PROJECT AIM

To set up Educational Centres in rural locations in Gujarat and Bihar, identified by Acharyashriji as those with the most pressing needs. The first Centre will be in the holy city of Palitana, a location of historical and religious significance for Jains.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Pujya Acharya Shri Chandanaji Maharaj’s grand vision is that at each of these centres, Veerayatan will become a focal point for the local community by providing support, inspiration, skills and leadership in undertaking a variety of local initiatives. The main objectives are to establish at each site:
br> * A school for children for at least up to Standard 8 so that local children can receive quality education and elevate their future living standards;
* A vocational training centre for both adults and children to provide training relevant to local needs, thereby making them self-sufficient.

FUNDING

The fund raising target for the project is around 5 Cr, part of which will come from Cycling for Charity event, and the balance from other donations from friends and well-wishers of Veerayatan, India.

Operational and maintenance costs for the school facilities, once constructed, will come from fees with the balance from donations. Children who cannot afford to pay fees will receive free education.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A plaque will be installed at each school to acknowledge the donations made by major donors. Each centre will also display a separate plaque, depicting the contribution made by the Cycling for Charity (c4c) participants and supporters.

PROJECT ADMINISTRATION AND DELIVERY

The project will be headed by Pujya Acharya Shri Chandanaji Maharaj

The international sponsored cycle ride to raise funds will be organized by Pravina Mehta and Mahendra Mehta with the help and support of Veerayatan UK

PROJECT TIMING

Pujya Acharya Shri Chandanaji Maharaj’s vision is that all planning and funding of the project is to be completed as early as possible to enable an early start on construction work in 2009.

Charities we are supporting...

Veerayatan Vidyapeeth

“Our future is nothing less than shining now thanks to help from ‘Cycling for Charity’ projects”

Seven years on, the money raised by previous ‘Cycling for Charity’ projects have transformed lives in Rudrani (in Kutch, India), which until the opening of the school was devoid of formal sanitation, education and transportation systems. This transformation certainly didn’t take place overnight and was not without its unique challenges.

The school was inaugurated in August 2001 and lessons were initially taught in tents. As the project proved to be vital for the community, Veerayatan has since constructed a permanent school on the Rudrani site.

Where there is a constant clash between education and earning a family income, building the foundations of learning poses great challenges. Since the very beginning, Rudrani’s main focus has been to continually encourage parents to support their child’s education. Through regular visits to children’s homes, parents have gradually come to realise that their child’s education is a vital contribution to the community.

What started as a treacle, the school roll now has shot up to over 250 from vastly diverse backgrounds, and with further support, Veerayatan is determined to expand its reach. Everyone in Rudrani now knows that education is the most important route to betterment.

Academically the children in Rudrani continue to excel. Many students who graduated from Standard 7 have now moved onto higher education at the Jakhania High school Campus. Given the high level of interest in further schooling, Veerayatan is considering extending its curriculum from Standard 7 to Standard 10.

The school is now firmly established and has become a role model for the development of similar centres in rural India. The next centre will be in the holy city of Palitana where despite visits by millions of pilgrims to the city, the indigenous population is deprived of some of the most basic amenities, including educational facilities. Cycling for Charity project will bring much needed help for the local communities.

Rays of Sunshine Children’s Charity It is estimated that there are currently 20,000 children across the United Kingdom suffering from life-limiting conditions, many of whom will not life to reach adulthood. For the children, it is a distressing, confusing and uncertain time. Parents may feel unprepared and upset at seeing their child in hospital and siblings often feel left out. To have a wish granted brings so much to a child’s life, and provides memories for the family that will last a lifetime. Rays of Sunshine Children’s Charity exists to grant the wishes of children who are living with serious or life-threatening illnesses between the ages of 3-18 who live in the United Kingdom. With your help they and their families can experience the joy and excitement of doing something they’ve only ever dreamt of before.

Naomi House Children’s Hospice Naomi House is a purpose-built children’s hospice that provides a homely environment for children and young people with life-limiting conditions that mean that they will not live to become adults. Situated just north of Winchester in Hampshire, we offer one-to-one palliative care that includes respite, terminal and bereavement care and support to children and their families in central southern England

A few of our past projects at a glance

Rhudhrani School Project (India)

The c4c project in 2003 provided funding for the first ever opportunity for the local children to gain basic education and life skills. Now into its second year, the school has transformed the lives of the children leading to increased demand for additional facilities.

‘Care for Children’

Run by the ‘Art of Living Foundation’. Through this program children from economically disadvantaged families in the poorest parts of India are provided with free education, books, balanced meals and regular medical care.

Cry (India)

acts as a link between two groups - development organisations and individuals working at grassroots level with underprivileged children and communities, and people like you who wish to help but don't know how. CRY harnesses the money, time and skills of thousands of individuals and organisations to partner various child development initiatives across India.

Water well project, Kenya

The benefits of the ‘water well project’ in Kenya are summarised neatly by a young child narrating her experience with the arrival of a new water pump in her village.

“…I then run to the Cycle for Children pump site to collect more water for the day. It is now so easy; I lift the handle and within a few strokes out comes a lot of fresh clean water. My mum has prepared my lunch, and I get ready to go to school. My parents are happy to send me to school as I no longer waste so much time fetching the water. I want to grow up to be a Doctor one day.

The entire Kajiado District has changed. There is not only water for cooking, but also for farming, and we no longer keep moving. Also because of clean drinking water, we no longer keep falling ill. All the children now attend school. I now know what it means to drink water to ones hearts desire!