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"Be the difference you want to see in the world." Mahathma Gandhi

The purpose of this project is to provide basic human needs to poor and underpriveledged people who would not otherwise receive them. Specifically: food, shelter, health, education, and love. We work directly with the poor in India. We are a grassroots project with none of the overheads of the major NGO's.

Beginning in December of 2004, we have been working to provide some of those needs to poor children and their families in Varanasi, India. Specifically, we have given free classes in Hindi, English, Art and Music, as well as encouraging homeless children to attend school where they also learn reading and math. We have provided the children with a fruit breakfast and nutritious lunch on school days, and occasionally helped some of their families in times where they didn’t have enough to eat.

We have also organized a free medical clinic, twice a week, paying all medical costs for those families who are unable to afford them. Since 2006, the clinic has been taken over by another NGO, Benares Amitie. Basic Human Needs still provides the clinic space and community outreach and support for the clinic, and all doctor's fees and medicine costs are covered by Benares Amitie.

Beginning in September 2005, we established our own school, called Jeevan ka School (School of Life) with volunteer teachers from western countries teaching some subjects, and also employing local teachers and a local cook. We give the children fruit breakfast and a nutritious lunch every day. We believe that for education to be effective and motivating for children who have lived on the streets since birth it must be creative, fun and applicable to the reality. The school aims to provide a basic level of education, vocational training, and subjects such as art, music, Hindi, English and yoga which we feel greatly improve the quality of life of even the poorest people. Thanks to one very kind donor, we also give the children Kathak Dance and Tabla classes. After they learn the basics (usually after one year), if the children and their parents agree, we put them up in a hostel or boarding house for school children, where we provide full 24-hour care including all food, clothing' medical costs as well as sending the children to private school.