వాల్మీకి విద్యారథం (Charity on Chariot)
Reaching the
Unreached
On the eve of the 9th anniversary celebration of the Valmiki Foundation on June 18, 2016, the organization embarked on an innovative initiative – the Valmiki Charity on Chariot. This was the brainchild of the Founder President, who urged the team to celebrate this milestone in a unique and impactful way.
The Project Director, Valmiki Hari Kishan, designed the Chariot program with a clear purpose:
“Why can’t we reach the unreached areas?”
The focus was on addressing the basic needs of rural and tribal children, who often lack the resources to continue their education.
The Valmiki Foundation identified remote villages in the Illandu Mandal of Khammam District, Telangana, known for its severe drought conditions. These villages, mostly populated by tribal communities such as Thandas and Koyas, depend heavily on agriculture for their livelihood, which is heavily reliant on monsoons.
The children in these areas face significant challenges in accessing education, as many parents have a misconception that government schools are not suitable for their children.
Those who can afford it send their children to private schools in nearby villages, while the rest help their parents in agricultural activities, depriving them of a proper childhood.
Thanks to the efforts of NGOs and government initiatives, even the most remote villages now have basic primary schools and Anganwadi centers. However, there is still a need for additional support to encourage children and their parents to prioritize education.
Valmiki Foundation, with the support of the PURE organization, was able to reach out to villages like Bombay Thanda, Marrigudem, Edupula Palem, and Ellapuram, touching the lives of close to 1,000 children. The foundation provided essential educational materials such as school books, slates, pencils, boxes, mats, in-house game sets, steel plates, and glasses.
This initiative, named “VALMIKI VIDHYA RATHAM,” is just the beginning of Valmiki Foundation’s efforts to bring smiles and educational opportunities to the children in these remote areas. The organization is ready to collaborate with any like-minded individuals or organizations to educate, empower, and enlighten both children and adults, with the ultimate goal of achieving 100% literacy.