iREAMDevelopment (International Rural Education Awareness Mission) is a Canada based NPO that works towards rural scholastic development in India. It was founded in 2014 by Sharmila Gunjal, who serves as the Director of the NPO.
Its primary mission is to contribute to improved standard of living and development especially of the rural poor in India. Various programs are being run to achieve the following end objectives
- To financially assist institutions providing education to underprivileged children in rural India.
- To provide opportunities to individuals living outside India who wish to participate in development activities in India.
- To address, whenever possible, other issues affecting human life such as health care, environment, socio-economic aspects and women’s issues.
- To help farmers to earn extra income by giving them advice regarding crops and helping link them to the markets. (especially in the Vidarbha region in India where famer suicides are rampant)
Global food security and agricultural development are the main areas of expertise of the Organization’s Chief Advisor, Mr. Kisan Gunjal, who has experience of working as a food security economist for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for 12 years (2002 to 2014) and professor of agricultural economics at McGill University for 20 years prior to that (1981-2002).
So far our work has seen the implementation of several projects in the state of Maharashtra, India involving the provision of donations and necessary items, such as furniture, food supplies and computers to schools in remote areas. Currently the NGO is an implementing partner with an Agricultural University in Maharashtra in the IFAD funded project: Program for development of alternative biofuel crops for livelihood security in the tribal area of Vidarbha.
We are a growing organisation and our aim is to increase our impact in supporting sustainable development in rural and tribal villages of India.
Sharmila’s story
Sharmila grew up in an Indian village named Khamgaon in the district of Buldhana, in the state of Maharashtra, and had experienced the hardships of daily life. She was always keen on working for projects which aim to helping farmers reduce poverty through development and improve living standards of poor people in different communities.
After completing baccalaureate degree in India, she gained some field experience working as a team leader conducting a household survey on health and food consumption in seven villages in the district of Buldhana, India for the Foundation for Agro Ecological Sciences in Maharashtra, India
When Sharmila moved to Rome due to her husband’s UN assignment, she did fundraising via catering business. With the collected money she decided to provide basics to a Mute and Deaf school in Khamgaon., Maharashtra, India. She provided the residential school with food supplies, computers with specialised keyboards, hearing aids and school benches.
In 2006, Sharmila actively volunteered with an NGO Community action for Rural Development(CARD), India as a documentation officer- writing, editing, and filing proposals. She was an Implementing partner through iREAM (Non Government Organization) for the IFAD Project-2010-2012(International Fund for Agricultural Development of United Nations– UN) which entailed training women, families about several subjects like woman empowerment, earning extra income through cash crops like Jatropha, pongemia. During field visits in six districts of Maharashtra State in India there was interaction with 75 microfinance women groups(MFI) and several self-help groups (SHG).
One of the significant projects she worked on was Convergence of Agriculture Interventions(CAIM) in six distressed districts in Maharashtra, India. The project was supported by IFAD, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and World Bank and implemented through CARD.
In 2012, Sharmila founded NGO-International Rural Education Awareness Mission (iREAM), India and in 2014 – iREAMDevelopment, CANADA was born. The Canadian NPO and the sister NGO, iREAM, India run various projects under its umbrella.
Last Updated: August 10, 2024 by iREAM & iREAMDevelopment Leave a Comment
Moringa Project
This project was inspired by seeing malnutrition in around the world, specially in developing countries!
On the occasion of my birthday, I was donating biscuits to the blind school, and the caretakers told me that the biscuits gave these girls flatulence. Then it clicked me that what if we can make healthy cookies with the superfood Moringa and I got on with it.
Fortunately, I found a young couple who had a baking company The Bakers Gutt.
Chaitnya and Gauri took on the project and we have been selling these cookies successfully in last 5\6 exhibitions.
Testimonials
Prachi Kadam,
I tasted about four types of cookies and the tastes is wonderful! I love them because they do not have white refine flours, in fact they are made with whole wheat or millet flours and use of Jaggery instead of sugar with chemicals. These days people are developing diseases like diabetes.
Healthy food tastes so good unlike other usual healthy items!
I recommend it!
This is so traditional and reveling the Indian culture through the drumstick leaves powder!Very unique concept! I liked it very much! Keep up the good work and good luck with it.
Millets is being in the trends now! But I did not know that biscuits and cake can be made with Millets and could tastes so good.
It is very very tasty and healthy. Thank you
Read more about the Moringa Project
Last Updated: January 3, 2023 by iREAM & iREAMDevelopment Leave a Comment
Guar Gum Project-Implementation by iREAM(NGO) and Nuevo Polymers LTD
Our Recent Work with Nuevo Polymers for the Guar Gum Project
Updates on our work with Nuevo Polymers for the Guar Gum Project
Last Updated: September 14, 2022 by Raj Taware Leave a Comment
Lecture By Dr. Jagannath Dixit
Last Updated: May 20, 2018 by iREAM & iREAMDevelopment Leave a Comment
Sambalu wood
This photo was taken during my visit to Daharam Doha village in Vidharbha tribal mountain area in 2011. I was visiting this area for the purpose of the UN-funded biofuel project. The wooden structure in the background will serve as a grain storage, and it is made from a locally grown bush tree called Sambalu. They make different structures such as a roof or wall for the house when the branches are green and flexible.
