EDI
Educational and Development Initiatives

Description

Educational and Development Initiatives (EDI) is an Indian not-for-profit, non-government society, registered in India under the Societies Registration Act. While the work of the Society began in 1993, it was formally registered in 1995. The long term goals of EDI are very broad: it aims to provide a wide range of educational and social welfare opportunities which ultimately foster development.

Aims

Programmes offered by EDI aim at making participants more aware of their personal responsibility to themselves, and to their local and national community. They aim to orientate personal aspirations and professional training so as to be of service to others. Thus initiative and teamwork, fostering of personal character traits and competence in professional and academic affairs, and personal commitment towards local and national development are emphasized at all levels. 

EDI programmes and projects are non-denominational in character, and are open to all persons regardless of social class, religion or ethnic background.

Projects

Responding to the educational and training needs perceived, EDI will promote projects in the general areas of :
Youth leadership and auxiliary academic training.
Co-curricular training and residential accommodation for students in tertiary education.
Executive management education
Rural primary healthcare, hygiene and home management.
Rural self-help, agriculture and literacy training.
Formal and informal vocational training.
Counselling and career information

Organization

Seven volunteer professionals, men and women, were the original founding members of the Society; they included a medical doctor, civil servant, home maker, university lecturer and publisher.

EDI is the body legally responsible for all projects, but executive control has been placed under a governing body appointed by the founding members.

The financial accounts of the Society are audited annually by a reputable firm of chartered accountants.

Board of Patrons

EDI has a Board of Patrons which is an advisory body. It consists of well known people, Indians and non Indians, with experience from many walks of life. The Patrons contribute in a variety of ways -with their expertise, advice, financial resources and fund-raising, and with the promotion and execution of projects-  but with one element in common: in sacrificing their time they are volunteering a selfless service to society.

Co-operation with other organizations

EDI programmes work hand in hand, in an informal but direct way, with various local community and national organizations, private companies, universities and schools. The Society believes that its most effective work is when it caters for local needs and community groups directly, without working through intermediary administrative bodies.

EDI currently runs projects in New Delhi and Mumbai. 

Your help is needed

If you feel that you may be able to contribute in some way to the work of EDI, please write to us at EDI, Post Box 4009, New Delhi 110 017, INDIA. EDInit@pobox.com