Our Story
On Sunday morning, December 26, 2004, America awoke to the news of the world's deadliest tsunami in recorded history, claiming over 275,000 lives and wreaking devastation in 20 nations. Humanitarian aid poured in from around the world in a record-breaking display of human generosity. Around this tragic global event, the world united with an overwhelming display of compassion.
Several months later, Susan Garvin traveled to southern India with a group of friends for the purpose of touring medical and educational facilities providing humanitarian assistance to underprivileged children. Acts of Mercy, a nonprofit humanitarian organization based in Mahabalipuram, India, served as host to the group as they witnessed medical clinics, food distribution, educational initiatives, widow rehabilitation, and other tsunami relief activities. However, as the months went by and the world's attention returned to its own priorities, likewise, the poverty-stricken widows and children of the tsunami-ravaged region returned to the disheartening destitution that had always been their reality.
Several months later, Susan Garvin traveled to southern India with a group of friends for the purpose of touring medical and educational facilities providing humanitarian assistance to underprivileged children. Acts of Mercy, a nonprofit humanitarian organization based in Mahabalipuram, India, served as host to the group as they witnessed medical clinics, food distribution, educational initiatives, widow rehabilitation, and other tsunami relief activities. However, as the months went by and the world's attention returned to its own priorities, likewise, the poverty-stricken widows and children of the tsunami-ravaged region returned to the disheartening destitution that had always been their reality.
For the discerning leaders of Acts of Mercy, it was rapidly becoming apparent that while humanitarian aid was critical for immediate, life-saving measures, a more profound, long-term need would not be silenced - education. With a rising India on the global horizon, English-language acquisition and quality education is more important than ever before. Most Indian children born into poverty find no means to overcome the high cost of education. Financial obstacles such as books, tuition, school uniforms, and transportation turn education (and especially learning the English language) into an unattainable dream. Without education, the oppression of poverty becomes a cycle of hopelessness.
In the year after the tsunami, Acts of Mercy began laying the groundwork to establish Achievers Academy, a primary school in the village of Mahabalipuram. With relatively small class sizes, the school would be unique in a region accustomed to government run schools that often packed 90 students into a classroom with a single teacher. A local building was renovated, teachers were hired, and students were enrolled for the first two grade levels. In subsequent years, two grade levels were added each year until Achievers Academy was fully enrolled as a preK-5th grade school. Unlike many Indian schools, upper caste children learn alongside the poorest of the poor. A sense of community that transcends all classes and provides equal opportunities for all children has made this school well-respected by the entire community. But perhaps its most remarkable attribute is the high quality instruction that is delivered entirely in the English language to both privileged and poor children, side-by-side. In a growing global economy, English-based literacy is often considered a key to a prosperous future and for the children of this village, Achievers Academy is the architect of hope - hope that is delivered with the empowerment of education.
Long after returning to the U.S., Susan Garvin was stirred by the harsh truths that had broken her heart in the villages of southern India. As a lifelong educator, she had taken for granted the opportunities U.S. students enjoyed for free, quality public education but now had first hand knowledge that this was not a privilege realized by all children in the world. With little more than a persistent thought, she organized a school-based book drive, which resulted in more than 5,000 books donated and collected more than $5,000 for shipping the books to India. The outpouring of compassion for those less fortunate was overwhelming and encouraging both to the U.S. students and those from the newly formed Achievers Academy. On both sides of the globe, lives were changed.
In the year after the tsunami, Acts of Mercy began laying the groundwork to establish Achievers Academy, a primary school in the village of Mahabalipuram. With relatively small class sizes, the school would be unique in a region accustomed to government run schools that often packed 90 students into a classroom with a single teacher. A local building was renovated, teachers were hired, and students were enrolled for the first two grade levels. In subsequent years, two grade levels were added each year until Achievers Academy was fully enrolled as a preK-5th grade school. Unlike many Indian schools, upper caste children learn alongside the poorest of the poor. A sense of community that transcends all classes and provides equal opportunities for all children has made this school well-respected by the entire community. But perhaps its most remarkable attribute is the high quality instruction that is delivered entirely in the English language to both privileged and poor children, side-by-side. In a growing global economy, English-based literacy is often considered a key to a prosperous future and for the children of this village, Achievers Academy is the architect of hope - hope that is delivered with the empowerment of education.
