Our History

I offered additional help to support the students directly.

The kind headmaster gave me the freedom to choose my own cause. After a few days of thought, I decided on setting up a small library in my Guru’s name. I was very excited about my decision given that the school did not have a library even after 70 years of independence.

I thought that the school would provide us the space and furniture for the Library, so I was only thinking about buying books and inaugurating the facility. Guess what, the school gave us a storeroom for the Library, which was not inhabitable. Suddenly I felt that all the paths were closed, but I did not want to give up. I had decided to move forward and spent all the money raised through crowdfund on repairs and was still short of funds. I donated again for books and gave away my old furniture. Finally, the library was inaugurated in May 2014. I couldn’t believe it. It was a feeling of mission accomplished.

I shared the success story with all my friends who supported me. Some of my friends who had already donated came forward and committed some more funds. Receiving additional funding from the same friends was indeed a moral boost. I purchased more books with the goal to expand and develop this as a model facility.

In the meantime, I found out that the school had only one room to spare for the library. That was an old storeroom which had not been used in many years. I agreed to take it and soon realized that it required a lot of repairs. I had about Rs.1,70,000 at that time, I had to spend all that money for repairs. I funded another Rs. 30,000 from my savings for books and donated some of my old furniture. Finally, we could inaugurate the library in May 2014.

I shared the success story with all my friends who supported me for this noble cause. They were all extremely happy with the outcome. Some of my friends who had already donated came forward and committed some more funds. Receiving additional funding from the same friends was indeed a moral boost. I purchased more books with the goal to expand and develop this project as a model facility.

I diverted funds from my petty expenses to this project and started reaching out to more friends for help by sharing the story and developments.

After a few months, when I contacted a teacher to enquire about the library and how students are using it, I was shocked to learn that the facility was closed for the most part of the week, as teachers were very busy and overloaded. Although I negotiated with the staff on how they all can take turns to operate, the idea did not work. One of the teachers then suggested that I appoint a librarian. I resisted the idea initially, as I had already spent a lot of money on this project and hiring a staff would be an additional recurring overhead.

Later on we did appoint a female librarian and saw a great change.The school now could boast of a dedicated staff whose main job was to motivate students to come to the library regularly and read. It was a challenge initially to get the children to read. However, more of them started showing up when she started reading stories to them in the library hour applying several storytelling techniques.

Slowly the students developed interest for stories/books and regularly started visiting the library, and the school too mandated one library hour/class/week. 

In a few months, to our absolute delight, we faced an interesting, yet a very inspiring challenge. The library we had set up couldn’t accommodate the turnout of students and we needed a bigger space. The school staff and students were very happy with the facility and wanted to support us. So, they dedicated the largest hall for the library. The new hall could accommodate at least 60 to 80 students. Finishing the repair work on that hall and shifting library would be an expensive task.

I started another fund-raising campaign. Showing proof of the completed work to my friends and asked for additional help. Understandably, it was tougher this time, as I went to the same set of people for more funds. But miraculously somehow, we managed to raise enough to set up the new place and shift the library. What’s more! This time around, we upgraded the facility into a digital library equipped with a projector, screen, computer and educational DVDs.

Many visitors started taking inspiration from this facility and implementing the same idea in other schools.

I set another mile stone of converting this library into a Learning Center of Excellence. The idea is to create an environment where the student enjoys learning through experiments and overcome fear of failure.

We started with science kits in 2 schools, and working on adding proper math and science projects, table games, art supplies and also offer counselling/coaching classes on Career choices, Opportunities and Sills. So that they can step out of school as well rounded individuals who can face the world with more confidence.

Fascinated with this idea, I started an organization -“Vidyaprabha Foundation”. This journey was not planned, I have no clue in what I was doing in the beginning and don’t know why I am propelled in this direction. But, I can tell you that I can’t be stopped now as a force much stronger than my own will is galvanizing this effort. We are more committed than ever before to transform students and empower them through our programs.

Now, we have started the project in a remote village of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. And working on a Program template to implement this concept in many other schools in backward districts across India.

Our next challenge is to build a self sustainable business model to continue reaching more students and schools. Come and join us. I am sure, you will love it.

Srini Chintada