Aaghaz Foundation Terms and Conditions for Educational Assistance
1. Introduction
Aaghaz Foundation ("the Foundation") is dedicated to eradicating illiteracy among underprivileged children in India by providing financial assistance to prevent students from dropping out of schools. The Foundation provides financial assistance per academic year, and applicants must reapply for continued assistance in subsequent years.
To streamline the application and assistance process, the Foundation uses the Aaghaz Foundation Management System (AFMS), an online platform that connects beneficiaries, donors, and the Foundation. Applicants receive unique login credentials to access their accounts, view the status of their applications and disbursements, and communicate internally with the Foundation. AFMS serves as a comprehensive ERP system that ensures transparency and seamless interaction between the Foundation and its beneficiaries.
2. Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be residents of India.
- Demonstrate financial need through appropriate documentation.
- Be enrolled in a recognized educational institution.
- Agree to a physical and in-person verification of personal, financial, and academic status conducted by the Foundation.
3. Application Process
- Complete the online application form accurately and truthfully through the AFMS system.
- Submit all required supporting documents as specified in the application guidelines.
- Consent to a financial assessment conducted by the Foundation to determine eligibility.
4. Financial Assistance Details
- Assistance may cover school fees, tuition fees, monthly stipends, travel or accommodation expenses, or one-time funds for books, stationery, or computers as deemed appropriate by the Foundation.
- The amount and duration of assistance are determined based on individual assessments and available resources.
- Financial assistance is offered for one academic year. Approved candidates who applied in the middle of the year or close to the end of the academic year will be provided assistance only for the remainder of the academic term.
- Applicants seeking continued assistance for the next academic year must reapply through the AFMS system.
5. Allocation of Assistance Across Families
- The Foundation strives to assist as many families as possible within its budgetary limitations.
- If there are multiple applicants from the same family, priority will be given to applicants from other families before considering additional applicants from the same family.
- For families with multiple children in need of financial assistance, the Foundation may choose to provide assistance to only one or two children, ensuring that other families in need can also receive support.
- Depending on the financial condition and budgetary allocation, additional applicants from the same family may be considered if funds allow.
6. Fund Disbursement Policy
- To prevent misuse of funds, school fees and tuition fees are paid directly to the respective school's account.
- For other forms of financial assistance, such as monthly stipends, travel or accommodation expenses, or one-time funds for books, stationery, or computers, funds may be transferred directly to the student's account or their guardian's or parent's account, as deemed appropriate by the Foundation.
- All fund disbursements are subject to verification and approval by the Foundation.
7. Academic Performance Updates
- Beneficiaries who have been accepted for financial assistance ("existing beneficiaries") are required to regularly update their academic performance through the AFMS system.
- After every school examination, including quarterly exams, mid-term exams, or any other assessment tests, beneficiaries must:
- Log in to their accounts on the AFMS system.
- Enter the details of the exam in the provided form.
- Upload scanned copies or digital photographs of their result documents.
- This process is essential for the Foundation to track the sincerity and progress of the beneficiaries.
- Financial assistance is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance. Beneficiaries who consistently perform poorly without valid reasons or show a lack of effort may have their assistance discontinued for subsequent academic years.
8. Beneficiary Obligations
- Utilize the funds exclusively for educational purposes.
- Maintain satisfactory academic performance as per the standards set by the educational institution.
- Inform the Foundation promptly of any changes in financial status or educational enrollment.
9. Commitment to Give Back
Beneficiaries agree to:
- Repayment: Sign a moral bond, pledging to return the aid given when their situation improves, so that the funds can be used to support other underprivileged children.
- Volunteering: If unable to repay financially, contribute to the Foundation's mission by volunteering in activities such as fieldwork, mentoring, or administrative support.
10. Monitoring and Reporting
- Beneficiaries are required to provide periodic updates on academic progress and financial status as requested by the Foundation.
- The Foundation reserves the right to review and adjust the assistance based on the beneficiary's circumstances.
11. Termination of Assistance
The Foundation may terminate assistance if:
- The beneficiary provides false information during the application process.
- Funds are misused for purposes other than education.
- There is a significant improvement in the beneficiary's financial situation.
12. Confidentiality
All personal information provided by applicants and beneficiaries will be kept confidential and used solely for the purposes of assessment and support by the Foundation.
13. Acceptance of Terms
By submitting the application, the applicant acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
Note: These Terms and Conditions are subject to change. Beneficiaries will be notified of any amendments.