Introducing APW
What is APW
Alliance for Progress Worldwide (APW) is an active charitable organization whose primary objective is to support public education in existing schools in developing countries. Our philosophy is that as members of the global community we should encourage all Canadians to support the education of youth in developing nations. By supporting education in schools, we make a direct contribution to human resources development and indirectly to health care, poverty alleviation and environmental improvement. The current focus of APW is in Bangladesh.
Ever since its establishment by the Calgary Bangladeshi Community in 1995, APW utilized the volunteering spirit of the community and organized fund raising events to raise funds to support the youth of tomorrow.
In 2007, APW was registered as a charity under the Canada Revenue Agency rules. The activity of APW increased from donating $1,000.00 to one school in 1995 to funding 15 schools with $38,000.00 in 2008, with a matching grant from Wild Rose Foundation of the Government of Alberta.
Our Belief and Mission
We believe education is a human right and forms the foundation for economic and political development leading to a world without extremism where freedom, compassion and human values prevail. Our vision is education for every child. We believe education is the key to personal success as well as social development. It addresses global development and global poverty alleviation at the same time.
How We Operate
APW is run by a Board of Trustee with ten elected members including the Chair person, Secretary and Treasurer. The members are elected for two years and they can be elected for consecutive terms.
How We Select Schools
Members of Calgary community may sponsor a school. In order to be a sponsor, the person has to have a prior link with the school and has to demonstrate continued interest in the well being of the school. On the basis of the recommendation of the sponsor, the school applies for funds in prescribed application forms. The announcement for application is made in local events, in APW publications and website and is further spread by word of mouth. The applications are evaluated and allocation of fund is made on the basis of the evaluation. The evaluation procedure is posted in APW website and is published in the APW magazine, PADMA.
How We Execute Our Programs with Schools
APW works with the schools with an Agency Agreement approved by the Canada Revenue Agency. The schools have to provide progress reports and completion report of projects with documentation of expenditures and the work done. The school has to provide an assessment of the outcome and benefits of the funding. A template of the Agency Agreement is in the website and is also published in the APW magazine.
Our Funding Areas
APW achieves its goals by participating in the following programs with schools:
Class room supplies such as benches and blackboards
School supplies such as chairs and cabinets
Library books and furniture
Science laboratory chemicals, equipment, appliances and furniture
Computer laboratory hardware, software, internet facilities and furniture
Student coaching for preparation pf public examinations
Stipend for poor students
Award for the best academic performance in public examinations
Infrastructure for class room, laboratory and library
Distinctive Features of Our Programs
We have the following distinctive characteristics for our funding approach:
We provide assistance to existing educational institution for incremental improvement in the quality of education.
Because we are focusing on exiting institutions, much of resources will add directly to the quality of education.
The incremental input is also in conformity with the low absorption capacity of the schools in developing countries.
The incremental approach will lead to increased quality by the process of continuous improvement. This will in turn motivate and enable the schools to undertake small improvement programs on their own.
The schools receiving our funding work as our agent in the execution of our programs. We develop a relationship of trust with full mutual accountability and this enhances local management capacity.
We encourage the schools to develop societal programs in adult education, public health and environment. The participation in such programs becomes a part of our funding scheme. And hence our programs with schools lead to the realization of social objectives beyond education.
We encourage the culture of giving in the society in Calgary; we also ask the schools to inculcate that culture in their localities by encouraging the schools to undertake local funding program.
How We Raise Funds
APW raises funds by direct contribution from community members, by participating in food fairs, garage sale, auction, raffle draws and piggy banks and by organizing fund raising events. The major fund raising centers around an Annual Fund Raising Dinner and Cultural Show held every year. We publish a magazine PADMA on that occasion and declare contributors as sponsors in the following categories:
$1,000: Platinum Sponsor
$500: Gold Sponsor
$250 Silver Sponsor
$100 Bronze Sponsor
The contribution list is also posted in the website. Apart from sponsorship, we are open to any amount of donation, large or small. We give tax receipt for all donations.
How to Give
You may make your contribution directly at the website with payment through pay pal. Alternatively, you may write a check in favour of Alliance for Progress and send the check to the following address:
Alliance for Progress
126 Arbour Ridge Close NW
Calgary, Alberta T3G 4M5
Your money goes to the schools in full amount. We do not have administrative costs. We give tax receipt for all donations; only event expenses where you participate are excluded from tax receipts.
How to Join
It is simple to join. Fill out the membership form at the Annual Fund Raising Event, or download the membership form
from the website and send it to the Chair, APW by mail or by email at: j.zaman@apwcanada.org.
There is no other formality. You shall be listed in our email listing and receive all news of APW. If you join as sponsor of our Fund Raising Event, your membership fee is included. The membership fee otherwise is $20.00 annually and you may donate any amount at any time.
How to Form Your own APW
APW is a Canadian Charity and may conduct charity events anywhere in Canada. We can issue tax receipts for any such event. If you feel encouraged and motivated by what we are pursuing, you may form a group in your own community, town or city. We can guide you how to conduct the fund raising events under APW umbrella within the structure of Canada Revenue Agency regulations. Your community can sponsor schools and the money you raise can be allocated to your schools.
Final Comments
Our strong belief lies in the success of our small projects to aid the less fortunate, contribute to human resource development and to provide support to societal development in health care, literacy, poverty alleviation and environmental improvement. Our foundation mirrors the words of Kofi Annan, “Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development”. Alliance for Progress Worldwide is fuelled by dedication, enthusiasm, effort and a motto progress through partnership.
PLEASE JOIN APW
FORM YOUR OWN APW IN YOUR COMMUNITY
BE A PARTNER IN MAKING A CHANGE
BE GENEROUS IN GIVING
Who we are?