, MRA Centre, Panchgani, Maharashtra , 412805.