Event Report - Springfest 2003

Vibha Atlanta – Dancing for a cause

Vibha enjoys unflinching community support – evident from the generous sponsors who showed their support for this great event and cause. Prime among this year’s sponsors were Global Mall, Mirch Masala, Curry in a Hurry, India Sports and Recreation Center and Kruti Dance Academy. The total sponsorship dollars ($1600) from these businesses and another ($700) from other businesses raised alone through this event could fund for example Verala Development Society rural literacy program plan’s requirement to fund the salary of a teacher or the mid day meals for 250 children of that program for 1 year.

Verala Development Society’s splendid efforts in Kolhapur is sparked by grim numbers that paint a sad picture of a modern India - an India that seems to have been too busy cashing in on the technology wave and focused on increasing its foreign exchange reserves. According to a latest official estimate, of the 200 million children of the age group 6 to 14 in India, the number of those not enrolled in schools is 35 million (girls) and 24 million (boys). This figure does not include those children who are on the school rolls, but who remain totally absent from the classrooms throughout their schooling age; and their number is legion. The number of villages not having primary schools within one km. distance is 1,00,000 which works out to 14.3 percent to the total. Twenty five percent of the existing schools do not have drinking water facility. Those not having toilets are 69.5 percent of the total. Those numbers are indeed what motivates volunteers at Vibha to strive harder - be it approaching businesses for sponsorships or taking care of the several nuances of organizing an event.

Vibha’s next fundraising event would be the Maharaja Cricket 2003 organized at the Georgia Tech Student Activity Center on May 3 and 4, 2003. If you are interested in volunteering for Vibha in the Atlanta area, check for details on the several opportunities available at http://atlanta.vibha.org

Prepared by GiriMohan Coneti, Spokesperson for Vibha Atlanta in the interest of the general public and Vibha supporters and patrons.