Living On One Dollar

This documentary film from IndieFlix documents the story of four university students who spent a summer living in a village rural Guatemala on a dollar a day. Their mission was to raise awareness about global poverty and support microfinance through the Student Microfinance Movement.  For more information, click here.

According to the World Bank, one billion people worldwide live on less than a dollar a day. Of those one billion, many live in homes and communities similar to Meher's. While she is able to receive support from so many generous individuals, there are many who are less fortunate. Microfinance programs can create opportunities for individuals to create a path out of poverty. Even a small donation can have a huge impact.

IndieFlix is a community of independent filmmakers and fans. Through its membership-based streaming service, IndieFlix helps filmmakers translate artistic vision into commercial success, and gives film lovers access to high quality independent films not otherwise available. IndieFlix’s mission is to champion filmmakers, rethink traditional approaches to distribution, and celebrate the artistry and impact of independent film. Please visit IndieFlix at http://indieflix.com for more information.

Maggie Gruber Computer Center featured on national website

The Maggie Gruber Computer Centre was recently featured on the US Chess Federation's website! Read all about it here: http://www.uschess.org/content/view/12133/141/

Hough Street Tournament a Huge Success

The Hough School 5th Annual Chess Tournament Fundraiser was a huge success with over 100 chess players competing in the tournament, a multitude of volunteers, a silent auction and a raffle.  We were able to raise over six thousand dollars for Meher's fund and to support the newly opened Maggie Gruber computer center.  Thank you to everyone who supported us by attending, volunteering, or just coming by for lunch and socializing.

Maggie Gruber Computer Center

Congratulations to Maggie Gruber- the computer center in her name recently opened at Project Why.  It will provide computer literacy classes, training, and opportunities for many students (children and adults) who might otherwise have no access to this kind of technology.

This is a very fitting tribute as Maggie has been one of our most dedicated volunteers and strongest supporters.  She is a key figure in the upcoming Hough School 5th Annual Chess Tournament Fundraiser (more details here)

Thank you, Maggie!

A Future for Meher is on Facebook!

Please like us on Facebook!

facebook.com/afutureformeher

Happy International Day of the Girl!

Today, Thursday, October 11th, has been designated as the "International Day of the Girl" by the United Nations. The campaign to establish the day through the United Nations was led in the United States by School Girls Unite, an organization of students and women leaders. Cities all across the country are participating in a Day of the Girl Proclamation Project in honor of the day and to spread awareness about human rights issues such as gender equality and access to universal basic education. 

Meher's story and ongoing journey is a triumph to celebrate on International Day of the Girl- she is now granted access to education that would most likely have been unavailable to her before, and as she gets older and continues to excel in school, her leadership capabilities are becoming more and more apparent. She is an example of how one opportunity can transform a life. Unfortunately, there are still so many children- both boys and girls- who never receive their opportunity.

School Visit

Anou recently visited everyone at school. They had a lovely time together and all of the children are happy, healthy, and doing extremely well. Meher is as lively as ever and continues to excel academically and socially.

Adult Volunteer Delivers Donation to New Delhi

Sudha, an adult volunteer, will be travelling to India later this month. She graciously offered to personally deliver a donation to Project Why that will go towards a technology center at the Women's Center, allowing the women and children there to take computer classes and develop marketable skills. This donation was made possible by Sudha and fund-raising through Chess Without Borders. Thank you to everyone who supported this cause, but especially Sudha for her generosity and willingness to help.

Photograph of Sudha volunteering at a recent chess tournament.

Sujit Travels to New Delhi

Last month, Sujit, a long time volunteer and supporter of Chess Without Borders and the Meher fund, traveled to India with his mother (who is also a longtime volunteer and supporter of ours). After over four years of volunteering and fund-raising for her cause, Sujit was able to meet Meher in New Delhi at the Women's Centre of Project Why! They were both delighted to meet each other and Meher gave Sujit a tour of the center, showing off the excellent English she has learned at school. Sujit also made a donation to Project Why (as shown in the photograph above). Thank you Sujit for all of your support and hard work! None of this would have ever been possible without the generous spirit of volunteers and supporters like you.

Special Thanks to Ethan

Ethan, a 2nd grader from Barrington, IL, was so moved by Meher's story that he chose to donate his own money towards her education fund. He has been involved with Chess Without Borders and felt inspired to take action. We are very grateful to him for his generosity and support.

Photo of Ethan explaining his desire to donate at a recent chess tournament.

