Pika Foundation
Pika Foundation
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About this organization
Mission
Education is the foundation for advancement in most societies and in developing countries it is of even greater importance. Without an education, it is difficult if not impossible for a child to escape poverty and to improve the fortunes of both previous and future generations. Educating the next generation not only changes the future of the children directly but it empowers entire communities. Our goal is to help as many children as possible to have access to education. If a family cannot afford to purchase the necessary school supplies, a child is often forced to abandon their studies and work to support themselves and their family. Sometimes as little as $100 can be the difference between a child attending school or foregoing an education entirely. Girls are often more vulnerable to withdrawing from school or not attending at all. Therefore, we pay particular attention to the situation of girls where we operate and provide additional services to ensure that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We currently operate projects in Bhutan and Laos, each tailored to the local needs of the children and the education systems in the two countries. Please visit our Projects pages for Bhutan and Laos to learn more about the work we do and the children we help.
About
The Pika Foundation was established after its Founder, Jennifer Vasta, visited Bhutan and was struck by the extreme beauty of the country and kindness of its people. While the dedication of the government and His Majesty the King to improving the lives of the people was clear, it was also clear that many children did not have the opportunity to get an education. After visiting a local public school and being impressed by the rigorous curriculum, which includes instruction in both English and Dzongka, the idea of starting a foundation to help children get access to that education was born. Parallel volunteer work in Laos was then brought under the Pika Foundation umbrella. Jennifer makes regular trips to Bhutan and Laos to meet with the students, their families, and school staff and to personally purchase and distribute the supplies. The work in Bhutan would not be possible without the invaluable support and assistance of local volunteers, including teachers and school administrators. They help to identify the neediest children and they provide regular updates on the children's academic progress. They also alert us to any problems or needs that require our attention. Currently, the project in Laos is carried out without the assistance of local staff. Jennifer visits the students there each year, providing English conversation practice while ensuring that the students have what they need for their studies. Our work in Laos has expanded with the completion of our new dormitory and the planned addition of an English language school; as a result Jennifer intends to spend additional time in Luang Prabang to oversee the projects and identify local volunteer staff. With such close control and personal involvement, we can account for every dollar distributed. And since all of the foundation staff work on a volunteer basis, our overhead is very low. Our philosophy is to increase the impact of every donation to the foundation by eliminating administrative layers and getting the much needed assistance directly to the children.
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