Anoopa Sharma

I'm so happy to share this update from Anoopa's dad Dennis Sharma and the on site manager for Anoopa's project, Mr. Arora.

From Dennis:

After over two years of hard work on the project, it's
so gratifying to see the results -- girls sitting in
front of computers and exploring ....... For those of
us who saw the school before the project started, we
feel a sense of real accomplishment. We are very lucky
to have found a good project manager in Mr. Arora. I
feel that Anoopa who double-majored in computer
science and biolgy would be very satisfied with this
progress. But more is needed. I will continue to help
the school in any way I can.

Thank you for your moral and financial support for
Project Anoopa.

And now the photos from Mr. Arora....

Uttama, Dennis, and Anita are traveling together to India this month to inaugurate the new facility at the Autrali School for Girls! Congratulations to all who helped make this project happen, from financial contributions to research and vision to construction and management!

There is still lots of opportunity for individuals or organizations to support the Anoopa Sharma Foundation's development project.

The first phase of Project Anoopa involved construction of a multi-purpose facility, providing the Autrali School for Girls new space for a library, computer room, and community meeting hall. The cost of this phase was about $34,000. As of about August, the total of all donations in the Anoopa Foundation account reached a bit less than $10,000. Work on the project is continuing strong thanks to the Sharma family's personal funds. Additional contributions are very welcome to help lower the family's costs.

Contributions go the furthest when made via check, sent directly to the bank or the Sharma's home. See details under Memorial Fund. Donations can also be made online via Paypal--there's just a percentage taken out of the contribution for the convinience of the Paypal transaction.

Best wishes to the Sharma's in their travels in India this month! We're looking forward to a report on your visit and the school.

During the recent holidays Dennis and members of his
family visited the girls’ School (Amar Chand Kanya
Inter College) in Atrauli, India and met with the
School Manager, the Principal and the Director of a
Non-Profit Organization (Samaj Seva Samiti, through
which funds will be transferred to the school) to
visit the project site and discuss the next steps in
start-up of the project of refurbishing the school
with much needed facilities.

The School Manager has submitted a proposal for the
construction and establishing a library, a computer
room and a lecture room – all located contiguously
with partitions that can be opened to make a big hall
to accommodate larger groups for school functions. The
cost of the proposal is Rs. 19.4 lakhs (US$43,000) of
which school will contribute Rs. 3.69 lakhs ($8,200),
and thus requesting $34,800 from Anoopa Sharma
Memorial Funds. The School Manager informed us that
the construction can begin in March and will be
completed by October 2006. He plans to send me a
construction and payments schedule. Once I get this I
will be sending all of the proceeds from the Anoopa
Sharma Memorial Fund (Approx. $10,000) as the first
payment to begin the first phase of the construction,
i.e., procurement of all of the construction
materials.

During the meeting, Dennis raised the issue of
competitive and transparent procurements to reduce
costs and potential audit of the expenditures. The
School Manager gave his word that he will do his best
to keep all of the records so any contributor can come
and check the records.

Based on the above cost estimates, an additional sum
of $24,800 are needed ASAP to commit to the project.
Sharma Family will contribute $10,000 for the project.
The balance of $14,800 must be raised through the
website or other campaigns. We request everyone’s
assistance and cooperation to succeed in this project.

On a parallel track Sharmas have filed papers with the
IRS to establish a not-for-profit organization –
Anoopa Sharma Children Foundation. We will post it on
the net as soon as we get the IRS approval so people
can make tax deductible contribution to the
organization. Thank you.

Best wishes in the New Year!

Memorial Reward

In memory of Anoopa on her 25th birthday, September 7, 2005, the Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, established the Anoopa Sharma Award for Research in Epidemiology. The award recognizes a graduate student who is pursuing public health research in the under-served populations of the world.

This year’s recipient of the Anoopa Sharma Award for Research in Epidemiology is Erin Murray, a Ph.D. student at Emory. Erin and Anoopa worked together researching in Bangledesh, and they grew a friendship that continued back at Emory. Erin posted a wonderful message to Anoopa here on her site in March:

You are a fantastic friend and one of the most amazing people I have ever known. I will cherish the time we had together, particularly our time in Bangladesh. You made my experience better than I could have imagined, and it would not have been the same without you. Your spirit and enthusiam got me out of the guest house and onto the streets of Dhaka, a scary adventure for someone who had never been outside of North America before! By the time you were finished helping me get my international traveling feet beneath me, I was able to wander the streets of Kathmandu and travel in India by myself, and I thank you for that. I also thank you for getting me to Nepal and India, and for making me a part of your family in Delhi for a few days before we parted ways.

A piece of Anoopa will carry on through the work Erin continues to pursue! Best wishes to Erin.

Anoopa Sharma Memorial Fund

Work continues on Anoopa's pet project to improve the facilities at the girls school in Atrauli, India. Your contributions continue to build funds for the project - THANK YOU! Plans are being developed for construction of a school auditorium/community center and library. Anoopa's father Dennis Sharma and his brother are in discussions with the school’s management regarding their needs, a potential cost-sharing plan, project management and start-up. It is hoped that these discussions will be concluded over the next few months so the construction can begin early next year.

Thanks from the Sharma Family

The following is a letter sent earlier this month by Anoopa's mother Anita Sharma to Missy McCall of Emory:

Dear Ms. McCall,
I am very thankful for the Anoopa Sharma Award plaque, agenda, photos and videotape you sent us. FedEx re-routed the package from Santa Rosa, California to Virginia. We are glad that it wasn't lost, and is finally here, with us.
It is very kind and thoughtful of Dr. Mandel to have a plaque made for us as well. Seeing Anoopa's picture engraved in brass was touching. I am pleased to have this plaque as a constant reminder of how deep an impact Anoopa made on students, staff and faculty of the Emory School of Public Health. We hope that Anoopa's dream of serving the health needs
of poor around the world will inspire the Emory students for years to come.
Please keep us informed about the tree planting, as and when it takes place.

Sincerely,
Anita Sharma

First, many many thanks to all the generous contributors to the Anoopa Sharma Children's Foundation! Our resources are steadily building, and everyone's involvement is deeply appreciated.

Second, research into the high school's needs is in progress. This past Saturday Amy's sister Jess and her husband Jim took the last day of their honeymoon in India to visit Atrauli. (Jess knew Anoopa at Duke and afterward.) Jess and Jim had the opportunity to meet with school officials and tour the facilities. They will soon be sharing photos of and information about the high school here on the site. Please check back for the update!

Many friends and family (and also strangers who have come upon Anoopa's story) are interested in making some sort of contribution in her name. Her father Dennis Sharma will be establishing an opportunity for us to do so in time. As a director for the United States Agency for International Development, we can be assured a special opportunity to help a cause for which Anoopa herself was very passionate. Please be patient as the decisions are made and logistics set. More information will be posted here as it becomes available, so continue to check the site.