I’m a child of India, but also a child of this world. I was born in Punjab on July 17, 1982 into a traditional Sikh family. Life was hard. Very hard. In fact, I wasn’t even born in a hospital. I came into this world in a small, rural room in a village that I shared by my parents, grandmother, and three older siblings. It’s a far cry from the life I am blessed with today.
Fortunately, I was given an opportunity to escape from my poverty when my mother and father courageously moved to the Unites States and started a new life. I was just four years old. From my teenage years I’ve lived the American dream. I’ve been blessed with success, building one winning Internet business after another.
Now through The Chahal Foundation, I’m using my core beliefs to make a difference for impoverished children, starting with India, whose lives are a constant daily struggle. Ironically, it doesn’t cross my mind that I could’ve been this kind of child, if my parents hadn’t ventured to America.
India has 440 million children. There are 187 million students who lack proper education. Many of them lack the basic facilities that we take for granted…playgrounds, libraries, and meals, for instance. Too many kids go hungry. Many of the schools don’t even have toilets for girls, causing millions of girls to drop out each year. It’s a life most can’t fathom.
For millions of children, education is an impossible dream. Instead they are put to work at an early age. Official statistics tell us that there are more than 12 million child workers in India. Many NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) estimate that the actual figure could be as high as 60 million. That’s almost twice the population of Canada. UNICEF estimates that India has the highest number of laborers in the world under the age of 14, and many toil in hazardous jobs.
The cumulative impact of the lack of basic necessities exacerbates the social issues that plague children in rural India today. They desperately need help!
Through The Chahal Foundation we are going to make a start by upgrading at least 10 schools this year. That means setting up water filters, teaching rainwater harvesting methods, planting trees, installing playground equipment and educating children how to live healthier lives.
This is a mission close to my heart. It’s where I began my journey. I don’t know why it happened this way, and I don’t know why I was driven to succeed. The bottom line is today, I am fortunate to be able to give back in this way and I hope you will feel compelled to join.
Say no to child labor. Donate. Help us keep kids in school and get the education they deserve. Help us give these children a chance to have the kinds of lives that today might be unimaginable to them. Let’s do whatever it takes to fashion these eager young minds. Save the future. Share hope. Share a dream. Make them smile. Make a difference.
100% of the proceeds collected will be given to the schools directly.
If you wish to help please contact us at: foundation@chahal.com or you can donate at http://tr.im/smile.
Chahal Foundation.
Limitless Dreams. Limitless possibilities.