Giving back, here and back home
AABAJ brings the diaspora together to celebrate our culture — and to support our community in two places: here in the Triangle, and back in Bihar and Jharkhand. This page outlines the causes we plan to fund and how we plan to raise the money.
Causes we plan to support
Our giving has two halves: immediate support for our own community here in the Triangle, and longer-term support for Bihar and Jharkhand as our fundraising grows.
Here in the Triangle
Practical support for AABAJ families in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill — right away, with the funds we have now.
Career & skills development
Many community members — especially recent arrivals and career-changers — can use help navigating the US job market. Resume workshops, mock interviews, and mentorship from established professionals in the community make a real difference.
Project idea: a quarterly upskilling workshop series, paired with a volunteer mentor network.
College & school guidance
Navigating the US school system, college applications, and financial aid is unfamiliar territory for many families. Volunteer counselors and structured guidance sessions help students and parents make informed decisions.
Project idea: an annual college-counseling night with volunteer mentors who work in admissions, plus one-on-one essay support.
Chanakya Youth Contests
Debate and essay-writing competitions build the critical thinking, research, and public-speaking skills that matter for competitive college admissions and careers. Contests also give kids in the community a reason to connect with each other outside of school.
Project idea: fund contest prizes, judges' honorariums, and a coaching series leading up to the event.
Disaster relief, near and far
Fast, flexible funding for when a crisis hits home or hits Bihar and Jharkhand.
Local emergencies
Hurricanes and flooding affect the Triangle and the wider region too. A standing relief fund lets AABAJ respond quickly with direct support for affected member families or a local relief organization.
Project idea: keep a small standing reserve earmarked specifically for local disaster response.
International emergencies
Bihar and Jharkhand face recurring monsoon flooding, and India as a whole is earthquake-prone. A rapid-response fund lets AABAJ mobilize the community quickly when disaster strikes back home.
Project idea: a same-week emergency appeal template ready to send out as soon as a disaster is confirmed.
In Bihar & Jharkhand, as we grow
Once AABAJ has built a sustainable base of funds, we plan to extend direct support to schools, health fairs, and local communities in both states.
Education
Many villages across both states still lack a functioning primary school within walking distance. Small, sustained contributions toward teacher stipends, school supplies, or a single classroom go a long way in rural and tribal areas.
Project idea: sponsor a one-teacher rural school for a year, or fund a scholarship for girls to complete secondary school.
Health & well-being
Basic healthcare — eye care, maternal health, clean water, and family planning services — remains out of reach for many rural households. Even modest funding for mobile clinics or medical camps has an outsized impact.
Project idea: fund a rural health fair day, or contribute toward a cataract-surgery drive for elderly villagers.
Arts & culture preservation
Madhubani painting, and Jharkhand's Sohrai and Khovar mural traditions, are living art forms carried forward mostly by women artisans in a handful of villages. Buying their work directly and funding training for the next generation keeps these traditions alive.
Project idea: commission Madhubani or Sohrai artwork for AABAJ events and pay artisans directly, or fund a youth workshop to teach the technique.
Community & livelihoods
Self-help groups, small-business training, and women's cooperatives help families build steady income outside of subsistence farming, and are often the most durable form of support a diaspora community can offer.
Project idea: seed-fund a women's self-help group's first round of micro-loans, or sponsor vocational training for young adults.
How we plan to raise funds
A mix of community events and simple, recurring ways to give — designed to fit naturally into what AABAJ already does throughout the year.
Festival giving
Set aside a portion of ticket sales or a suggested add-on donation at Diwali, the Chanakya Youth Fest, and other AABAJ events, with the total raised (and where it went) shared publicly afterward.
Food sales
Sell homemade Bihari and Jharkhandi dishes — litti-chokha, thekua, and other regional favorites — at community gatherings or as standalone pop-up sale events, with all proceeds going directly to the giving fund.
Artisan craft sale
Sell authentic Madhubani or Sohrai/Khovar artwork at AABAJ events or online, with proceeds split between the artists and the AABAJ giving fund.
Employer matching
Encourage members to check whether their employer matches charitable donations, which can double a gift at no extra cost to the donor — worth a simple how-to guide on this page or in the newsletter.
Want to help shape this?
If you'd like to sponsor a specific project, coach a Chanakya Youth Contest team, or help organize a food sale, we'd like to hear from you.