Colors of Life

I write to introduce you to the Colorss Foundation and our newest project, Colors of Life, in Pune. Our organization is called the Colorss Foundation; we are based in India, and we seek to improve the lives of the marginalized members of our society by helping them to integrate into the social and economic life of the nation. Colors of Life, involves the use of technology to enable disabled and otherwise disadvantaged children to teach children to develop an e-magazine, while learning leadership skills, communication skills, and developing their personalities and interpersonal relationships. We want this project to be self-sustaining.

Colors of Life has started near Pune, in the state of Maharashtra, at the Sai Baba Seva Dham center. Students from the municipal schools and some disabled children who live in the village are the first class; these students will learn how to develop their own e-magazine — they will provide the contents and fillers. Colors of Life aims is to reduce the school drop-outs and to give a platform to marginalized and disabled children to enhance their personality at a holistic level.

We have high hopes for them, and we are confident that they will do their best, and indeed discover skills and abilities that they may not have known that they had. One of the most important parts of their education in Colors of Life is learning how to use technology for positive ends—specifically using computers. To be sure, technology and media have had negative influences on the lives of children throughout the world; but Colors of Life intends to reverse that trend for its participants, to show them that technology can be a good thing for children and for everyone. The productive nature of Colors of Life ensures that this initiative will be a shining example of how technology can improve the lives of the disabled and marginalized. Here we are working directly on the holistic development of the rural child with the help of technology as a medium to motivate the child

We have made a good start with this project, having made temporary arrangements for the furniture and computers and we have also assembled our first class of students who will learn about the positive uses of technology and the importance of education in improving their lives. In order to get everything up and running, though, we still have some equipment that we must obtain. We would sincerely appreciate any donations that you could provide. Below is a description of the items that we still require.

First, we wish to have ten computers and the proper furniture for them, as well as a printer, a generator, and an inverter to support the computers. The specific technical demands are listed below:

1. Nine (9) compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, with holders
2. Ten desktop computers (they can and likely will be old computers)
3. One laser printer
4. One generator, with capacity for ten computers and a CFL
5. One inverter, with capacity for ten computers and a CFL
6. UPS for ten computers
7. Four multi-utility power-point holder

Second, we will need to get the proper furniture and other accommodations for the students. The following list details these needs:

1. Furniture for ten computers: tables or desks
2. Ten plastic chairs
3. One fan
4. Two carpets for increasing seating capacity in the room
5. One Almira, for storage
6. Stationery paper, pens, pencils, rubbers, notebooks, files, and educational books for the students.

Also, it is very important that we obtain a BUSINESS LICENSE for Microsoft Office so that we can utilize the program on multiple computers at our site. This last item is absolutely essential for the success of Colors of Life.

Please remember that 50% of all donations to Colorss are exempt from taxation under section 80G of the Income Tax Act. These donations are exempt under Income Tax Act 80G(5), registration number BRD/CIT/1 80G (20) (105) 2009-10. This registration is valid under 31 March 2012. (Only for Indians, we do not accept any foreign donation in Cash)

Again, any assistance that you could provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your commitment to improving the lives of these children.

For Love,
Anand
emailcolorss@gmail.com