“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” - Nelson Mandela
Serving Rural India since 1999
Vishal Himalaya Foundation began operations in 2001 with establishment of its first computer center in a school in Akola. Soon, there were many. Small libraries were funded, gardens were created to transform dusty spaces, programs in music and sports were introduced. In one slum school, a nutrition program was begun (later abandoned due to poor management). After realizing that the greatest need in schools was not for computers, but for teacher training, the Akola Teachers' Club (formerly Center) was created. A van, portable movie equipment and a collection of children's shows were assembled to provide mobile video education. This was later expanded to a 6,000 storybook library. The collections continue to grow. A woodworking vocational training center was created to impart job skills to high school graduates.
A severe drought in 2004 involved VHF in building check dams in the parched saline tract villages northeast of Akola. Once dams, sanitation and drinking water needs came to the fore. Working with Rotary International, projects were created in sanitation to equip every family in 2 villages with a clean, easy to clean toilet. Dams, toilets, and now RO filtration plants for safe drinking water are beginning to transform a few villages.
Vishal Himalaya Foundation was established in 1999 by founding Directors Eva and Yogi Agrawal of Mercer Island, WA. VHF is a public Foundation. Donations to the foundation are tax exempt in the USA. The Foundation is served pro bono by attorney Edwin Sterner of Seattle, Washington.
VHF's Directors in 2010-2011
Executive Directors
Yogesh Agrawal, PhD
Eva Agrawal
Treasurer
Anjali Grover
Advisory Board, USA
Shashi Enarth, PhD
International World Bank Consultant
Sandra L. Hunt, PhD
NBCT
Highland Public School
Highland, Washington
Alka Kurien, PhD
Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
University of Washington, Bothell Campus
Fred Mednick, PhD
Founder
Teachers Without Borders
Seattle, Washington
Srini Nagasundram
Microsoft
Hydrabad, India
Dawn Naye
Dawn Nay Acct & Mgmt. Consulting
Mercer Island, Washington
Sriram Shastry, PhD
Dept. of Physics
UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA
Edwin Sterner, Esq.
Corporate and Business Law
Lake Forest Park, Washington
Vishal Himalaya Foundation Trust
Akola, India
Dr. Nikhil Kibe, Chairman
Nephrologist
Akola, India
Dr. Prakash Aher
Rajesh Bilala
VHF Treasurer
Public Accountant
Akola, India
Sunil Janjid
Ravi Khandelwal
Kandelwal Jewlers
Akola, India
Naval Raka
Shrikant Toshniwal
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