Himalayan Charity Uses New Technology to Support Tradition

Nov. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Bir, H.P., India, Thursday, November 15, 2012 — Charitable projects in developing countries are finding new avenues to raise not only awareness but also funds, thanks to Internet sites providing crowdfunding services. Crowdfunding, the practice of raising money online through small contributions in high volume, is a boon for nonprofit groups everywhere, but especially for those in rural areas of developing countries, which historically have been at a disadvantage for access to resources.

The Dharmalaya Institute, a small sustainable village development charity in the Indian Himalayas, is finding unprecedented support through a new fundraising campaign on Indiegogo.com, a popular crowdfunding service. The Dharmalaya Institute partnered with the Earthville Network, a US-based nonprofit organization, to create life-changing service-learning programs for Indian and international participants.

To support the completion of the Dharmalaya Institute’s new “eco-campus for sustainable and compassionate living,” Earthville launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo that has received a wave of popular support that would never have been possible through traditional fundraising means in India. By the end of the fifth day of a three-week campaign, the Institute had already received 75% of its fundraising goal. “We’re amazed and touched by the public support we’re receiving,” said Earthville’s President, Mark Moore.

The campaign page is online at http://www.indiegogo.com/compassion-campus .

About the Earthville Network

The Earthville Network is a charitable organization working to create a more compassionate and sustainable global village through an holistic array of projects and programs spanning the fields of experiential education, sustainable development, peacemaking, and the arts. Earthville provides diverse opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration, service-learning, volunteering, and immersive ecotourism. Founded in 1997, the Earthville Network is a 501(c)(3) public charity in the US and works through partner organizations in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Earthville is a volunteer-driven not-for-profit organization that depends on public support to build capacity and extend our reach. For more information or to get involved, visit our website at http://www.earthville.org and our blog at http://www.earthville.org/blog/.

Interviews

The President of the Earthville Network, Mark Moore, is available for interviews on nonprofit/charitable/NGO work in South Asia, sustainable development and green living, experiential education and service-learning, peacemaking and cross-cultural collaboration, Himalayan culture, and India. Contact: press@earthville.org or +1 (510) 788.0041