THE BACKGROUND:

School-going children in many government schools are greatly disadvantaged when they go to school. They walk long distances barefoot, they do not have a proper school bag, and they sit on the floor. All this leads to poor attendance, health issues, and a lack of interest in studies (as their sitting posture itself is very uncomfortable).

THE SOLUTION:

The Mumbai-based NGO Greensole has developed a unique back-to-school kit that has:-

1. Footwear (No more barefoot walking)

2. Study Mat (Makes it comfortable to sit at school for long hours)

3. School Bag (Ergonomically designed and colorful)

These elements are made from recycled material. For example, the sole from old footwear (which would be burnt or thrown into a landfill) is turned into new footwear. Old clothes are used to make the bags and mats. This is very environmentally friendly. Greensole also provides employment to women at their manufacturing unit.

PIC: The items that will be included in the back-to-school kit.

PIC: The students with the contents of the back-to-school kit.

The back-to-school kit contains a pair of recycled footwear, a soft study mat to sit comfortably on the bare ground and attend classes, and a school bag to carry all their books and stationery. This dramatically changed a student's attitude to school and studies. It improves attendance, focuses at school, and helps them fall in love with education. It also eliminates both foot-related diseases and improves the child's posture, decreases strain on the eyes, and reduces stress on the neck and back.

UPCYCLED ITEMS:

Upcycling refers to using end-of-life materials to make a new product with added value. That is to say, we re-use a product that is no longer used, or that can no longer be used, and turn it into a useful product.

This type of recycling has a positive impact on the environment since it defers and reduces the amount of waste in a landfill. In addition, the material is not processed like in downcycling, instead, it is cut, folded, molded, etc. into a new product. 

EACH BACK-TO-SCHOOL KIT COSTS JUST INR 900.

WHAT GOES INTO THE KIT AND BENEFICIARY INFORMATION:

PIC: The facade of the school and students from the Government Primary school, Doddakadathuru, Kolar, Karnataka.

CASE STUDY:

ABOUT ME:

Hello there! My name is Shiven, and I'm a 14-year-old Grade 10 student at Canadian International School (CIS) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Besides being a dedicated student, I'm also passionate about swimming and have achieved national recognition in the sport.

I strongly believe that every child deserves a comfortable and enriching education. That's why I've decided to take part in this fundraiser to contribute my share in helping as many students as possible enjoy a more pleasant and effective learning experience.

Currently, many students have to endure studying while sitting on the floor, facing extreme temperatures that can be both distracting and harmful to their focus on education. This uncomfortable practice can also lead to long-term posture issues. Additionally, some students lack basic footwear, making their daily commutes and tasks hazardous and uncomfortable.

For just INR 900, we can provide a comprehensive back-to-school kit for these students. Each kit includes a pair of recycled footwear, a recycled study mat for comfortable seating at school or home, and a recycled school bag for carrying books. Considering the significant impact it can have on a student's well-being, this amount is relatively small. The entire kit, including distribution costs, is covered by this amount.

I urge you to support my campaign and join me in making a positive difference in the lives of these students. Your donation, no matter the amount, will directly benefit a child in need, positively impacting their health, attendance, and academic performance.

Let's come together and create a brighter future for these students. Thank you for your generosity and support!

PREVIOUS DISTRIBUTION DRIVES:

PIC: The distribution of Back-To-School kits in a school in rural Telangana.

PIC: The students of Govt Primary School, Palwal, Haryana received the back-to-school kits from the students of a school who took part in a crowdfunding campaign like this and raised funds.

OUR PARTNER

Greensole Origins :

As athletes, the founders of Greensole, Shriyans Bhandari, and Ramesh Dhami ran hundreds of kilometers every year. They also ran through at least 3 to 4 pairs of sports shoes every year. The soles were in good condition but the shoe sides tore within months. The duo always wondered if they could find some use for the intact soles of these quality sports shoes. A bit of research led to the idea of refurbishing them into trendy slippers. That brainwave eventually spawned an eco-friendly enterprise that reuses shoe soles and is appropriately named Greensole. Greensole used to previously only recycle shoes but now they also give back-to-school kits to rural students which include upcycled footwear, masks, study mats, and school bags.

MAP SHOWING AREAS WHERE RURAL STUDENTS WILL BENEFIT IN KARNATAKA:

TAX BENEFITS:

Funding for this campaign is eligible for tax breaks as the NGO, Greensole is a registered trust and you can avail of benefits under section 80G of the IT Act. Foreign funding is NOT accepted.

FEEDBACK THAT YOU GET:

To ensure that there is complete transparency I shall get a report from the NGO (this takes between 1 to 3 months usually after the funds are raised and transferred to them) telling me who benefitted from the funding. The details will then be posted in the UPDATES section of my campaign. As soon as I post an update, the platform will send an EMAIL alert to all the funders - i.e. to you. Click on the link in the email and you can read about who benefitted. That's transparent, right?

The below image is an example of the FEEDBACK FORMAT that will be shared.