Purpose
The Dignity Project (TDP) is a not-for-profit, charitable and benevolent institution established in Australia solely to provide relief to young people and women in India, particularly those from disadvantaged communities. TDP is recognised as an official charity by the Australian Charity and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).
The purpose of this fundraiser is to raise the amount needed to provide for 3-years of operating costs at Wonderkids English Medium School, currently TDP’s key education project for disadvantaged youth in India. In addition to core operating costs of Wonderkids, we are also raising funds for digital literacy classes, as well as for the individual projects specifically outlined below that address gaps in women’s menstrual health and childhood nutrition. All funds will be directed to these costs in India and no funds are spent on costs in Australia.The TDP board all volunteer their time and expertise.
Partner with us to secure the future of Wonderkids School
At TDP, we believe that true transparency creates trust. Since 2021, when we became the major supporter of Wonderkids school in Khajuraho, we have not just funded a school; we have built a community around that school. Together with our existing key donors, we have:
- expanded classes each year and moved to a larger school site,
- lifted teacher salaries annually and remain committed to future increases,
- built a kitchen to guarantee daily meals for more than 180 students,
- installed a computer lab to bolster digital literacy,
- introduced vital recreational programs like our annual sports carnival, and
- provided dignity in menstruation to more than 535 adolescent girls and women through our reusable sanitary pad program.
These aren’t just line items; they are the building blocks for a safe, thriving childhood and community.
Why we are fundraising now
Having achieved ACNC charitable status in 2025, we are moving from a phase of establishing to sustaining. To date, our funding has been privately met by a small, dedicated group of donors. To guarantee the school’s operation for the next three years, we are now seeking additional funds from donors and looking to establish a broader community of individual supporters.
This fundraising will allow us to move away from month-to-month survival and towards long-term stability. It enables us to focus on implementing our existing programs, plan new programs, add classes and staff and measure the lasting impact of our education programs.
Our Campaign Goal: $248,900
We are seeking to raise $248,900 through this current fundraising campaign. This amount will cover total operating costs and specific essential projects for the next three years (2026–2028). We know this is an ambitious figure. However, it is not a guess; it is a calculation underpinned by four years of expenditure data.
Because we have delivered these projects on the ground we know exactly what it costs to feed 200 people each day, how much teacher salaries are and how much the internet costs. We can tell you how much it costs to buy and distribute reusable sanitary pad kits to women. We also know the impact of this work – we know how much weight students have gained since we began providing a hot cooked-breakfast each day to close the gap on malnutrition in our community and what women using our sanitary pads think.
As part of this fundraiser, you can choose to:
- make a one-off donation of any amount at any time; (big or small – everything gets us closer to our goal!)
- become a member of the TDP family through the 3 membership amounts (automatically renews each year);
- contribute to or fully fund one of the special projects outlined below(*funds could also be directed to other projects once each project has been fulfilled); or
- partner with TDP to provide a larger contribution.
Partnerships: Building a legacy of impact
Meaningful impact takes commitment. It takes time to establish community relationships and trust, and the ability to implement, assess and adjust programs over time. Additionally, the communities on the ground at TDP projects want commitment and consistency from us which requires the surety of funding to implement long-term plans and sustainable change.
While all contributions to this fundraiser are welcome, TDP is also seeking individuals, groups, businesses, foundations or organisations which are able to make significant, larger ongoing contributions to become partners. By becoming a TDP partner, you will help provide the stability to guarantee our work continues. If you are interested in partnering with us on any of the programs listed below, please contact TDP for further information.
A tax-deductible gift from TDP partners gives certainty to TDP projects. Choose to partner with us for 1, 2 or 3 years. The following suggested amounts from TDP partners could be spent like this:
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Teacher transport - $1,000
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Digital literacy - $5,000
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Reusable Sanitary Pad Program - $10,000
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Fund the school for year - $42,000
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Thrive Community Kitchen - $33,000
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DONATE NOW
Transparency in Action – Forecast for spending
The following tables outline our forecast spending for existing TDP projects, based on expenses and data from 2025, for the 3-year-period targeted in this fundraising campaign (2026-2028). The figures are adjusted for predicted inflation, currency movements and known changes we are already accounting for such as adding new classes and staff at Wonderkids each year. The amounts for the 3 years were totalled and averaged to arrive at the figures shown as guides in our sponsorship amounts. (*All amounts are in Australian dollars.) This is how funds from this campaign will be spent.
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Wonderkids School*
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Annual
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1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027
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$35,010.94
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1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028
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$40,262.58
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1 April 2028 to 31 March 2029
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$46,301.97
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Total
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$121,575.49
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*Assumes 7% cost increase and 8% more students annually
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Thrive Community Kitchen – breakfast & snack program*
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Annual
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1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027
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$28,052.80
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1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028
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$32,260.72
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1 April 2028 to 31 March 2029
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$37,099.83
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Total
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$97,413.35
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*Assumes 7% cost increase and 8% more students annually
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Women’s Health Initiative*
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Annual
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277 pad kits & 20 menstrual cups
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$9,714.00
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277 pad kits & 20 menstrual cups
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$9,956.85
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277 pad kits & 20 menstrual cups
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$10,205.77
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Total
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$29,876.62
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*Assumes a 2.5% product price increase year on year
Memberships
A tax-deductible gift that renews annually. Members receive one TDP hat per membership.
Donate today for a TDP family membership, individual member or teacher for TDP member.
Fund a specific project
The following are specific projects included in this fundraiser. These projects are in addition to the fundraising target of $248,900.
Fancy Footer
$1650
This could buy much needed new shoes for the entire cohort of close to 200 students.
Sisters of TDP
$9000
This could provide reusable sanitary pads for about 280 women through our Delhi program, giving them dignity in menstruation for 5 years.
Wonderkids Sports Day
$1100
This would fund our annual whole school sports carnival.
Hoop Dreams
$2500
This could fund the construction of a basketball half-court at Wonderkids School.
The Quiet TDP Hero
$3000
This could purchase desk and chairs - much needed infrastructure to support teaching and learning.
Mums & Bubs
$2500
This would fund a mums & bubs group at our new community centre and support a new TDP initiative to provide a headstart to mums from underprivileged communities.
*Some projects require 3-years of funding, others are one-off projects. Once each project has been fully funded donations may be deferred to other spending areas.
Fundraising permits
The following are state permits and licenses required to operate this fundraiser:
Victoria: FR0017862 / Queensland: CH4909796 / WA: CC24052/ Tasmania:C/11587 / NSW:CFN/27895
ABN:27666558283
Contacts
For any questions about this fundraising campaign please contact us at:
chair@thedignityproject.com.au
secretary@thedignityproject.com.au
+61 (0) 402 534 521