CITTA Foundation

The CITTA Foundation is a based nonprofit organization that works to build support for families in some of the most economically challenged communities by means of education, health, and economic development. As part of this goal, CITTA operates schools in India and Nepal. CITTA has developed a holistic and adaptable method called the HEED model (Health, Education, and Economic Development).
The founder of the foundation is artist Michael Daube. In an interview in Forbes Magazine, he explained the financing of the foundation due to the following events:
* While he was cleaning out an old warehouse in Jersey City, New Jersey that he had rented, he had discovered a David Hockney portrait of Ossie Clark from the 1960’s.
* In the interview, the lease agreement in terms of what is in the property was not brought up. However, Daube sold the painting and used the proceeds to start what is now the CITTA foundation.
* The first project was Michael A. Daube Charitable Trust Hospital in Odisha, India.
Projects
CITTA has created the following projects:
* Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School (GYAAN Center): A girl's school based in rural Jaisalmer, India.
* Women's Economic Development Center (Aatmiya Nepal): Based in Patan, Nepal.
* Michael A. Daube Charitable Trust Hospital: Based in Juanga, Odisha, India.
* Limi Valley School: A school located in the high-altitude valley of the Limi Valley, in the Northwestern region of the Humla District, a district in the Karnali Zone of Nepal. The community consists of three ethnic Tibetan villages, Til, Waltse, and Zang.
* The Vivekananda Primary School: Located in Odisha, India.
* Dr. Christofer Barley Hospital: Based in Sindhuli, Nepal.
GYAAN Center (Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School)
Designed by architect Diana Kellogg, the school located in the Thar Desert seeks to encourage women's empowerment with the 400-student school complex. The building was constructed by means of hand cut local sandstone from the local area of Jaisalmer, India. It was an Architectural Digest (AD) of India AD100 building in 2020. Architectural Digest India designated the building as its 2020 Building of the Year. The land for the property was donated by Manvendra Singh Shekhawat, the owner of the Suryagarh Palace Hotel.
Aatmiya Nepal
Aatmiya Nepal is a women's economic development center based in Patan, Nepal. It is a social enterprise aiming to provide employment opportunities to local Nepalese women through dignified, skill-based jobs. Besides the center in Patan, it also has work-at-home operations in Bhaktapur.
Limi Valley School
A school located near the village of Halji, in high altitude valley of the Limi Valley, in the Northwestern region of the Humla District, a district in the Karnali Zone of Nepal. The community consists of three ethnic Tibetan villages, Til, Waltse, and Zang. In 2020, CITTA had purchased the land to build a unified upper school. The building was designed as pro bono by New York-based architect firm, Diana Kellogg Architects. The same architectural firm designed the GYAAN Center was well.
The Vivekananda Primary School
In response to the India's largest cyclone in 100 years damaging the coastal region of Odisha in 1999, CITTA constructed The Vivekananda Primary School in 2001. Odisha, one of the poorest states in India, had a population where only 10% of the population had received any formal education. The new public school opened in 140 students with young learners being able to attend up the 2nd grade. By the 2019, the school goes up to the 10th grade in course offerings and enrolls 420 students per year. In 2021, a third floor was added to the building and upper-level classes were accommodated for.
Unsuccessful Projects: Hospital in Humla, Nepal
In 1997, Daube had met a person named Yeshe Lodoe Lama in Sanath, India, where Lama had been studying medicine. Lama was able to convince Daube into investing in a hospital for the needy in Humla, Nepal. With the support of CITTA, the CITTA Medical Center was created in 2004 in Humla with Lama as the director of the medical facility. It was a three-story building with clean corridors. However, it was later discovered that Lama did not have a valid medical license and had in fact forged a license. Along with this was the discovery of financially irregularities and mismanagement under the leadership of Lamas. CITTA cut funding to the center and Lamas was arrested by Nepal authorities in 2014.

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