A Place for Us Education
A Fundraising Call to Action for Hope and Education in Rural India
In the heart of rural Uttar Pradesh, one of India’s most disadvantaged and densely populated regions, a small but determined grassroots initiative is quietly transforming lives. A Place for Us Education is a nonprofit project providing holistic learning, nourishment, and hope for children born into poverty, and it now faces a decisive moment in its journey.
Created in March 2023 by Adi Vickers and Rahul Nagar as part of Alef Trust´s Conscious Community Initiative to support global change, the project became an official Indian non-profit in 2024. Since then, the project has created a safe, joyful, and inclusive environment for children who might otherwise never attend school. Many of these young learners live below the poverty line and are engaged in child labour to support their families. Every week, classes are held in temporary spaces, where dedicated volunteers teach basic literacy and numeracy alongside yoga, meditation, and environmental awareness. Lessons are interwoven with art, music, and play, giving children a sense of belonging and emotional healing often missing in traditional systems.
“We’ve created a safe, joyful space for children in a deeply underserved region,” says Adi. “But without classrooms, sanitation facilities, or daily meals, we’re limited in what we can offer. A proper school building would change everything, especially for the girls, who often drop out entirely.”
To turn that vision into reality, A Place for Us has launched an international appeal to raise €40,000 to build a permanent, sustainable school in the village of Neemka, Uttar Pradesh. The proposed development includes five eco-friendly classrooms, including teacher´s accommodation, and provision for the daily food programme, which is constructed using local materials. Beyond the school itself, the initiative will fund adult literacy classes and vocational skills training for women and local farmers, helping the wider community develop economic independence and self-reliance.
Backed by the UK-based Alef Trust, an organisation dedicated to consciousness and transpersonal education, A Place for Us is grounded in values of compassion, creativity, and community. Its integrative philosophy combines traditional subjects with mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and nature-based learning; nurturing not only intellect but also imagination, empathy, and self-awareness.
The goal is to complete construction in time for the April 2026 academic year, providing a permanent, purpose built school where over 200 children can learn, eat, and grow safely. The project’s impact reaches far beyond education: it addresses child hunger, gender inequality, and rural unemployment in one of India’s most challenging social landscapes.
The urgency is stark. Many of the local schools have overcrowded classrooms, and there is little to no support for children who have learning challenges or physical disabilities. One of the teenage boys at A Place for Us has been turned away from the village school because of his cognitive and physical disabilities. At A Place for Us, he feels welcome and appreciated by the facilitators and other children. Deep rooted caste barriers and poverty prevent many families from prioritising schooling. By building this new facility, A Place for Us hopes to restore dignity, equality, and opportunity to an entire generation.
Each donation, no matter how small, contributes to tangible change; from bricks and meals to books and teachers’ wages. Supporters can sponsor a classroom, a teacher, or even a child for a year, ensuring long term sustainability and direct community benefit.
To support the campaign, donate or learn more at www.aplaceforuseducation.org, or contact info@aplaceforuseducation.org for interviews, media enquiries, or partnership opportunities.
Warm regards,
Nurturing the Fields of Change - CCI Projects Team
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