Ninety-seven percent of the money donated goes directly to the projects; overhead is kept to a minimum. This can be realised because of the voluntary participation of the Samsara board and staff. Besides it is one of Samsara’s principles to work in close cooperation with the community. The vast majority of Samsara’s projects are realised with voluntary work from villagers as stakeholders in a good education for their children.
Each project applied to Samsara needs to be demand driven. The school writes an application in Thai in which they request for a certain school facility or equipment. Samsara visits the school to identify and verify the need, the priority, the location and the capability to execute the project. Samara also works with the Department of Education of Mae Sariang (responsible for 185 mountain schools) to identify where the greatest needs are.
An administrative structure is in place that warrants the effective use of funds and ensures accountability. For capital projects a contract is signed between Samsara and the school involved and the Department of Education. Money is transferred in instalments and a new instalment is only made when a progress report has been received and with major projects Samsara will bring at least 3 monitoring visits to the sites. The Department of Education guarantees the maintenance of new buildings and installations.
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All furniture such as bunk beds, cupboards, tables and benches is specially produced according to Samsara’s sturdy designs in a workshop in Chiangmai.
Equipment such as water purification machines, PVC tanks, bedding, mattresses are bought by volunteers of Samsara. Because of the volume they can get discounts.
Samsara raises money to give poor children the chance to continue their study after Middle School to High School or Vocational School. Once a year teachers can send in applications to Samsara on behalf of poor children who finished Middle School with at least 2.5 out of the 4 points. The donations for scholarships are given to the school administers twice a year after Samsara has received the school results.
Paid out of the scholarship monies are: books; uniforms; special school modules; food; transportation costsDonor organisations are appropriately recognized at project locations as well as in local English and Thai print media. We will write the name of the donor at signs at the facilities and we will make banners. We will also mention the donor at our websites.
Samsara Foundation highly appreciates the efforts of all donors to raise or give funds to the very much-needed facilities at the poor mountain schools.
Samsara Foundation is active in raising funds and executing the building of school facilities for over six years now. We are always impressed by the dedication of the principals and the teachers. We have learned that we can make a difference for the children.
On behalf of all the schools our sincere thanks go to all Samsara’s sponsors.