Our Founding Story

One woman’s “moment of obligation” led to a global grassroots network fighting for children’s rights.

In 1990, on a hot and dusty day in Bhubaneswar, India, Maya Ajmera stepped off a train and was struck by an unusual sight. Amid the chaos of the train platform, a group of children and a teacher were sitting in a circle, completely engrossed in simple learning exercises.When the lesson ended, Maya approached the woman and learned that the children lived, played, and begged on the train platforms. She found out that a local organization – in its desire to provide the children with a pathway out of poverty – offered the children free education, clothing, and food. But most importantly, this informal school helped the children develop a sense of self-worth and gain the confidence and foundation to determine their own futures.

It was a simple, powerful model of grassroots change. Seeing this inspired Maya to create Global Fund for Children in 1993, with support from Echoing Green, the premier fellowship for social entrepreneurs. Her approach was based on the belief that small amounts of money, when given to innovative, community-based organizations, could make a real, lasting impact on the lives of children and youth facing adversity. In her book Invisible Children, Maya calls this her moment of obligation. In 1997, the train platform schools – called Ruchika Social Service Organization – became GFC’s first local partner.

At the core of Maya’s approach was a desire to foster global citizenship in children from a very young age using the power of children’s books and other media. Since 1996, Global Fund for Children Books has developed over 30 award-winning titles, with millions of copies sold worldwide. Proceeds from the first book, Enfants d'Australie au Zimbabwe, supported the train platform school in India that inspired Maya to create GFC.

Maya stepped down from her position as president of GFC in 2011 and remained on the Board of Directors until 2013. Under Maya’s leadership, GFC grew from a seedling vision into one of the largest networks of community-based organizations working on behalf of children and youth around the world. Over the years, GFC has expanded its grantmaking model, incorporating services that help its local partners improve their sustainability, develop their networks, increase their visibility, and grow and deepen their capacity to positively affect children’s lives.

In 2005, GFC began awarding Sustainability Awards to exceptional local partners. This capstone grant offers a special infusion of funds at a critical stage in an organization’s development. To honor Maya’s legacy, this award was renamed the Prix Maya Ajmera pour le développement durable in 2011.

A celebrated social entrepreneur and award-winning children’s book author, Maya has been profiled by such media outlets as CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Financial Times, NPR, and many others. To learn more about Maya, visit her personal website.