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The Unifor Social Justice Fund has donated $44,000 to OneProsper International to support female literacy programs in India’s Thar Desert.
“In this region there are contributing issues that prevent girls from earning an education,” said Raju Agarwal, Founder and CEO of OneProsper International. “With the help of the Unifor Social Justice Fund we are able to take a holistic approach towards solving the crisis in female literacy.”
In the Thar Desert, the spread of water-borne diseases is common and the girls, among India’s poorest, often spend up to seven hours a day collecting water. To allow them to get that time back, OneProsper International builds a tank on site with a seven-layer biosand filter to turn harvested rainwater into clean, potable water. Each tank is then inscribed with the name of the girl’s mother to show her daughter that women are important.
Women beneficiaries are taught water-smart farming methods that replenish depleting groundwater and increase crop yields. A farming dyke is installed to maximize irrigation, and seeds and farm training are provided to allow the family to grow fruits and vegetables to supplement their diet.
“Providing financial stability for the family creates the opportunity for the girls to pursue an education and a brighter future,” said Unifor International Director Mohamad Alsadi.
Each girl sponsored by OneProsper International is able to start school with the necessary support to continue until graduation. Donations to the charity pay for tuition, uniforms, school supplies and a bicycle for transportation.
The goal is for the family to become self-sufficient after the first year with the ability to continue to pay for their daughter’s education with farming profits.
This year OneProsper International aims to secure enough funding to send 1,000 girls to school. For more information visit oneprosper.org.
