Building futures through education.
Asha's Ark raises money so that children in India whose families cannot afford school supplies, uniforms, or fees can go to school.
What we saw
My name is Niki. I started Asha's Ark with two friends, Arini and Sreekar, after trips to India to visit family. Those trips opened our eyes. We saw children who could not go to school because their families could not afford the basics: fees, a uniform, or supplies.
One thing stayed with us. A child's future was being decided by the price of a pencil or a textbook.
You already know what a pencil costs. For some families it is the cost of a future.
We realised how much we had taken for granted. A backpack, a notebook, clean clothes. For a family with very little, these small things can be the difference between a child in a classroom and a child kept home.
Why “Asha”
We named the charity after my grandmother, Asha. In Hindi, asha means hope. Her kindness is the reason it exists, and it is the standard we hold ourselves to.
Our aim is simple: remove the cost barriers that keep children out of school. Supplies, uniforms, warm clothing for winter, and school fees.
Even helping one child would be worth it. That is what keeps us going.
What a gift provides
Every gift goes toward one of three things: school supplies, a backpack, or school fees.
School supplies
Notebooks, pencils, pens, and the small things a classroom asks for.
A backpack
Something to carry books in, and something that is theirs.
School fees and warm clothing
Help with fees for a term, and warm clothing so winter is not a reason to stay home.
Give a child a reason to walk into school.
Choose a gift. Every amount goes toward supplies, a backpack, or fees for a child in India.
Online giving is being set up. To give now, email info@ashasark.org.
Payments are processed by Stripe. Asha's Ark does not store card details.
How Asha's Ark works
Every gift to Asha's Ark goes toward school supplies, a backpack, or school fees for a child in India. We are run by three people across three cities, not a large organisation, and we keep it that way on purpose. We do not publish inflated totals or invented impact figures: we would rather tell you plainly what a gift does than make a claim we cannot back up.
Three people, three cities
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Niki Kumar
Founder and Executive Director, Atlanta
Niki leads the vision and the day-to-day of Asha's Ark.
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Sreekar Machiraju
Director, Washington, D.C.
Sreekar builds our network in D.C. and looks for new ways to bring people in.
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Arini Tomar
Director, Indianapolis
Arini organises donations in Indianapolis and makes sure supplies get where they are needed.
Not a card person?
- By check
- Email info@ashasark.org and we will send details.
- Winter clothing
- We accept gently used winter clothing for children, sizes XS to L.
- School supplies
- Bookbags, calculators, lunch bags, and similar. Email us first so we can tell you where to send them.
Questions people ask
What is Asha's Ark?
A charity that raises money to cover school supplies, uniforms, fees, and warm clothing for children in India whose families cannot afford them.
Who will you help?
Children from low-income families in India who are out of school, or at risk of it, because of cost.
How will my donation be used?
Toward school supplies, backpacks, school fees, and warm clothing for a child in India.
Do you only cover school costs?
School is the focus. We also provide warm clothing, because a cold winter should not be a reason to miss class.
Is my gift tax deductible?
Email info@ashasark.org and we will confirm your gift's tax status.
How else can I help?
Give, pass this page to someone, or email us.
Write to us.
Questions, ideas, or something you would like to give. We read everything.
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