After weaving, it dries in the air for a week or two. Its strength depends on the thickness of the branches used. So during the summer months, the tribes go around in the thick jungle and collect the raw material. This is the source of their income during summer months. They are willing to make some products that could be sold in the nearby big cities. However, they lack resources or facilities to market their products to the final consumer and earn decent remuneration for their hard work. There is a need for funding to provide incentives to these tribal communities so that they can improve their daily livelihoods.
http://www.brahmayurved.com/
In the village name Ruifata, there was a micro finance group which had started the flour mill funded by the micro finance group but when we visited there it was broken so CARD the other active NGO and iREAM helped them to restore their source of income.
Posted: May 15, 2018 by iREAM & iREAMDevelopment Leave a Comment
Our community
Are you interested in making an impactful program even better? We would love to hear from any potential donors or sponsors who would like to contribute toward various project and team costs.
Contact us to ask about becoming a sponsor or how to make a donation. We also accept online donations.
Become a Member:
Participating Members are eligible to attend all meetings of the members of the non-profit corporation and are entitled to one vote per meeting, except in special circumstances where the board reserves decision-making power. Membership at this level requires a monthly fee of a minimum of $20.
Regular Members are ineligible to attend meetings of the members of the non-profit corporation but will receive newsletters.
To become a member, send us your name, email and phone number, quoting your desired level of participation.
Seniors, retired experts are welcome to offer their valuable time and expertise to this emerging organisation. We encourage new ideas and suggestions.
Volunteer
Volunteer opportunities available for various fundraising activities. To volunteer with us please email us your resume and contact information.
Give a Donation
As a growing organization, we need your support!
Last Updated: May 15, 2018 by iREAM & iREAMDevelopment Leave a Comment
How can we help?
iREAMDevelopment (International Rural Education Awareness Mission) is a Canada based NPO that works towards rural scholastic development in India. It was founded in 2014 by Sharmila Gunjal, who serves as the Director of the NPO.
Its primary mission is to contribute to improved standard of living and development especially of the rural poor in India. Various programs are being run to achieve the following end objectives
Global food security and agricultural development are the main areas of expertise of the Organization’s Chief Advisor, Mr. Kisan Gunjal, who has experience of working as a food security economist for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for 12 years (2002 to 2014) and professor of agricultural economics at McGill University for 20 years prior to that (1981-2002).
So far our work has seen the implementation of several projects in the state of Maharashtra, India involving the provision of donations and necessary items, such as furniture, food supplies and computers to schools in remote areas. Currently the NGO is an implementing partner with an Agricultural University in Maharashtra in the IFAD funded project: Program for development of alternative biofuel crops for livelihood security in the tribal area of Vidarbha.
We are a growing organisation and our aim is to increase our impact in supporting sustainable development in rural and tribal villages of India.
Sharmila’s story
Sharmila grew up in an Indian village named Khamgaon in the district of Buldhana, in the state of Maharashtra, and had experienced the hardships of daily life. She was always keen on working for projects which aim to helping farmers reduce poverty through development and improve living standards of poor people in different communities.
After completing baccalaureate degree in India, she gained some field experience working as a team leader conducting a household survey on health and food consumption in seven villages in the district of Buldhana, India for the Foundation for Agro Ecological Sciences in Maharashtra, India
When Sharmila moved to Rome due to her husband’s UN assignment, she did fundraising via catering business. With the collected money she decided to provide basics to a Mute and Deaf school in Khamgaon., Maharashtra, India. She provided the residential school with food supplies, computers with specialised keyboards, hearing aids and school benches.
In 2006, Sharmila actively volunteered with an NGO Community action for Rural Development(CARD), India as a documentation officer- writing, editing, and filing proposals. She was an Implementing partner through iREAM (Non Government Organization) for the IFAD Project-2010-2012(International Fund for Agricultural Development of United Nations– UN) which entailed training women, families about several subjects like woman empowerment, earning extra income through cash crops like Jatropha, pongemia. During field visits in six districts of Maharashtra State in India there was interaction with 75 microfinance women groups(MFI) and several self-help groups (SHG).
One of the significant projects she worked on was Convergence of Agriculture Interventions(CAIM) in six distressed districts in Maharashtra, India. The project was supported by IFAD, Sir Ratan Tata Trust and World Bank and implemented through CARD.
In 2012, Sharmila founded NGO-International Rural Education Awareness Mission (iREAM), India and in 2014 – iREAMDevelopment, CANADA was born. The Canadian NPO and the sister NGO, iREAM, India run various projects under its umbrella.
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