Sample Letters

You can use these sample letters for your fundraising appeal. Use these to get started but we encourage you to personalize the message in your individual emails and letters so that it rings true with your donors and conveys your personal beliefs and identification with the Asha cause.

In the case your friends already know about Asha, rather than share more details about Asha, focus on your involvement with the cause. Of course, if you are new to Asha, please spend some time to learn more about the severity of the problem of illiteracy in India. Here are a few snippets of info that you might like to include in your letters and conversations:

• India currently has the largest illiterate population of any nation on earth. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_in_India)

• "... Of all the world's illiterate people, 35% live in India ... Although schooling is free and compulsory from 6-14 years of age, facilities are inadequate and often totally lacking. Approximately 40% of students, mostly girls, drop out by secondary school ... it is estimated that by the year 2020 over 50% of the illiterate population will live in India ..." (Source: http://www.roomtoread.org/Page.aspx?pid=304)

• There are more than 300 million people in India who cannot read or write. That is about the population of the USA!

In addition, do familiarize yourself with Asha (www.ashanet.org) and its efforts.

Good luck in your training journey!!