Past Projects
Remote Mentorship Program for SAATHI (India)
In 2021, our virtual mentorship program expanded internationally and in collaboration with a non-profit organization, SAATHI. We have been able to reach underprivileged children in India by providing after-school support and a platform to teach them the foundations of English and Math. The material we cover is not limited to their school work, in fact, our goal is to bridge the gap between their current knowledge and what is taught in their schools. Generally, there is a big gap causing them difficulties in school. Because of this, our first step is always to assess the children to gauge their knowledge. Just because a child is in 6th grade, for example, does not mean they know 6th-grade level English. Depending on the assessment, the mentor will then source material and lessons to start bridging the gap. Our goal is not only to provide academic support but also open a safe space for these children to learn important values about hard work, discipline, and success. We wish to be able to provide these children the confidence and encouragement they need so they will have the power to change their reality. Currently, we are working with adult volunteers to mentor these children, who can commit to this program until August 31, 2021. Usually the children are not very fluent in English, so it is helpful if the mentor knows some Hindi although it is not a requirement. The mentors will perform the following tasks on a weekly basis, requiring about 3-4 hours per week of their time:
- Create lesson plans and materials
- Upload weekly material & homework online
- Zoom class with student (1 hour)
Teen Ventures
Scope – Get involved from anywhere.
Teen Ventures is a Teen Magazine that is the only magazine that is so unique because it is entirely written, edited, produced, and marketed by teenagers.
The goal behind the magazine is to support Mental Health by giving our Teens a safe platform to express themselves on topics they care about, in addition to something they think will be fun for others to read, and raise voices against issues that impact our communities. Student volunteers cover a wide range of topics picked by them only. Some topics currently being worked on are teen voting, college admissions, mental health, and peer pressure, to name a few.
Currently, we are taking submissions to discuss more topics. For more information about the specifics of each topic, make sure to check out our Instagram page: @empowerandhelp or email us at contactus@empowerandhelp.com
India Covid Relief
Scope – Past Project.
The EmpowerAndHelp collaboration with SAATHI started in December 2020 by providing academic support and educational resources; however, we forged personal bonds with the families over time and learned about their daily struggles over time. These families are single-income homes, and due to the lockdown, unemployment, and COVID-19 illness, they have been struggling financially. We at Empower And Help have been turning away help due to a lack of funds and resources, but the need is dire. We want to help more families when it comes to providing necessities such as groceries and medicines. We would love to support the existing families we work with and reach more families in need. There is a growing need for educational and financial assistance, and with your help, we can truly make a positive impact in the lives of these families.
Humanitarian relief to help families across Refugee Centers.
Scope – Past Project.
Extending my gratitude and love to everyone who supported this drive .Project Eats Meal Kit Distribution
Cards of Hope
Scope – Past Project
Students were involved from everywhere in Project Cards Of Hope for essential workers at front lines.
Cards Of Hope is a social good project started in the summer of 2017 . We invite children from all over the country to make cards for families in refugee camps, those that are homeless or living in underprivileged communities in our own country, the USA. These cards are created as a message of peace, love, care, and hope. A lovely project for the whole family to bond together empowering yourselves and others. You have an opportunity to involve your school, community, and work colleagues to raise their awareness and bring smiles on the faces of people living miles and miles away under far more difficult conditions.
We have proudly distributed over 1000 “Cards of Hope” with your love and support .
Meal-Kit Distribution
Scope – Past Project
These meal-kits were distributed in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in coordination with Vilag Nirman Foundation. They are registered non-profit with a vision “We commit ourselves to supporting the underprivileged in our society”. Vilag Nirman formed by a like-minded and well-meaning group of friends, the trust began its activities in Guntur District and then gradually extending to other districts of Andhra Pradesh in India.
Support Sewing Class at Casa Freehold
Scope – Past project
Casa Freehold helps to lay a fundamental foundation to empower our newly immigrated families, so they can become independent and able to address their needs, integrate and build sustainable communities.
Every non-profit and its work need a sustainable way to keep doing good. That can happen when a community contributes, connects and has desire to empower others with the help of each other. With help from so many friends and family, even the ones that we had never met before, we finally launched sewing class at Casa Freehold. Sewing is an art that is also dying due to commercialization and instant profits. This class will provide a revival of this art, build happy empowering connections and a powerful way to support families.
Diapers Project For Haiti
Scope – Past Project
We joined a diapers-for-Haiti project through a friend, April Perry, who started the Luke Mission project with three other people about 20 years ago after her first trip to Haiti. One of their initiatives was to supply reusable diapers for infants and newborns. We worked with local groups to provide environmentally friendly cloth hand-stitched diapers.
Book Smart Project
Scope – Past Project
We have partnered with the Book Smart Project and our student ambassadors raised $1000 for The Book Smart Project. The effort helped to get books in the hands of ALL kids to ensure that every child has the opportunity to be Book Smart. Book Smart donated thousands of books to teachers all around the state, mostly in low-income areas. Books have also been donated outside New Jersey or United States to various school libraries and children in need when requests are received.
Past Projects
Autism Awareness and Fundraising Event
Scope – Past project.
Our first social good project was launched by raising awareness about Autism. Our day to day tasks are so easy for us to so when the same can be a struggle to achieve for people with Autism. This event made us realize that while the spirit of volunteerism is abundant in the human soul, a medium is needed to spark it to action and channel it to where it is most needed. Through our social good projects we hope to spark that passion of volunteerism in individuals, families and children. The event was very successful and we had a great turnout. It led to so many more good things at Empower And Help.
Computer Campaign
Scope – Past project.
Computer Campaign was launched in June 2015. We donated over 30 new or used laptops and computers. We found many families whose kids needed computers to do their homework but did not have them at home and had to walk to a library to get computer access. There were also families who needed computers to generate income and support their family financially. We even donated several items to our local veterans . This campaign was conducted in New Jersey and North Carolina.
A dad shared a heartfelt comment with us: “I want to thank you for the laptop. It was very nice of them because we had none. My kids lost their mom just before Christmas and it put a big smile on my youngest daughter’s face.”
This campaign had an added benefit of being environmentally friendly because by finding new homes for these computers and laptops, we saved them from a landfill.
#MedicalSupplyDrive and #ParcelOfLove
Scope – Past project.
We were fortunate to be part of the #ParcelOfLove campaign that delivered 1,500 boxes of supplies to refugee camps in Syria. That gave founder Priti Bansal courage to initiate #MedicalSupplyDrive. We asked people to donate by checking for items lying around the house that they no longer needed or buy them specifically for the drive. Donations included: gauzes, medical gloves, walking boots, medical cotton, medical tape, sanitary pads, nebulizers, thermometers, tongue depressors, masks, wheelchairs, crutches, bandaids, alcohol gel hand sanitizers, first aid kits, canes, walkers, patches, diapers, baby formula, personal hygiene items for babies and adults, and canned food. We were able to collect enough items to ship a 20-foot container in coordination with SaveTheSyrianChildren.org.
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