Some invest their money in stock market; we invested ours in our hometown. The school we built with the help of our family back in Nandyala, successfully completed 3 years this April. It’s a high risk, conscious kind of investment, mainly because no one in our family is in the education field until now and our goal is not geared towards profits.
Vijay and his equally talented brother Kiran, worked hard for the last three years, everyday. They designed the building, playground and education curriculum to create a good, quality environment for the children to learn. We started the school first with preschool – LKG, UKG, First class and then every year we are increasing the class to next level. Now we have upto third class. We have big plans for our school and ideas about what it should represent. The kind of education and adults it will create in future. This project is our labor of love and our passion.
This is one of the photos we took last year during our visit to school in Nandyala. Here, the children are all gathered for a school photo. Adorable and pretty innocent, healthy and full of energy – we were like them thirty years ago.
More about our school project at – Nandyala.org.
Hi Indira,
I have begun visiting your blog frequently, mainly for the passion you display for cooking and its accompanying paraphernalia. Today, was moved enough to leave a comment. Kudos to both Vijay and you for such an amazing initiative in the field of education, an area which in India is sorely neglected. Both of you have your heart and mind in the right place.
Deepa
Comment by Deepa — April 2, 2006 @ 10:14 pm
Indira and Vijay as well —
I have spent years saying to my family… “when you have your own children you will understand” … I have children with special needs and there is nobody who appreciates a gesture like this more… thank you for the reminder of my kids’ struggle, and thank you for reminding me there are kind hearts in this world 🙂
regards.
Linda
Comment by Linda — April 2, 2006 @ 10:51 pm
Indira, sweet kids. I’m sure they’ll do well in life under the able guidance of people like you, Vijay and others involved. That’s a really sound investment. You’ll reap the benefits of your goodness and kindness in the form of rich love.
Comment by sandhya — April 2, 2006 @ 10:59 pm
Keep up Good Work!
Comment by Pavan Ashwini — April 2, 2006 @ 11:20 pm
Indira, you guys have done a great investment and I appreciate you and vijay’s interest and effort for making this school. Keep up the good work:)
Comment by Priya Balabhaskaran — April 3, 2006 @ 12:51 am
Hi Indira,
After looking at this photo…….I can say there is still someone who do the things what somebody think of in dreams.Everyone has good thoughts but someone will implement it.What I mean is “meeru chasi chpistunaru.”I love u guys.
regards
laxmi.
Comment by srilaxmi — April 3, 2006 @ 1:33 am
Hi Indira,
I have come across dozens of people, who always nod their heads when it comes to the apathy of people/children from the lower economic strata and/or villages in India. At the end of the heavy nodding are usually the words ‘We need to do something about it / Somebody should do something about it. Tut..tut..’, and the likes. You and your family are some of the very few people who have actually gone ahead and done something constructive. A big applause to you. Please let us know (and I really mean it), in case we could lend a hand.
Comment by Vaishali — April 3, 2006 @ 3:19 am
My respect for you has increased multifold! Its truly a remarkable gesture towards giving back to the society. Please convey my respect to Vijay and Kiran and I also appreciate the support you provide to them.
Do you provide food also to these kids?
Comment by Supriya — April 3, 2006 @ 5:48 am
what can I say. I am just speechless. Kudos to you, vijay and Kiran for taking up this project and your family for supporting it wholeheartedly. It is hard to find people who dream about doing something for society and even more harder finding someone who actually work towards the dream. You guys are of the rare kind.
Comment by Santhi — April 3, 2006 @ 8:04 am
Indira and Vijay,
My admiration for both of you has just shot up – as if it wasn’t high already 🙂 :).
What a noble thought and execution! Words are redundant to express appreciation of your act.
Kudos!
Comment by Saffron Hut — April 3, 2006 @ 9:18 am
Indira and Vijay:
That is such a noble and worthy cause. I appreciate all your efforts from the bottom of my heart. Please let me know if we can contribute to your effort in some way!
Thanks,
Comment by Luv2cook — April 3, 2006 @ 9:26 am
Indira,
All the above comments echo my thoughts. What you and your family are doing is noble. I wish your family all the very best in this project.
