The key goal of this project is to ensure that “Computer Education is made accessible to every Child”. The Government of Andhra Pradesh provided computers in most Government Schools in the year April 2006. The situation has been so pathetic that in most Government Schools, that even the packaging of the Computers has also not been opened. When the team from CauseanEffect approached these schools intending to set up Rural Knowledge Centers, the fact about the computers were given.

A team from Cause an Effect set out on a mission to install computers in all these 6 schools immediately. Teachers have been recruited by Cause an Effect who would be available in these schools full time and train children of Class VII to Class X on Computers throughout the academic year. These teachers also conduct special classes to children in Class IX and Class X.

Despite the efforts made in Andhra Pradesh in the direction of improving educational status, a major gap also exists between the ratio of boys and girls in the school enrolment, retention and academic achievement. Around 60% of girls stay out of school because they are either looking after their younger siblings or contributing towards the household income. This has created a need for reinforcement of the strategies to promote girls education.

CauseanEffect has initiated a number of interventions invigorating the computer education in the district, especially in the remote and inaccessible corners where literacy is very low and there has been no schooling. These interventions include direct support to children in form of Academic Support Centers, summer camps, teaching learning materials, libraries, etc and support to teachers through training programs, meetings, support visits etc. There is also the Rural Knowledge Centers for providing focused support to girl child. CauseanEffect is also playing a key role in ensuring entitlements and in providing infrastructure to these schools. One of the components of the iConnect Project is beautification of schools, to make the students an attractive place to be in, so that children feel proud of the school they go to. CauseanEffect tries to lobby for timely support for needy schools and plans jointly with teachers and community for its proper use. It is  heartening to see that due to such continuous effort schools have started functioning even in remotest corners, community showing interest in what their children are learning in schools and children enjoy being in school.

This project has many strong points such as establishing a model for school improvement, a highly motivated team, experienced and dynamic leadership, community acceptance of and involvement in the iConnect Project, etc.

CauseanEffect engaged the local community and local youth for ensuring education for all at village level. Eventually the Rural Knowledge Centers role would be in developing a model and enabling the system to replicate it everywhere.

1^st Dec 2007 Aim:To spread awareness of HIV/AIDS among people of Medak District, Andhra Pradesh through Make Aware,Educate & Discuss strategy.

To help spread awareness on HIV/AIDS issues Cause an Effect Foundation conducted a rally in Sangareddy in Medak District of Andhra Pradesh. All major stakeholders in fight against HIV/AIDS

were brought together – Telugu Network of People with HIV (TNP+), Population Foundation of India, Ambedkar Seva Samithi and of course the critical cog in awareness campaigns, the Media to go on a two kilometer candle lit rally from the old bus stand to the IB building in Sangareddy town centre.

The rally began with the participants making banners, singing songs and lighting candles – all designed to spread awareness with a three pronged strategy of Make Aware, Educate &

Discuss. People in the town centre were curious to know what the rally was about and this prompted queries and discussions on the subject. Medical Practitioners from the District General Hospital also joined and hence there was a lot of expertise in handling the queries coming from the public

– some curious, some confused, some just wanted to be taken a picture and some really wanted to know – all

well integrated

into the Make Aware, Educate & Discuss strategy in spreading awareness. The public joined the rally in an impromptu manner which only proves that HIV/AIDS has begun to enter into mainstream awareness.

Lending his services and resources to this cause on a spontaneous basis was Mr. Jagan, a noted SC/ST leader in the area.

“It is imperative that we come together in spreading awareness of this virus in the most vulnerable sections of the society”

said Mr. Jagan in an after chat.

Mr. Sriram Bharatam, the Founder of the Foundation was ecstatic that such a rally could be conducted with such meager resources and claimed “any impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS is better than no impact”.

The cause was represented and participated by various sections of the affected group – ex commercial sex workers, MSMs, forced wives

and others who chose alternate lifestyles and contracted the virus. It was touching to see the affected individuals participating with such enthusiasm and vigour to stop spread of this dreaded

virus. According to Mr. Ramakrishna, the dynamic

and enthusiastic Project

Co-ordinator from Cause an Effect Foundation, we are never short of energy and enthusiasm,we are only short of money and resources.

