The 6^th annual EKAL Vidyalaya fundraiser for education of underprivileged in India netted over $50,000.

The annual fundraiser program under the leadership of Ms. Girija Vijay brought in Indian community together for an entertaining evening at the College of Southern Nevada. Volunteers led by Ms. Vijay worked tirelessly to raise necessary funds for sponsoring schools in remote villages of India.  The evening brought dazzling panoply of yesteryear Bollywood singing mesmerizing the local Indian and Pakistani community members in attendance.  The event’s proceeds will support EKAL’s ongoing effort to take quality teaching to India’s poorest and remote areas.  

Alok Pandey emceed the event and thanked the attendees for their generosity.  Program began with a short film on EKAL ongoing programs in an Indian village.  To maximize the fundraising goal, all attendees including volunteers bought the tickets to enjoy the Bollywood inspired entertainment.  The evening entertainment program was led by Anand Vinod from Baroda, Gujarat along with Sa Re Gama winner singer Vibhavari and three person live orchestra.  Vinod is well known in India for his passion for Kishore Kumar songs while Vibhavari showcased Lata Mangeshkar yester year songs along with some of the latest Bollywood hits.

Dinner break came after 90 minutes of nostalgic Bollywood evening.  Dinner break included a boxed dinner and a masala chai catered by India Palace Restaurant.  After dinner program started with another short pre-recorded skype video of interaction between the local Indian community youth and EKAL school students from Jharkand, India.  Mira Dani of the Las Vegas EKAL youth group introduced the computer lab on wheels in Jharkand.  The computer on wheel bus makes regular stops at the remote villages in Jharkand and is funded by EKAL donors.

Youth leader Gargi Pandey introduced a second skype video on vocational skills especially sewing classes, funded by EKAL, for both boys and girls in rural India. Gargi encouraged local kids to visit one of the EKAL Schools in rural India.  Alok Pandey thanked all the donors for supporting EKAL and making a difference in rural India. Evening ended on a high note with funding for over 135 schools totaling over $50,000.  Organizers thanked profusely to the youth group and volunteer team for their continuing commitment towards the literacy programs in rural India. 

With support of so many loyal and dedicated donors, local EKAL committee has decided to continue this annual tradition of reaching out to the younger generations of Indians in remote rural areas. 

The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation is a tax exempt, registered non-profit service organization dedicated to bringing education & village development to rural India. Ekal’s philosophy is to take a holistic approach to social and economic development. The Ekal movement is the largest grassroots, non-government education movement in India, operating in remote and tribal villages of India.