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I am fundraising to open a whole new world to rural and tribal girls through books!

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Updates (2)

Why am I fundraising?

Honestly, to help rural and tribal girls read more than just textbooks. AIM for Seva wants to equip four of the Girls Free Student Homes across the country (in Nandyal, Belgaum, Chinnasalem and Mysore) with well-stocked libraries, as a first and urgent step.

And yeah, Milaap is giving away some extra funds for every 50 people who contribute. So we want as many CONTRIBUTORS as possible!

What do I plan to do with the funds?

AIM for Seva will source and stock the libraries with a mix of vernacular and English books that the students can use to widen their horizons. A rack and the books, plus basic stationery, are the only costs. We want to establish "book clubs" in these residential homes so that girl children can not just read, but discuss these books!

Whatever be the funds we collect, we will distribute it equally among the homes. If we raise funds in excess of what is required, we will add two more homes (Repalle in Andhra Pradesh and Khategoun in MP) to the girls' homes with libraries.

We will subscribe to two magazines (children's and current affairs) at Rs. 60 a week (or Rs. 3120 a year) per Free Student Home.

Each library will have a mix of fiction and non-fiction books:

Fiction and non-fiction: 50 books @ Rs.200 each: 10,000
Study and reference books: 10 books@ Rs. 500 each: Rs. 5,000
Other stationery and records for the library: Rs. 1,000
Rack or shelf for the books: Around Rs. 5,000

FAQs

What books will you buy?

Here is where we need your support! Please recommend books for our children.

We're looking for inspirational books in their local language or English. If the titles are originally English books, remember that the girls will likely be reading translations, so the books can't be too obscure.

They can be in English, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi or Telugu. And please recommend a book even if you don't contribute! The children will be in their teens, but their reading level might be a bit lower.

What else can I do?

Spread the word! For every 50 people who contribute, Milaap is giving away funds to AIM for Seva! Get more people to donate, even if they are lower amounts!

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8th November 2016

Dear Supporters

The libraries were set up in Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh), Chinnasalem (Tamil Nadu), and Belgaum and Mysore (Karnataka) last year. Maintenance proved to be difficult in some hostels. Books had to be stocked in steel alamaris instead of racks. The children are avid readers especially enjoying the comics and picture books. The cost of the books were slightly higher than the initial expectation. So, the collection is sufficient but could have been a little better.

The books procured are in English, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Kannada. The books primarily are general knowledge ones, short story books and comics. For a few hostels, periodicals such as magazines and newspapers also have been subscribed to. As part of the library, art and craft supplies also have been procured.

Alagammai Jayanthi who is the Chief Manager - Communications and Programmes at AIM for Seva says “Once we have an established model in place, we would like to build such libraries in all our hostels. We have 100 hostels spread across the 16 states in India and would like to encourage all our children to read and even have storytellers come in. AIM for Seva will be reaching out to Milaap and our lovely contributors again.”

The maintenance and stock-keeping of books is a challenge and the ideal titles of books required for various ages books is in the process of getting finalized.