Empowering India’s Poorest: Michael D. Eisner College of Education at California State University Northridge Students Raise Funds for Teachers at Saraswati Free School

Northridge, California — Dr. Joshua Einhorn of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at California State University Northridge and his graduate school class in international development have launched a campaign to raise funds for The James Jay Dudley Luce Foundation India‘s Saraswati Free School in Bodhgaya, Bihar Province, India.

The school educated children once referred to as “Untouchable”–or Dalit in Hindi–the poorest of the poor. This caste is also called Harijan.

Harijan is a term used to describe members of the former “untouchable” caste in India. The term was coined by Mahatma Gandhi in 1933 to refer to Dalits, or “oppressed” people, in an attempt to raise their status. The word comes from the Sanskrit harijana, which means “one belonging to the god Vishnu.”

The Lotus Free School in rural India teaches young children ages 6-14 how to read and write while exposing them to science and math. They attend class six days a week.

The CSU GoFundMe campaign notes that 38% of the population in this region do not receive an education because the parents of most children here work in brick factories and in rice fields, historically impacting the children’s ability to receive an education.

The school was built in 2022, but struggles to pay teachers’ salaries.

$2,400 is needed to pay the salary of two teachers for the upcoming year.

The CSU Go Fund Me campaign asks, “Make an impact by giving today!”

They continue, “Your contribution (of any amount) will allow these children, living in this poorest province of India, to experience hope and plant the seeds of change for their now bright future. Any amount you donate will help us reach our goal.”

In 2023, the California State University Northridge class working with Dr. Einhorn raised funds through a successful GoFundMe campaign for a home for unwed mothers in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

California State University Students Raise Funds for Indian Youth (Oct. 22, 2024)

#EducationForAll #SupportDalitChildren #CSUNForIndia #EmpowerThroughEducation #BrightFuturesIndia #EndPovertyThroughEducation