When I saw a program to train for mountain climbing that also supports education for kids in India, I was intrigued. Starting at the end of Feb 2025, I began to join crazy people who climbed a mountain every weekend. The group offered special classes on how to fall down a mountain and what to wear while doing so.
As the season progressed, climbing an extra summit mid-week also became normal. Early on I joined a very athletic teammate on a mid-week hike up treacherous Mount Tenerife, not realizing what I had gotten into. The cold and steep mountain offered nearly waist-deep snow and tree roots well above my head even just a few feet up the trail. The mountain didn’t shrug me off and I managed to write a poem about my survival! Camp Muir on Mount Rainier felt relatively easy by the time I got to it in May.
In July I carried my tent, wag-bags and more on my back to sleep on Mount Adams for a night before summitting the next day. The 3rd highest volcano in the Cascade range & 2nd highest peak in Washington at 12,276ft, I climbed over 6,700 feet with about 35lbs on my back.
The accountability of a group helped me stay engaged. After my climb was done, I signed up for the Asha running program as well. Pounding miles 3 times a week, trying to dodge rain, cold and gravel has not been as photogenic as the mountains, but offered a more efficient and shorter way to stay fit. When I began running, 2 continuous miles was a challenge. Completing the program with a 10k seemed possible but unlikely. On Saturday night after Thanksgiving, I found myself spontaneously signing up for the Seattle half marathon and completing the 13.1 miles on Sunday.
This year of fitness for me has demonstrated that consistent effort makes anything possible. Asha and these training programs exist to educate children in India.
Congratulate me with a contribution!
Your donation will create life-long changes for a child and their entire network. I am asking you to make whatever contribution you think is appropriate. All donations are tax-deductible, and the organization is registered with many corporate employers for donation matching programs. With your donation, please add the following comment – “Team Asha 2025 Dimple Khurana”. Thank you so much for your support!
What is Asha ?
Asha is a non-profit that supports education for underprivileged children. I’ve known about Asha for some time now and their work is meaningful and genuine. Good work making solid impact to improve lives. Charity Navigator is a 3rd party that ranks non-profit organizations, and they have given Asha a perfect score for 7 straight years: 4 on 4 on the scales of accountability, transparency, leadership & culture.
Why Asha for Education ?
Asha is a “minimal overhead” organization, driven by volunteers (including administrative expenses), ensuring that more than 95% of your donations are sent to our partner groups in India. Asha for Education has consistently secured a 100% rating on Charity Navigator, a well-established database that evaluates non-profit organizations based on transparency, accountability, and financial parameters.
Where will the money go ?
What I raise will support Vikasana in India. The Bridge school focuses on children of migrant daily-wager laborers. The kids begin to work early (child labor) alongside their parents to make ends meet. Vikasana helps them break out of their cycle of poverty and helps them find meaning and aspiration. Every year 25 children are re-habilitated back into formal schools. (See 3 case studies below).
Every dollar donated will go to the project, Asha is a near-zero overhead organization (3% overhead to cover the credit card fee).
How much should I give ?
Sponsor a mile or two @ $100 / mi ?
Or support 100 feet of elevation I climbed @ $20 / 100ft ?
Or maybe choose the kind of impact you would like to make ?
Whether it’s a $8 latte, or $35 dinner or a $120 family meal out… anything counts and no amount is too small.
Each dollar educates someone needy in India and can help transform more than one life.
| $1 covers the nutritional needs (3 meals, including a snack) of a child for a day ($30 can feed a child for a month) |
| $10 can provide education materials and 1 uniform set for 1 child for an entire year. ($50 provides educational materials & 1 uniform set for 5 children for a year) |
| $450 covers the entire contribution of Asha* for 1 child annually ($225 covers Asha’s support for 1 child for 6 months) |
Vikasana is supported by other organizations as well as by Asha. Asha Seattle’s contribution covers food and medical costs for children, uniforms, educational & play materials, exposure trips & travel expenses, electricity & water expenses, teacher, cooks, counsellors and security honorariums, computer maintenance, and some administrative expenses (auditing, some repair etc).