A basic education is a luxury Americans often take for granted, especially those who are fortunate enough to experience it.

In India, however, education is something available almost exclusively to the upper class. This is what Prem Swaroop, a graduate student in electrical engineering, is trying to change.

A native of India, Swaroop founded the organization Two Cents of Hope in 2005. According to Swaroop, the group’s mission is to raise money for impoverished children to go to school in India.

He said a group of students was hanging out and “thinking of all the problems back [home] in India” and decided education would be its focus for an organization.

“We felt education is the best way to improve society,” Swaroop said.

To collect money, the group puts boxes in people’s houses and area businesses for people to drop off their loose change. Because one U.S. penny equals 45 paise in Indian currency, the money adds up quickly, according to Swaroop.

Two Cents of Hope believes the demographic in focus is the lower class, because the middle and upper classes generally at least finish high school. He estimated that in India, it costs about $3,000 to send a child to school from kindergarten through an undergraduate degree.

In addition to the coin drop, he said the club also started an event called Trishna, which it hopes to be annual. Trishna means Ôthirst for knowledge’ in Sanskrit and was a cultural showcase of Indian talent held in September. More than 200 people attended, and the event raised around $1,500 for their cause, according to Swaroop.

Swaroop said the club is focusing on getting more people involved and is trying to establish chapters at other schools, such as Penn State.

“We have members [at N.C. State], but we also have members in India who coordinate the money,” he said. “Tuition, fees, uniforms, textbooks … we don’t give them the money, we provide them with the necessities.”

According to Sarah Suda, a junior in physics, the club is for a good cause.

“The problem [in India] runs deeper than [education], but I think it’s very important.” Suda said.

Ashton Ayers, a sophomore in biological sciences, agreed with Suda and thinks the club was a good idea.

“Sometimes people don’t think about the problems in the U.S., but I think we should reach out and help other people,” Ayers said.

Because there are so many organizations in the United States to help underprivileged people, Ayers said it was OK with her if the club focused on another country.

“Education in [India] should improve before results happen because the people who come over here to study end up staying,” Suda said.

Because the club has a positive influence, Swaroop encourages people to donate. When someone makes a donation, the club makes sure the donor knows where the money goes — such as how the child he or she sponsored is progressing.

Swaroop said there are many other organizations like his dedicated to improving education around the world. However he feels Two Cents of Hope is unique.

“We are not saying we are [better] … but we help in our own way,” he said.