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“If you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.” – African Proverb Education should not be a privilege, it is the right of every human being.  Living in the 21st Century, education is still an opportunity. There are countries where it is hard for children to attain an education. The lack of education for young girls is more prevalent and this is true for most rural areas or developing countries. According [...]

The world is marching forward towards digital currency. But the digital world still falls back on the basic computer literacy in the highest populated countries. The young India whose literacy rate is more than 75% is still behind the computer literacy rate.  Despite the ever-growing developments of computers worldwide, only 21.3% of the students in rural areas have access to computers. These deranging statistics have led to a lack of computer literacy amongst the children of rural India.  Why is [...]

Often referred to as the gateway to South India, Chennai played an important role for India right from the 1st century. And in the 21st century the city still holds its status and has been noted as one of the fastest growing cities in the world (Forbes Magazine). The city is home for several industries and services (especially IT) which is commendable but the flip-side is equally disheartening. In this growing city/metro there is a need to look more closely and [...]

I was looking for an opportunity to give back to the community, and I was lucky to get acquainted with the Ann Foundation.  I started off as an ESL teaching volunteer for the Project at Sowbhagya Illam, Dindigul. However, soon I was given the responsibility of managing the curriculum team and co-ordinating with ESL volunteers. When the project started there was no defined curriculum. Each volunteer made their own lessons, but we felt the need to standardize our curriculum. So, [...]

On December 5, 2012, Ann Foundation offered me the opportunity to lead the orientation class of our new project in Chennai, India. Through this project, 30 children of diverse ages will receive ESL classes via Skype in partnership with Mr. Damodaran, who heads Breaking Barriers for the Physically Disabled. Taking on this challenge and meeting the children was an unforgettable experience. The reception was warm, and the children were full of energy. They introduced themselves in English by telling their [...]

PURITY MWANGI I am a student in my final year at the University of Nairobi completing my bachelor’s degree in commerce. I am passionate and committed to ensuring that every child is accorded an opportunity to pursue their dreams and not begin their lives at a disadvantage because of not having access to formal education. I was seeking an opportunity for online volunteering when I came across the Ann Foundation and was really inspired by the work being done all [...]

As a board member of the Ann Foundation and the founder of Aiki Healing, a practice of Chinese medicine focusing on stress reduction, Kay Hutchinson created for the Ann Foundation, a series of audio relaxation meditations specifically designed to empower people who have disabilities with the ability to detoxify and relax their bodies deeply, and also increase energy when faced with stress and fatigue. Kay shared, “We wanted to give people with special needs some affordable tools to help manage stress [...]

This Blind Center was first initiated by some Missionaries who came to Cameroon. It all started in 1977, in Bavinga in Muyuka, in the Meme Division of the South West Province. When these Missionaries left in 1980, the government of Cameroon took over and a Presidential Decree was signed. So it has effectively been operating for 43 years now. Access to this school by the blind population of Cameroon, is through admission. Talking to the Delegate of the Bulu Blind [...]

The Ann Foundation is always looking for ways to make all of your generous donations reach more people and meet the needs of more children. This time we’re doing it with a new project in Vellore, India. Ann Foundation has already sent a trusted volunteer to Vellore, a city in southern India, to set up the infrastructure for this new project. She will soon be sending us the pictures and information from the field, which will be uploaded on the site. [...]

The Sundarbans project is one of our newest projects. This project is located in the Sunderbans region of India. The idea of the project was initiated last year when Kallol Gosh, Director of Samaj Unnayan Kendra, met with Ann Moideen, CEO and President of Ann Foundation. Both of them discussed potential teaching English opportunities for children in the slums of the Sundarbans. We were able to meet up with Nilanjana Chakrabarti, project coordinator of the Sundarbans Project, and discuss more about this [...]