Long after returning to the U.S., Susan Garvin was stirred by the harsh truths that had broken her heart in the villages of southern India. As a lifelong educator, she had taken for granted the opportunities U.S. students enjoyed for free, quality public education but now had first hand knowledge that this was not a privilege realized by all children in the world. With little more than a persistent thought, she organized a school-based book drive, which resulted in more than 5,000 books donated and collected more than $5,000 for shipping the books to India. The outpouring of compassion for those less fortunate was overwhelming and encouraging both to the U.S. students and those from the newly formed Achievers Academy. On both sides of the globe, lives were changed.
When news of the project spread, other organizations offered their support. Wal-Mart Foundation contributed a $500 matching grant. The International Right of Way Association adopted the project as its 2006 service project, contributing more than $1,700. Other humanitarian organizations were in communication as well as other needy schools in Africa and Mexico. The awareness of the power of books in the hands of needy children was growing.
The book project started with a simple idea. Ask one person to donate one book. Send that one book to a needy child. That goal seemed achievable. Then, simply repeat these steps as opportunity and compassion leads. It is a simple idea to be sure, but one with the potential for global life-changing impact. Who can say what potential influence a book may have? Perhaps a small child will fall in love with the bright pictures in the ABC board book he receives, later using the vivid colors to reinforce his learning. Is it possible a young girl might be motivated to learn to understand the English words in her delightful book featuring kittens? And perhaps one day a young man might feel the stirrings of a lifelong calling after carefully studying the images of mummies and ancient ruins in a book about Archeology. Doctors, nurses, pilots, computer programmers, musicians, writers, businessmen, teachers, and more - all may find lifelong motivation and inspiration from the pages of a treasured book. Yes, one book has the potential to change one life - and countless others. With this truth as the core belief, One Book One Life. was officially incorporated in 2006 as a nonprofit organization in the state of Colorado with the stated purpose of "supporting educational initiatives in developing nations".
Today, One Book One Life flourishes as an all-volunteer non-profit organization and is supported solely by generous donations of those who are moved into action by the stories of compassion and hope. We hope you will explore this website, read the blog stories, and experience a stirring in your heart for the women and children of India.
To learn more about One Book One Life. or how you can help, please contact us here.
The book project started with a simple idea. Ask one person to donate one book. Send that one book to a needy child. That goal seemed achievable. Then, simply repeat these steps as opportunity and compassion leads. It is a simple idea to be sure, but one with the potential for global life-changing impact. Who can say what potential influence a book may have? Perhaps a small child will fall in love with the bright pictures in the ABC board book he receives, later using the vivid colors to reinforce his learning. Is it possible a young girl might be motivated to learn to understand the English words in her delightful book featuring kittens? And perhaps one day a young man might feel the stirrings of a lifelong calling after carefully studying the images of mummies and ancient ruins in a book about Archeology. Doctors, nurses, pilots, computer programmers, musicians, writers, businessmen, teachers, and more - all may find lifelong motivation and inspiration from the pages of a treasured book. Yes, one book has the potential to change one life - and countless others. With this truth as the core belief, One Book One Life. was officially incorporated in 2006 as a nonprofit organization in the state of Colorado with the stated purpose of "supporting educational initiatives in developing nations".
Today, One Book One Life flourishes as an all-volunteer non-profit organization and is supported solely by generous donations of those who are moved into action by the stories of compassion and hope. We hope you will explore this website, read the blog stories, and experience a stirring in your heart for the women and children of India.
To learn more about One Book One Life. or how you can help, please contact us here.