Music program For eens In India.

I am a 16 year old high school student from New York state. Last summer I spent time at a high school in India called the Bapagrama School. This is a school for Dalit (Historically known by the degrading name "Untouchable") teenagers. I am returning this summer to introduce a music education program in the school.

I will be teaching the students how to play the Ukulele. I am choosing to teach ukulele for multiple reasons. It is a small instrument, making it easy to transport to India. It is also one of the more simple string instruments for the children to learn, and has a very cheerful sound.

Last summer the students asked me every day to teach them American songs. They are so excited to learn new things and this is a great way to expose them to something new. The kids do not have money to buy these instruments and the school does not have the funding to buy them.

An inexpensive Ukulele costs about $50. I am hoping to provide the school with 15 ukuleles. In order to allow the students to continue playing the ukuleles after I leave, I am going to be providing 3 tuners and enough extra strings for each instrument, which adds about $150 to the cost. I will be purchasing the ukuleles in the United States and bringing them with me on the flight to India.

Even if  I do not reach the goal of $1000, I will use the money that is raised to purchase as many instruments as possible.

Over the past few years, I have organized multiple fundraisers for Natural and world disasters. I have raised $2500 for the earthquake victims in Haiti, $1000 for the victims of the famine in Somalia, $600 for the flood victims in Pakistan, and $400 for Hurrican Katrina victims.

Thank you in advance for your support,