Soles For Tots

A footwear project for the children of Assam, ... One Step At A Time

By Alpana & Ram Sarangapani

During one of our annual visits to Assam, our young son, felt very distraught when he noticed rickshaw wallas and poor children without any footwear. He was saddened & surprised that there were people who could not afford some of the very basic things in life. From then on, he found it very difficult to ride rickshaws, and expressed his wish that if he had all the wealth in the world, he would make sure that the less fortunate amongst us, would, at the very least, have the basic necessities of life.

That was when he was a young child of 11 and those were utopian wishes of a young child immersed in idealism. But today, as we look back, we try  to see the world through our son’s eyes, and we would like to take the first step in fulfilling this tiny, cherished dream of our son. We believe, our son taught us to look at the world with a different perspective, to be more compassionate and to try and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than us.

Providing shoes and footwear for the poor is not a new idea. There are a number of international organizations that already have successful projects in the US, Latin America, and in Africa. Footwear is one of the basic necessities of modern life. However, shoes or sandals are a very low priority for many of Assam's poor. Today, we realize and understand that lack of footwear can often lead to diseases and illnesses in developing countries. Further, young children may be exposed to injuries that could lead to serious complications like tetanus. Proper footwear often helps in preventing diseases that become pronounced in later years.It is with in mind, we are planning to launch "Soles For Tots, a footwear project for the children of Assam, ... one step at a time" project in Assam. This small project aims at providing footwear to young children, as a start. Towards this end, we earnestly seek the generosity and involvement of the Assamese residents in and outside Assam. The success depends on a few factors. The sincere involvement of, and contributions from civic associations, businesses, and individuals are often the key ingredients to success of such operations. We propose to launch the project in late December, 2009.We fervently appeal to the softer, benevolent side of the Assamese heart. These are our children, and we bear huge societal responsibilities. No amount is too small, and every bit helps us to purchase additional pairs. We have already made some contacts with some outstanding people in Assam, like Mr. Kaushik Das of Atma Nirbhar - Ek Challenge, and Mr. Kashi Nath Hazarika of NEDFi. We are committing $1,000 for now, and are hoping to attract additional contributions from concerned individuals, and from social responsibility programs of institutions like NEDFi, Lions Club, Rotary Clubs, and other corporate citizens in Assam. There is already a lot of encouragement and involvement from many people, and we hope to forge ahead in full earnest.Assam Foundation of North America is supporting this project. Please mark your contribution toAssam Foundation of North Americac/o Krishanu Kaushik
often helps in preventing diseases that become pronounced in later years.

It is with in mind, we are planning to launch "Soles For Tots, a footwear project for the children of Assam, ....one step at a time" project in Assam. This small project aims at providing footwear to young children, as a start. Towards this end, we earnestly seek the generosity and involvement of the Assamese residents in and outside Assam. The success depends on a few factors. The sincere involvement of, and contributions from civic associations, businesses, and individuals are often the key ingredients to success of such operations. We propose to launch the project in late December, 2009.

We fervently appeal to the softer, benevolent side of the Assamese heart. These are our children, and we bear huge societal responsibilities. No amount is too small, and every bit helps us to purchase additional pairs. We have already made some contacts with some outstanding people in Assam, like Mr. Kaushik Das of Atma Nirbhar - Ek Challenge, and Mr. Kashi Nath Hazarika of NEDFi. We are committing $1,000 for now, and are hoping to attract additional contributions from concerned individuals, and from social responsibility programs of institutions like NEDFi, Lions Club, Rotary Clubs, and other corporate citizens in Assam. There is already a lot of encouragement and involvement from many people, and we hope to forge ahead in full earnest.

Assam Foundation of North America is supporting this project. Please mark your contribution to:

Assam Foundation of North America
c/o Krishanu Kaushik
44963 Lemont Road
Canton , MI 48187