Maya Ajmera

Maya Ajmera is the Founder of The Global Fund for Children, a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance the dignity of children and youth by making small grants to innovative community-based organizations working with some of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth.[1] [2] She is also the author of many award-winning children's books, including Children from Australia to Zimbabwe: A Photographic Journey Around the World, Extraordinary Girls, To Be An Artist and Faith.[3]

Biography

Early life and education

Raised in eastern North Carolina by Indian immigrants, Ajmera graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham.^[1] She holds bachelor's degree in biology from Bryn Mawr College and master's degree in public policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.[4]

Career

Ajmera founded The Global Fund for Children in 1994 after a trip to India. While waiting for a train she saw a group of children being taught by a teacher on a train platform. Ajmera learned that these children were students in the Train Platform School for impoverished children who could not attend school. Inspired by what she saw, Ajmera applied for and won a seed grant from Echoing Green.

The fund has given more than 1,900 grants valued at more than $13.9 million. These grants have served 364 community-based organizations in 72 countries. More than 2 million children have been served by The Global Fund for Children. Outside of The Global Fund for Children, Ajmera also serves on the board of directors for Blue Moon Fund,^[2] New Global Citizens, Echoing Green and the Washington Area Women's Foundation.^[3] She serves on the advisory board of New Global Citizens, the American India Foundation, Global Philanthropy Forum and the Emerging Markets Foundation.^[4][5]

Marriage and children

Maya Ajmera is married to David Hutzler Hollander Jr., an intellectual properties attorney at Adduci, Mastriani & Schaumberg.^[6]

Accomplishments

Ajmera was the recipient of a Rotary International Graduate fellowship to study in South Asia. She was also the recipient of the 1993-1997 Echoing Green Public Service Graduate Fellowship and the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations of North Carolina.^[7]

In October 2007, Maya Ajmera was featured on CNN's Heroes segment. Actress Mira Sorvino named Ajmera as her hero. Watch the video

In June 2008, Maya Ajmera received the Women of Distinction award at the 2008 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders at Georgetown University. The award is given to women who have made amazing accomplishments in their professions and who serve as inspiring role models for female students.[5]

The Financial Times did a feature story on Maya Ajmera on September 23, 2008.[6]

Maya Ajmera is a member of the 2011 class of Henry Crown Fellows at the Aspen Institute.[7]

Published works

• Xanadu: The Imaginary Place Edited by Maya Ajmera and Olateju Omolodun. Charlesbridge 1999.
• Extraordinary Girls By Maya Ajmera, Olateju Omolodun, and Sarah Strunk. Charlesbridge 1999.
• Let the Games Begin! By Maya Ajmera and Michael J. Regan. Charlesbridge 2000.
• Children from Australia to Zimbabwe By Maya Ajmera and Anna Rhesa Versola. Charlesbridge 2001.
• Come Out and Play By Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko. Charlesbridge 2001.
• To be a Kid By Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko. Charlesbridge 2001.
• Back to School By Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko. Charlesbridge 2001.
• A Kid's Best Friend By Maya Ajmera and Alex Fisher. Charlesbridge 2002.
• Animal Friends By Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko. Charlesbridge 2002.
• To Be an Artist By Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko. Charlesbridge 2004.
• Be My Neighbor By Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko. Charlesbridge 2004.
• Children of the USA By Maya Ajmera, Arlene Hirschfelder, Yvonne Wakim Dennis, and Cynthia Pon. Charlesbridge 2008.
• Faith By Maya Ajmera, Magda Nakassis and Cynthia Pon. Charlesbridge 2009.
• Our Grandparents: A Global Album By Maya Ajmera, Sheila Kinkade and Cynthia Pon. Charlesbridge, 2010.

Interviews and speeches

Interview with Think Change India, 2008 [8]

Interview with the Clinton Global Initiative, 2007 [9]

Maya Ajmera on NPR's Tell Me More, 2008 [10]

Maya Ajmera on Dallas NPR Station KERA 2009 [11]

References

1. ^ Duke Magazine-Maya Ajmera M.P.P. '93, helping children around the world-Mini-Profiles-November/December 2006
2. ^ Blue Moon Fund Board
3. ^ Maya Ajmera | Echoing Green
4. ^ New Global Citizens » About Us
5. ^ Global Philanthropy Forum - Speakers
6. ^ Maya Ajmera, David Hollander Jr. - New York Times
7. ^ Welcome to Charlesbridge

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