A few more committed resources would only amplify the impact of the work

and thus help in alleviating some more suffering thus helping the motto of Cause an Effect Foundation – “for a few tears less”.NP

Objective: To help issue Disability Certificates, free bus passes and free rail passes to the differently abled persons of Gandeed Mandal, Ranga Reddy District by bring together Disabled Welfare Department of Government of Andhra Pradesh, Doctors from Government Hospitals, Mandal representatives, AP Road Transport and Indian Railways through the co-ordination of Cause an Effect Foundation.

It was a scorching day in Gandeed mandal – A dusty non-descript ‘town’ in Ranga Reddy District 110 kms away from Hyderabad. But it was not a normal day or just another day – as a 6 member team of Cause an Effect foundation were actively involved in organizing and conducting a Differently abled camp. A camp where the Disabled Welfare Department of AP, Medical professionals from Govt Hospitals and Mandal representatives were brought together and issues Disability certificates for the differently abled people of the mandal. This helped cut down what would otherwise been an arduous 6 month going from one government officer to other process, to just a few hours. This not only helped the differently abled people get their certificates which is fundamental right, but also helped in awareness and reaping some of the benefits that come with the certificate – a free bus pass. AP Road Transport

officials were also

brought in expressly for this purpose and were issues many bus passes. It would have been better if the Indian Railways officials were also present to rightfully issue free rail passes, but for reasons only understandable to them, they chose not to turn up.

Mr. Rahul Ganti, employee of intellisight, volunteer of Cause an Effect believes it is important for Corporates and citizens to work with the society to bring in fundamental changes in the society. He wowed to come back and this time bring more volunteers from his company. Laxmikanth, a student from BITS had a most humbling experience working with the ‘real’ India. He claims no other day of his winter holidays has this much impact on him. He is continuing the good work from his university. Whoever says that Corporates are only interested in the bottomline should have seen all these volunteers in action

helping alleviate the suffering of people who are really at the ‘bottom’ line.

This camp was the fruit of tireless efforts

of our Cause an Effect Foundation Project Co-ordinator Mr. Ramakrishna who was running from Collectorate

to Government Hospitals to Disabled Welfare board to APSRTC offices to get

this camp going. It took nearly 3 months of effort for this camp to be organised and all get all necessary clearances from the government bodies. But in the end, it was all worth it as 332 disability certificates and 330

free bus passes were issued. Of the estimated 15 thousand disabled people of RR dist, 2.2% was taken care of one day. Needless to say, 97% still

to go. Lets get working ‘for a few tears less’! NP

If there was a need for a testimonial to assure corporate world that the Internet business solutions providers are not just restricted to working on improving the needs of the webizens in the US & Europe, it was provided by their activities at Mominpet Mandal on Friday, Dec 14th, 2007.

CauseAnEffect, the social wing of iridium Interactive (ii) that works at the ground level with far flung villages and towns in India, with its 10- member’s team conducted a Contact Program at Mominpet Mandal, a nondescript ‘town; tucked away about 2.5 hours from Cyberabad.

The contact program was conducted with the intention of attempting to alleviate the needs of fellow citizens – and enable the differently abled with the Disability Certificate from the Government. This Disability Certificate is a ‘fundamental right’ of the differently abled citizen in India – that helps the holder obtains special pass concessions from the Road Transport & Railways. This program helped in bringing all the different government bodies together under one roof (shamiana) – whereby the time period for the Certificate processing was cut short from a tedious 3-6 month wait to a 3 hour speedy process.

The ii volunteer team ensured the presence and clearance from the necessary authorities of Government Bodies like the District Collectorate of Rangareddi District, AP; District Welfare Board, Mandal Development Office and Government Hospital Doctors.

The sheer joy on the faces of the 800 + fellow Indian citizens – on receiving their Disability Certificates at the Camp was a truly humbling experience for the ii-team.

Indeed encouraging the team to work that much harder to bring about a few Tears less.Ample testimony that there is a small way that even common citizens (like me) can help in Causing An Effect in the new India that we want to build.