Award for `freedom' fighter

[Guest guest]

Award for `freedom' fighter

NAYARE ALI: TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 2002 10:27:19 PM ]

Ashok Rau deserves a round of applause. This executive trustee and

director of the Freedom Foundation has just won the prestigious

Ashoka Award. Founded in 1981, the Ashoka Fellowship is a network of

innovators working in diverse fields globally. It has also pioneered

the " social venture capital " approach in international development.

" It is indeed an honour to receive this award, " says Ashok. " It means

that the many years of hard work and focused commitment has been

recognised. It is a sense of achievement for the people of the

concerned communities that the vision and ideas have made an impact.

It means the global community also believes in this vision. The

Ashoka Foundation USA had already heard of me and my work. I was

contacted by their regional representative. I was then interviewed a

few times in Bangalore and a couple of times in Mumbai by the

American representatives last year, I was then informed about a month

back that I have been conferred this award and fellowship, I was told

that I am now `An Ashoka Fellow'. "

The Ashoka Foundation is a global organisation based in the US which

recognises innovative ideas and successful implementation of these

ideas all over the world.

" There have been about 180 awardees over the years. I will receive a

monthly stipend of Rs 13,000 for the next three years. This award

will showcase to the world the Freedom Foundation and its work. It

will create opportunities for the organisation and the communities

that it works for in many ways. It will also bring about a heightened

sense of credibility for the Freedom Foundation, " says Ashok.

The Freedom Foundation has also been identified by UNAIDS as a centre

for excellence which offers comprehensive care and support of people

living with HIV/AIDS.

" Our mandate is to now replicate and decentralise the foundation, "

says Ashok. " We now have units in Hyderabad, Bellary, and Mangalore.

We have started work in Udupi too, all this apart from the two units

in Bangalore. Our biggest challenge lies in getting funding. We do

not get any overseas or internal funding except for some small grant

from the government. The budget of the Freedom Foundation is about Rs

160 lakh, which is generated by society at large. We need land to

build our own facility, so children women and men at risk and living

with HIV/AIDS will have a permanent facility. All the existing

facilities are rented or taken on lease. "

http://www1.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?art_id=6893874

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