LOKA Foundation

LOKA Foundation

Loka Foundation offers children chances

Since 2008, Eekels has been supporting the Loka Foundation, an organisation whose purpose – among other things – is to give children in India who have talent, but not the financial means, a good education. In the state of Bihar, located in the north-east of India, Loka is supporting the creation of a traditional Indian school: a so-called gurukul.

Need for good education

The school will be built in a village in Bihar, where the demand for good education exceeds the supply many times over. In 2012, Loka will open the school’s doors for 20 local children and several hundred children from the surrounding villages. In the new school – a local initiative – modern and traditional education go well together. Consequently, pupils will not only be taught theoretical subjects, but will also acquire practical skills by tending the kitchen gardens, looking after (farm) animals and taking part in social and ecological projects. By means of biological agriculture and selling milk(products), the education project can be partially self-sustaining in the future.

First results

The first results are worth it: the third harvest from the fields has recently been gathered in. And on the land belonging to the school there now live – partly thanks to financial contributions from Eekels employees and customers – thirteen cows in excellent health. The school itself is half finished at the moment. In 2012, Loka hopes to welcome the first pupils – who are already so impatient they can hardly wait.

    


Financial support

Before everything is ready, however, further financial resources are needed to complete the construction of the school and to equip the building. Eekels is supporting Loka with, among other things, an annual Christmas action where customers are asked – instead of sending Christmas presents – to make a donation to Loka. Many Eekels employees also support Loka by giving up part of their bonus and/or by replacing their birthday present with a donation. Thanks to these contributions, in recent years Loka was able to install a water pump, adopt two children and purchase seven cows. The bottom line: this aid is deployed in India very effectively and practically for the benefit of many.

Would you like to know more?

Would you like to know more about the collaboration between Eekels and Loka? Or would you also like – either personally or with your company – to make a contribution to the completion of the school? If so, contact Sharon Stellingwerf (office assistant in Amsterdam) via e-mail or by telephone (+31 (0)20 615 50 50).

Or go to YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Lokafoundation