Guest Author
There was a time when Chandramukhi Murmu had no school to attend and little reason to imagine a different future. She grew up in a village where access to education was out of reach. Then an Ekal school arrived.
That small school changed the trajectory of her life. Chandramukhi learned to read, discovered her own potential, and was encouraged to continue her education. She went on to high school and graduated. Through Ekal’s Arogya initiative, she trained as a healthcare worker, learning to serve others. Later, she applied to join the police force and was selected as a constable.
Today, Chandramukhi is not simply an Ekal success story. She is an example of what happens when opportunity reaches a village and when that opportunity is allowed to grow. The child who once had no access to education is now an empowered citizen, serving and helping protect her community. In the past 25 years hundreds of thousands of Chandramukhis have become empowered citizens.
This is what 25 years of Ekal is about.
Ekal has many regional chapters in the United States. Nearly 200 supporters, donors, volunteers and leaders came together in Raleigh, NC recently to reflect on a quarter century of seva, impact and transformation — and to look ahead to the work still to be done. There are also other active chapters in the Carolinas including in Charlotte.
Twenty-five years ago, Ekal’s mission was simple: It was to take education to villages where there were no schools. From approximately 10,000 schools, Ekal has grown to more than 90,000 today, with nearly 2.4 million children enrolled and more than 10 million children reached through literacy initiatives.
But the numbers, impressive as they are, tell only part of the story. The school was never the destination. It was the beginning.
Over 25 years, Ekal’s vision has expanded from education to holistic community development. Technology has brought new possibilities, with more than 92,000 young people gaining digital literacy. Telemedicine and healthcare initiatives have expanded access to approximately 1.62 million people, with an increasing emphasis on preventive healthcare.
More than 1.35 million youth and adults have received skills training, while approximately 67,000 women have received vocational training. 92,000 young adults have gained basic computer skills and have become gainfully employed. Initiatives in organic farming and sustainable agriculture are helping strengthen rural livelihoods.
At the heart of this growth is a volunteer-driven organization. Thousands of volunteers contribute their time, skills, energy and resources, helping Ekal keep overheads remarkably low. Their commitment means more resources can reach the communities where they are needed most.
The story of Ekal in America is also a story of people who chose to give. Donors and volunteers from North and South Carolina and across the country. Their contributions are part of the foundation on which Ekal’s next chapter will be built.
And that next chapter increasingly belongs to the next generation.
Through Ekal Yuva Udaan, young people in the US are being invited into a meaningful journey of seva, leadership and humanity.
Part of Ekal’s women’s empowerment efforts
Bharat Exchange connects students with Ekal villages, while medical internships expose college students to preventive healthcare and telemedicine at the grassroots. Scholarship and youth leadership programs are creating pathways for young people to become future stewards of the mission.
Chandramukhi’s journey offers a glimpse of what that future can look like: a child given an opportunity, a young woman equipped with skills, and ultimately a citizen empowered to serve her community.
That is why Ekal’s 25th anniversary is more than a celebration of the past. It is an invitation to participate in the future. There are still villages to reach, children to educate, women to empower, young people to skill and communities to strengthen.
Volunteers of Ekal’s Raleigh, NC Chapter
Whether through volunteering, supporting a child’s education, contributing to healthcare and livelihood programs, mentoring young people, or simply sharing Ekal’s story, many can help extend this journey of seva.
Twenty-five years ago, Ekal took a school to the village. Today, it is helping transform communities.
To join the movement or find more information, visit ekal.org.
