The Global Foundation for Humanity is an exemplary small international NGO. It has been sponsoring the Veerni Project in a group of poor rural villages in Western Rajasthan, near Jodhpur, for approximately 20 years. I am a Professor of Economics at Vassar College who has visited the project several times and helped design several surveys: one which evaluated the effects of the mobile health units, health education classes, and literacy and numeracy classes for girls provided by the project. I also organized an evaluation of a program producing locally nutrition supplements for infants and young children. The Veerni project has accomplished a great deal with very little money and has worked hard to empower women and girls in this conservative part of India. Now, I continue to support the project in its newest work, providing secondary education for girls from these villages. I have recently published an article, based on data from these villages, on the shameful practice of child marriage, still far too prevalent in this part of the world. But our educated girls are organizing against this practice. Dr. Shirley Johnson-Lans
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I have worked for about 10 years developing empirical studies of the work of the Veerni Project in rural Rajasthan, funded by GFH. The GFH funded projects to improve education and health of adolescent girls and women and nutrition of very young children in poor rural villages in the Jodhpur region of Western Rajasthan have been highly successful in changing the lives of women and girls, some of whom are now finishing high school and even attending university. This is a small NGO that accomplishes a great deal with a small budget. It deserves your support.
Starting out as a volunteer with the Veerni Project teaching English and arts, I was keen to stay involved with this inspiring project. Focusing on girls' education and women's health issues, the project educates and empowers rural Rajasthani girls and women. The Veerni Academy now houses over 100 girls, allowing them uninterrupted secondary schooling. Several students have moved on to college. I am grateful I am still participating in The Veerni Project in a very small way.
It has been 17 years since I began working on the Veerni Project through the Global Foundation for Humanity. Empowerment of girls and women is our priority and we began by opening literacy centers some years ago in some of the poorest villages in Rajasthan. Five years ago, we opened a boarding school with 37 girls enrolled and now we have 100 girls enrolled at the Veerni Institute. Many of these girls would not have been able to receive a secondary education and we are determined to help as many girls as we can. For more information, please visit our website, www.veerni.org.