New President Uma Dama Discusses Ekal Houston and Expanding Donor Engagement
By Juhi Varma
HOUSTON: Nonprofit Ekal’s success in educating and empowering underprivileged children in India wouldn’t be possible without its committed leaders. Uma Dama, who became president of Ekal’s Houston chapter in October 2024, spoke with us about the organization and its current and upcoming initiatives.
Inspired by Ekal’s mission, Uma ji joined the organization in 2021 and soon took on the role of product development lead.
“I became a volunteer right off the bat,” Uma ji said in an interview. “After the first six months, I was offered the role of the new product development lead, and I said ‘yes’ immediately.”
An IT professional, Uma ji said she was glad to use her skills to develop products that would help sustain Ekal’s ongoing initiatives.
Meet Uma Dama
Uma Ji grew up in Hyderabad and moved to the U.S. in 2001 for her studies. She earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Carolina.
“I’m the first girl from my mother’s side that passed 10th grade, and I am the only girl child on my father’s side who left India for her education and the only one to carry a master’s degree,” she said. “Education, especially women’s education, is very close to my heart.”
Uma ji married her high school sweetheart, Dipu Kakumani, in 2006. They have two children Abhay and Anjali, in 11th and 8th grade respectively.
After spending many years in Portland, Oregon, the family relocated to the Houston area in 2013 and now resides in Sugar Land.
She is also a dedicated advocate for women in tech, frequently speaking at conferences and earning recognition through award nominations.
Legacy Giving and Ekal Yuva Udaan
Like most nonprofits, Ekal relies on donations and fundraising efforts to sustain its programs and services.
“Towards the end of 2022, we launched a legacy giving program,” Uma ji said. “It’s a platform to incorporate Ekal into people’s wills or trusts.”
Legacy giving or planned giving is a way for individuals to make long-term contributions and leave a lasting impact. Legacy gifts can come in various forms and help ensure the continued support and growth of Ekal’s mission.
In an effort to nurture long-term relationships with donors, Uma ji has introduced Ekal Yuva Udaan (which translates to Ekal Youth Wings).
People join Ekal at different stages of their lives, she said—some are introduced to the organization in high school or college, while others discover it later in their careers, after starting families and raising children of their own. The goal of the program is to develop engagement strategies that are tailored to each life stage.
“I am currently working to mobilize this program across Ekal chapters globally,” Uma ji said.
About Ekal
Ekal operates 83,340 schools across India.
These schools provide basic education to children in remote and underserved areas, often where access to formal schooling is limited or non-existent. The Ekal schools complement government schools, working together to support each other’s efforts.
The Ekal Women Empowerment Centers teach women skills such as tailoring, enabling them to become economically independent and support their families. To date, these centers have trained over 23,000 villagers across more than 100 locations.
Ekal USA, which operates 65 chapters nationwide, including six in Texas, mobilizes thousands of volunteers across the country. Its primary focus is fundraising.