4th Annual Hough Street School Chess Tournament Fundraiser is a Success

On Saturday, February 25th, Hough Street School Chess Club held its 4th annual chess tournament fund-raiser to raise money for Meher's education. The tournament was a huge success, with over ninety competitors, as well as lots of volunteers and supporters all helping to raise over five thousand dollars. I was able to be in town for the tournament and witness all the support and effort and it was very exciting. Special thanks to Maggie Gruber, Hough Street School, Zein Bertacchi (who made and served her delicious falafel and hummus!), CEO Dominic Oetinger, and our countless other volunteers.

Also, thanks to Joe Ridgway, who took photographs of the tournament, which you can view here.

Happy Birthday Meher!

Today is Meher's 7th birthday. She was 3 years old when I met her, and we started arrangements for her first surgery on her 4th birthday. I always specially remember her birthday since it is on Valentine's Day, which fits her as she is especially lovable.

While Meher is doing amazingly well and continues to excel in school, she is unfortunately spending today in her family's village as her father is seriously ill, as described in more detail on Anou's blog:
Project Why: Say a little prayer for her

It is an extremely difficult time for her and her family.

In other more positive news, the Hough Street Chess Club in Barrington, IL is teaming up with Chess Without Borders to organize the 4th Annual Hough Street School Chess Tournament on Feburary 25th to raise money for Meher.

Back to School

Meher and the other students from Project Why have headed back to school! As you can see from the photograph, they are all doing well and are excited to be back.

New Pictures of Meher at School

This is a long overdue update, but Meher is doing extremely well at school, as she always does, and continues to receive straight A's. Even more importantly, she is very happy (as you can see from the pictures) and healthy and is enjoying herself immensely.

Emmy Nomination for "A Future For Meher"

The documentary about our project, A Future For Meher, has been nominated for an Emmy award in the Community/Public Service (PSAs) category. The final revised version with the new score is here:



Many thanks to Joshua Avila and Ron Swanson for all of their work in putting together the final version.

New Score for "A Future For Meher" Documentary

Thanks to Ron Swanson and Joshua Avila, musicians from Illinois who graciously volunteered their services to help support our efforts for Meher, the documentary now has a new score which sounds amazing!

You can view the film with the new score here:




Original Score Written and Performed by
Ron Swanson

Music Recorded and Mixed by
Joshua Avila
DUB VOX Studio Services
www.DUBVOX.com

Also, thank you to Rahul Chadha, our film editor, for putting the new version together.

Project Meher Chess Tournament and Fundraiser is a Huge Success

On Saturday, April 30th, Chess Without Borders and Hough Street Elementary school held a chess tournament and fund-raiser for Meher's fund. The tournament was an enormous success, with both children and adults competing, raffles, and a concession stand.

Special thanks to Maggie Gruber and Canary Chia for organizing the event and of course, thanks to all the volunteers, competitors, and other supporters.

Documentary Featured at GiSCA Palooza at Teachers College

On Saturday, April 23rd, A Future for Meher, the short documentary about our efforts to help Meher edited by Rahul Chadha was featured as part of the Global Initiative for Social Change Through the Arts (GiSCA)'s Spring Palooza at Teachers College, Columbia University.

The invitation to the event describes it as:
"The Palooza is GiSCA's signature annual spring event, a participatory, creative, meaningful, humorous and fun attempt to provoke and be provoked. Social Regime Change Begins at Home Too!! Join us to refill the soulful energies of students, faculty and staff to do effective work, while reinvigorating our commitment to living daily lives that resist and transform structural injustices in our communities and broader society.
The Palooza evening goes like this: we have a few 3-8 minute acts (theater, music, film, visual arts, sculpture, you name it), and then we have facilitated audience dialogue, then we repeat. Refreshments and an after-party round out the night."

The film was a big success and many people asked me about Meher and our efforts in India after the screening.


Program from the event (above)

Visit to Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School

Today (Wednesday, April 13th) I visited students at the Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School in New York. The school is part of the Outward Bound network, and students and teachers embark on expeditions (similar to interdisciplinary units) as part of their curriculum.





Their current expeditions is called "Taking a Stand" and Ms. Shiney, a teacher at the school, invited me in to talk about fund-raising and advocating for Meher. The students had already learned a lot about India, Meher, and activism, and had great questions and ideas to share with me. After our discussion, the students made posters to show what they had learned and explain the issue and solution to the rest of the school.





It was a wonderful visit and I really enjoyed sharing Meher's story with the students.

Another Excellent Report Card

Report cards have been issued and Meher has done excellently yet again. Her grades are straight A+s! She is now graduated from Prep (Kindergarten) and ready to enter first grade next term.