Faffer
Comment by Faffer — April 3, 2006 @ 9:32 am
Great job guys. Many people have great ideals but hardly do anything about it…but you guys did something about it.
Comment by Gini — April 3, 2006 @ 9:35 am
I feel already Nandyal has so many good schools. Are you providing free food & education to the students of your school?
Comment by desi_girl — April 3, 2006 @ 10:44 am
Thank you all! I appreciate your kind words about our endeavour.
Desi girl/Swathi/fellow Nandyala native ….
We agree, but only if you have money to pay the fees.
Ours is geared towards low income and middle class families, and we provide quality education at less tuition fee.
We are sponsoring few children with our own money. I wish we’d sponsor all, but that’s a fools dream and we don’t have ‘that’ kind of money yet.
we have your name/IP already in our database.
Comment by Indira — April 3, 2006 @ 11:14 am
This is the sort of moment, when the concerted action of a handful of people can literally change the world.
You have changed the world for each of those little ones, and in doing so, they will go on and change the world further.
Thank you, Indira. That is an inspiration.
Comment by Barbara — April 3, 2006 @ 11:42 am
Hi Indira,
Nice thinking of giving education to children.
I wish ur dreams come true.
vineela
Comment by vineelakrishna — April 3, 2006 @ 12:07 pm
This investment is surely a conscious investment which not only benefits you but also the society…Good Work Indira..Iam sure you and everybody else is proud of this good thing!!!
Comment by BDSN — April 3, 2006 @ 12:27 pm
Hey Indira…If I could say one more thing I would be really glad to tell it now..My sister who is in Pune does the same thing..She is a volunteer in a org called FOC(Friends of Children)Their goal is the same just like yours…Empowering children through education…Well the org raises funds from individuals/corporations and 100% of it is donated to the children who have completed 10th grade…Well if you like to know more you can visit this website for more info..
http://www.focindia.org
Thanks for taking your time to read this..
Comment by BDSN — April 3, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Indira, I forgot to add “to under privileged kids” in my comment as I mistakenly clicked post your comment button. But anyways, thanks for the response. Keep doing good work.
Comment by Swathi — April 3, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
Indira: Great job, is what you guys are doing. you are giving life to all these kids. All the very best with you noble efforts 🙂
Comment by Karthi Kannan — April 3, 2006 @ 1:33 pm
Amazing idea and an inspiration to me as I began to ponder the ways I can make a difference in the land of my ancestors.
Comment by Meenoo — April 3, 2006 @ 2:12 pm
Indira, kudos to you and your family for putting your talents into creating resources that will nurture future talent. God bless you!
Comment by Manisha — April 3, 2006 @ 3:54 pm
good job I really appreciate some indian (esp andhrites:) ) are giving back in a very special way. do you have a school trust fund to which i can donate. please give me details. thankyou. congrats for a great job. out of all education will deifnitely be a greatest investment ethically.
Comment by pranavi — April 3, 2006 @ 7:20 pm
Indira and Vijay, this is maybe the sweetest thing I’ve read in weeks. You are truly good people, and I’m happy to know you…even from a distance.
Comment by Stephanie — April 4, 2006 @ 10:58 am
Indira,Vijay and Kiran,appreciate your family’s wise investment for the future of our children and your way of giving back to your home town.
A very noble thought and gesture to provide affordable quality education to the lower income group and under-priviledged children!
God Bless You!
Comment by sailaja — April 4, 2006 @ 11:15 am
I understand what you are doing, it’s not underpriviled, feeding the poor all that nonsense, but giving a chance and creating good educational environment for others.
All I can say is… you are good people.
Comment by Rama — April 4, 2006 @ 1:28 pm
Indira & Vijay, I’m so happy to have known you. You are such an inspiration. Keep up the great work and great spirit!
Comment by Kay — April 5, 2006 @ 6:52 pm
Everybody talks and you both actually walk the talk!
Comment by L.G — April 6, 2006 @ 4:38 pm