Meet GEF
The Grameen Education Fund
GEF works hard at bringing healthcare
equality to underprivileged parts of the
world.
That’s a big goal. In order to make it tangible, we take it step by step.
That means first finding certain locations that might need more help than others. Our first target location: Raipur, India. Why Raipur?
That means first finding certain locations that might need more help than others. Our first target location: Raipur, India. Why Raipur?
Raipur is the capital of Chhattisgarh. Here are a couple facts on Chhattisgarh:
But these are just the facts. What does that actually translate to in terms of individual stories?
This is one account from a family we met in the Godhi Village in Raipur.
"I got sick and couldn’t go to work anymore. It had been over a few weeks and my disease had worsened. I couldn’t get out of bed. I didn’t go to the hospital because I was afraid it would be too costly. I lost my home and we had to move in with my parents. That was it for my wife. She left me and my two-year-old daughter behind. She said that I will die soon so it would be best for her to leave and move on. I lost my job because I missed work for too long. I am afraid for my daughter. Her mom left and I cannot find work. Now, my parents, my daughter, and I sleep on three cots in a small square room. My daughter and I share one of these cots. She won’t have anyone or anything left behind for her. I am very, very afraid for her. I think the worry is the only thing that keeps me going. How will she fend for herself?”
- Poorest state in India with 47.9% living in poverty.
- Per capita income is less than $1,500 per year.
- 70% of the population, roughly 20 million people, earn between 1 to 2 USD a day.
- Health Index of Chhattisgarh is less than 0.49.
- The percentage of women with BMI < 18.5, the under five mortality rate, and the number of underweight children are the highest in the country
- Severe shortage of health care providers and health care delivery.
- Low population density which makes delivery of health care in all regions very difficult.
- 30% of population are tribals and ignorant about medical care.
But these are just the facts. What does that actually translate to in terms of individual stories?
This is one account from a family we met in the Godhi Village in Raipur.
"I got sick and couldn’t go to work anymore. It had been over a few weeks and my disease had worsened. I couldn’t get out of bed. I didn’t go to the hospital because I was afraid it would be too costly. I lost my home and we had to move in with my parents. That was it for my wife. She left me and my two-year-old daughter behind. She said that I will die soon so it would be best for her to leave and move on. I lost my job because I missed work for too long. I am afraid for my daughter. Her mom left and I cannot find work. Now, my parents, my daughter, and I sleep on three cots in a small square room. My daughter and I share one of these cots. She won’t have anyone or anything left behind for her. I am very, very afraid for her. I think the worry is the only thing that keeps me going. How will she fend for herself?”
Raipur has a problem. And our goal is to fix that problem.
We do that in two ways:
From these two methods, we see a massive improvement in the region. One week of volunteering brings in 1,000 happy patients. One donation of $9.00 provides healthcare for one patient for an entire year.
"It's not about how much we give but how much love we put into giving." -Mother Theresa
We do that in two ways:
- We send volunteers to help in any way that they can, whether that be in medical assistance, patient outreach, or anything else.
- We raise funds for the local population to afford medical care and for the local hospitals to continue providing low cost healthcare, while maintaining the best doctors and medical equipment.
From these two methods, we see a massive improvement in the region. One week of volunteering brings in 1,000 happy patients. One donation of $9.00 provides healthcare for one patient for an entire year.
"It's not about how much we give but how much love we put into giving." -Mother Theresa
