Promising a Better Future

By Daniel Hamon

In 2002, Jaya Basu and Sue Dattar set out to fulfill their dream of helping some of the neediest and least fortunate children in India by funding food and literacy programs in Kolkata (Calcutta). The organization they founded for these efforts was named Promise World Wide.

Today, Promise World Wide takes care of 200 children, ages 5 through 16, by providing them with balanced meals, clothing, literacy programs, basic medical care, school tuition and supplies, tutoring and classes in art, music and computers.  The children, primarily underprivileged girls, come from families with earnings of less than $1 per day. Without this program, the children would end up being maids, living on the streets or worse.  

Promise World Wide is a non-profit organization run by its founders and eleven volunteers in the U.S. It fulfills its mission of educating and empowering underprivileged children across the world through the donations of its founders, board members, private citizens, and a handful of civic and private companies, all of them based in the United States.

Five years ago, a 7-year old boy named Pintoo joined the Promise World Wide project. He could not read or write at the time. Just recently, though, Pintoo achieved 3rd place in his state’s school-leaving exam and is expected to do very well on the nationwide version of this highly competitive test. Pintoo says he would like to teach the children in the project when he finishes his education.

The team at Promise World Wide wants to build on their current success and expand their activities as they get additional donations. Their bigger dream is to move from basic literacy and education programs to higher level schooling programs, the building of a residential facility and the launch of micro credit programs in the communities where the children live.

In addition to all the work she does for children in India, Jaya Basu devotes some of her time to help care for foster children and kids in juvenile jails near her home in California.

Comments

[Surendra J. Matani]

I just read an article about Smt. Jaya Basu and good work she has been doing for children in India.

I am a retired professor in Toledo, Ohio.I visit India every year for about three months, January through March. Mostly I stay in Mumbai.

I would like to get help and guidance to do the kind of work being done by Smt.Jaya Basu and her organization.

My e-mail address is matanisurendra@yahoo.com, and phone
# is 419 843 2229.

With best regards,

Surendra J. Matani