Hi Yogi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am going to skydive to raise $ 1 million for Pratham USA – a charity that teaches millions of children in India how to read, write and count. Born in India, at age 22, I came to USA in 1968 with a scholarship to study chemical engineering at Oklahoma State U. No money, just a dream to succeed. I worked as an engineer for 20 years, owned a 100 unit hotel near M D Anderson in Houston for 15 years housing 30,000 indigent cancer patients for 15 years, retired in 2005 and moved to Dallas. Professionally, for the first 20 years, I worked in the oil industry, squeezing oil from dead rocks to fuel cars, and now I try to squeeze hearts of people to raise money to fuel young minds through education. Locally, I teach Bansuri- a bamboo flute free of charge. https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/yogi75
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No. Raised in extreme poverty. Had admission to study in USA with a scholarship, but no shoes or decent clothes. A few ordinary people (not wealth they) helped me to come to USA. Self-taught English. Self-taught how to drive a car in Tulsa. Self-taught how to raise money for charity Got my Master’s Degree without every buying a text book used Library or borrowed from friends.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Pratham was a tiny NGO serving 2,000 children in the slums of Mumbai in 1995; today it serves three million children across India. It’s TARL (Teaching at the Right Level) model has gone to 13 countries in Africa. I have played a vital role as a volunteer fundraiser serving as its President for six years and then as a Messenger/Ambassador for 15 years. All of this as a volunteer.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Giving back or paying forward. That is my way to express gratitude to 1. Almighty for giving me good brain to stay at the top of the class to get scholarships to continue my education 2. people who helped me with education and opened the doors of opportunities 3. Playing Bansuri and teaching it.
Pricing:
- $ 25 donation helps educate one child for a whole year
- $ 25 donation helps educate one child for a whole year
Contact Info:
- Address: Pratham USA 9703 Richmond Ave, # 102 Houston, TX 77042
- Email: yogipratham@gmail.com
- Website: www.prathamusa.org
