Two Cents of Hope is a nonprofit organization founded by eight graduate students in February 2005, and then expanded to create different chapters all over the United States, India and Europe.
This organization is run by graduate and doctoral student volunteers who aim at providing the needy children of India improved education. With jars located throughout campus, the group collects donations in forms of loose change, but is not limited to pocket charity.
“Change donations like cents form a steady source of contribution for the organization. The concept of Two Cents of Hope arose out of an idea to use often discarded coins, which can amount to substantial money in India,” Sanath Kumar, one of the founders of the organization and graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, said. “This is a dynamic process wherein we focus on building our finances by collecting money in the form of small change like cents, five cents and other coins, which are usually discarded.”
To apply for a scholarship, a student fills out an application online and once the project is approved, the organization appoints a member of a U.S. chapter and a member of an Indian chapter to coordinate the completion of the project, which lasts for a year. To have the scholarship renewed is dependent on available funds and a student’s academic performance throughout the year.
“Feedback is great. Our work is really appreciated,” Arjun Mukherjee, an active volunteer and graduate student in computer science, said. “It feels good when you are doing something not for someone else but because you see it as your moral responsibility and then also get thanked for it.”
The organization has helped many of its members learn about the current educational system in India, its deficiencies and ways to work around the road blocks. Like all newly founded organizations, members of Two Cents of Hope had to overcome some obstacles on their journey to achieve their goals.
“There is a need to spread the word about our organization across a wide geographical area. Funds need to be raised to sponsor various projects. But amidst all these, there is never a scarcity of motivation,” Kumar said.
The mission of the organization is to provide education for deserving children of India who cannot afford it, to unite people with a common vision and to develop a self-sufficient society.
“I share the vision of the group. Every group member is involved in one way or another in propagating the ideas of the organization, contributing monetarily to various projects, being involved in various fundraising events organized by Two Cents of Hope and being an integral part of the team,” Kumar said. “I experience a feeling of satisfaction in my attempts to contribute in the creation of a better society for the next generation of people [in India].”
The projects Two Cents of Hope are working on range from providing uniforms for 39 primary school children, and supplies and exam guides for 132 high school students, to providing tuition and book fees for an individual case-by-case basis. Two Cents of Hope encourages everyone to join the organization and help assist a worthy cause, regardless of the amount of time one can volunteer.
“[Our] end goal is to see every child educated. We are also a little selfish in this; we would like the person whom we supported to come back and join us and help our cause by whatever means possible,” Mukherjee said.
Child labor, poverty, illiteracy and overpopulation are still prevalent problems in India and Two Cents of Hope works to address these issues.
Currently, the organization is looking for more members from the University to take part in this collective effort to help the children of India.
As in the group’s vision, Two Cents of Hope “dreams of an India where every Indian dares to dream, rekindling the hidden potential.”
For more information about the organization or ways you can help, visit its Web site at:http://clubs.ncsu.edu/twocentsofhope/index.htm
