Check out the new IIMPACT website!

Responding to popular demand, the site at www.iimpact.net has been revamped with many new features and services.

On the home page you will see a new layout and easy to use menu - simply click on the drop down menu to reveal items of interest. With short news reports and stories about IIMPACT girls highlighted, you will see this content changing more frequently.

You can click on information links in the 'Get Informed' menu group and 'Get Engaged' enables you to sign up for site updates, contact us or support us with a donation.

Now you can also connect IIMPACT more easily into your FaceBook, Twitter and other social networks, so your friends know what great work you are doing with IIMPACT!

Finally, you will soon see an online payment service that will enable you and your friends to make donations with a credit card - did you know that even small donations can change a girl's life and 100% of your donation goes towards her education?

Do email us or post to this blog with your suggestions for our - no, your website!

IIMAGES IIMPACT

A story in black and white- the girls emerge from a day's work in their learning centre. Their books now form an integral part of their lives.

IIMAGES-tell their own stories

Haran Kumar- award winning photographer visited IIMPACT learning centres to capture a day in the life of IIMPACT on camera. He took some wonderful shots. He entered the lives of the girls and the villagers effortlessly and unobtrusively. Here are a few of his snaps....

BHUTERI – A GIRL WITH HIGH ASPIRATIONS - Her Story

In Bandipura, a remote dusty village in Alwar, Rajasthan, lives a young girl called Bhuteri. She lives in a community where the girl child is often considered a liability to be dispensed with, hurriedly married off at a very young age.Belonging to a conservative and rather poor family, Bhuteri has 5 sisters and an elder brother. Her parents, father Kanhaiya Lal and mother Gulab, are illiterate and the father works as a mason. Bhuteri has a winning smile but it is her eyes that reveal a fierce determination – she has the distinction of being IIMPACT’s oldest student. It was Bhuteri who at a very young age took the initiative to enroll with IIMPACT where she was provided the opportunity to study. She was always a very earnest and bright student who tried never to miss a day of school, happily devoting 5 hours a day to her studies. She completed her class V at the IIMPACT’s learning centre in Bandipura where she developed a solid foundation and appetite for learning, and a drive to excel. She is currently class 11 in a local secondary girls' school and has ambitions of moving to a city college once she graduates. All credit must be given to Bhuteri for instilling in her parents and in her siblings the importance of education. Bhuteri has gradually taught both her illiterate parents to proudly write their names, recognize alphabets and identify numbers - something they had earlier never dreamt of. Bhuteri’s 2 elder sisters were never sent to school and were married off an early age in their teens. If had not been for the IIMPACT Learning Centre that opened in her village, that may have been Bhuteri’s story too. Instead, the same parents who did not believe in sending their daughters even to primary school, are now supporting her secondary schooling and are open to thinking about college. Bhuteri’s experiences have influenced the lives of her 2 younger sisters, who have followed her in to the IIMPACT program. She is also a role model for her brother’s daughters, who too have started their schooling, as well as for other girls in her community.Kanhaiya Lal and Gulab Devi are not the only ones filled with pride at Bhuteri’s achievements - the entire village community holds her up as a shining example to all their girls. Education is now viewed as an integral part of their lives. Everyone is confident that Bhuteri will do well in life as she charts her own path. IIMPACT will always remain a big part of her life.So not only did IIMPACT affect Bhuteri’s life, but it has changed her family’s and community’s thinking about issues such as girl child education and early marriage. Bhuteri has grown in to a smart confident young woman who is excited by learning and has dreams of going much further in life.

MOBILE SCIENCE LAB FLAGGED OFF

IIMPACT, in collaboration with Agastya International Foundation has implemented its Model Science Lab project in Mehmoodabad, Lucknow courtesy ING VYSYA Foundation. Take a look at this exciting colourful van - the girls find it all so exciting.

Science education will now be imparted to our rural girls with the most attractive science teaching models fitted in this mobile van. This will encourage creativity amongst these young girls and will also help generate greater awareness about the importance of our environment.

IIMPACT ACHIEVERS CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING RESULTS

On 3rd August, 2010, a small function was organised at Mehmoodabad, Lucknow to celebrate the academic performances of IIMPACT girls . This year marked the first time in this area, that our young girls - 163 in number- appeared for class V board exams.

All 163 of them scored a 1st division! We are all so proud of them!

The girls celebrated as well. They presented colourful performances as they san songs, recited poetry , acted and danced in front of our special guests. Mr Jayant Mehrotra - CFO ING Vysya Bank and Trustee ING Vysya Foundation, Ms Joyatri Ray- Director Projects along with a team of ING Vysya officials from the Lucknow branch were guests on this occasion. Mr Anil Tandon, Ms Manju Mithal and Ms Pramila Kishore, Nalanda and IIMPACT's operational team were also present on this day. 500 children were also seen in the audience.....

Friends of IIMPACT - volunteers

During the recent school and college summer break IIMPACT welcomed volunteers who were keen to get involved and contribute towards our program in some way.

A couple of young 'friends of IIMPACT' spent considerable time in the villages of Mewat Haryana and Alwar Rajasthan despite the oppressive heat of the month of June! These girls interacted with the girls and village communities, getting to understand how girl child education was viewed by the various age groups.

Some wonderful photos for our ever growing photo library were clicked by these youngsters - happy to share some of them with all of you....

IIMPACT featured in IIMA Alumnus - Oct/Nov '09 Issue

Naveen Anand - a well wisher -describes his visit to an IIMPACT Learning Centre

To share his personal experience and impressions do visit http://www.iimaalumni.org/n/front/home/pdfnov09/AlumniNews.pdf

Naveen supports an IIMPACT Learning Centre in Alwar District which educates 30 girls