A Shared Vision
- initiativesprucla
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
TNF and Project RISHI UCLA’s Collaboration in Vadamanapakkam
Written by UCLA 24-25 Community Empowreemtn Committee & 24-25 TNF Executive Board
Creating a successful educational environment requires a group effort. Through the coordination of UCLA undergraduates, the dedicated Tamil Nadu Foundation Team, Tamil Nadu Department of School Education, and the support of a local school headmaster, a five-year partnership was established with Vadamanapakkam Secondary School. This initiative aims to empower students—especially those facing academic challenges—with a stronger foundation for holistic success.
Project RISHI is a nonprofit U.S.-based organization working to promote the sustainable development of rural communities across India. With more than 15 chapters nationwide, it has college teams working across all corners of India, from Bharog Bhaneri in Himachal Pradesh to Seithur, Tamil Nadu. The UCLA chapter has been conducting work in the Tiruvannamalai district for over two decades and recently began working in the Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. Undergraduates from the organization have implemented a variety of health and social interventions, including the establishment of a clinic for acute health concerns, the construction of school bathrooms, and various WASH and health education efforts. UCLA RISHI has maintained a long-standing partnership with the Vadamanapakkam Secondary School, engaging in efforts to establish and support a Youth Leadership Program, conduct English-speaking classes, and provide infrastructural support (e.g., by installing a high-tech computer lab and providing green boards).
Run by Headmaster N. Vedhapuri, the school has faced increasing disparities in educational standards, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, when rural schools struggled to adapt to virtual learning. According to Vedhapuri Sir, the secondary school is government-funded but severely under-resourced. As a result, it lacks proper infrastructure, with barren classrooms and unusable bathroom facilities. When Project RISHI members visited India in 2023, they observed stark differences in infrastructure, funding, and administration between the secondary school and the primary school (which benefited from strong government funding as a model institution). The secondary school’s classrooms were bare, with blackboards so worn that chalk barely left a mark. Vandalism had compromised the school’s infrastructure: drinking water taps were broken by students, and the bathroom facilities were poorly maintained and unsanitary.
Vedhapuri Sir shed further light on the behavioral issues that disrupt the entire student body, with nearly 25% of students engaging in behaviors such as truancy, substance abuse, lack of respect for authority figures, and acts of vandalism and graffiti that further degrade the school's infrastructure. As a result, several pipes, taps, and sinks were broken, and toilets were clogged with rocks and dirt. These behaviors place a significant strain on school management and create a chaotic environment that makes it difficult for students to learn. Traditional authoritarian teaching methods in India are ineffective for students exhibiting these challenges. Yet, even with government-provided schemes, teachers are not equipped with the necessary tools to support them, Vedhapuri Sir noted. However, it is not entirely the students who should be blamed for these behaviors. As adults, educators, and policymakers, it is our responsibility to provide the necessary support systems, resources, and interventions to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed. While the issues described above are endemic to thousands of rural schools in Tamil Nadu, let alone all of India, after building a relationship with the secondary school, it became clear that bringing the Tamil Nadu Foundation to Vadamanapakkam was essential.
Vedhapuri Sir had worked with TNF at the school he was previously employed at: Vadailuppai Higher Secondary School. His mentioning of the non-profit was our first time hearing about it and he was not able to recall specific details of TNF’s involvement in the school. So, members of the UCLA RISHI Community Empowerment Committee got to work, trying to identify how we could collaborate with TNF and bring Vedhapuri Sir’s vision to reality. After nine months of efforts, the ABC Project has successfully been initiated at Vadamanapakkam.
At the start of the project’s initiation, TNF has conducted a baseline assessment for all students between 6th and 9th standard. C. Sridhar Sir, the TNF Project Coordinator, identified 61 out of 118 secondary school students as eligible for the program. Additionally, as of January 2nd, the first new teacher appointed by C. Sridhar Sir has officially started her work. TNF has engaged in a rigorous hiring process to find [INSERT NAME] as the first teacher for the ABC project; since she is already a resident of Vadamanapakkam, we are glad she is integrated into the community. Project RISHI UCLA is excited about the impact she will have on the students and the broader community.
Mr. Gyani and his team support a total of five ABC schools. Given TNF’s success in these schools—such as Konavattam Higher Secondary and Vadailuppai Higher Secondary School, which have achieved improvement rates of 66.66% and 39.37%, respectively as of January 2025—Project RISHI UCLA is optimistic about the potential for improvement in the Vadamanapakkam Secondary School. After working closely with Vedhapuri Sir, the team is hopeful that the initiative will enhance students' educational outcomes, increase college readiness, and introduce students to new employment opportunities.
Closing Remarks
Given that we spend most of the year in the U.S., Project RISHI UCLA’s India Affairs team calls all of our stakeholder contacts, including Vedhapuri Sir biweekly, to check up on the status of our projects and maintain regular communication. Given Vedhapuri Sir’s concerns observed on past calls and past India trips, there has been a noticeable positive difference in his outlook on the school’s future. Vedhapuri Sir himself has expressed deep satisfaction with the program’s initial progress and has pledged to continue his support even after his retirement.
The entire Project RISHI UCLA team is extremely appreciative of Mr. Gyanasabai Palaniappan and his entire team, Mr. Arun Arunachalam, Dr. Ka Ilango, and Mr. Veera Venugopal. Without their support, this project would not have been possible. We are honored to be able to support Vedhapuri Sir’s vision for improving student success at the secondary school and look forward to seeing the program progress.
Notes from Project RISHI UCLA Members
“As students, we face very real limitations in our work, and in the past, many of our efforts have been short-term or unsustainable- they were effective but not enough on their own. This led us to critically re-evaluate our role. We realized an opportunity to position ourselves as a bridge, collaborating with another NGO to support work on a larger, more sustainable scale. Through our experience so far with the ABC Project, we learned that with the right efforts in the right places, we can play a meaningful role by using our knowledge and skills to support community members in ways that amplifies their vision for empowerment.” - Shreya Sundar, Director of Community Empowerment, Project RISHI UCLA
“Partnering with TNF and bringing the ABC project to life, with the guidance and support of Mr. Gyani, Mr. Aranachalam, and Vedhapuri Sir, has provided us with the opportunity to see progress year-round in the secondary school. I am incredibly excited about the future of this project and truly believe that if even one student benefits from this effort, it will have been worthwhile.” - Anthara Thirupathi, Community Empowerment Member, Project RISHI UCLA
“This is my first year as a member of Project RISHI’s Community Empowerment Team working to initiate the ABC Project in Vadamanapakkam. The ABC Project is not just an education initiative; it's a program designed to empower students from all backgrounds. It goes beyond academic proficiency by emphasizing the development of soft skills and preparing students for higher education, helping them build the confidence they need to make a positive impact in their community.” - Aarush Admala, Community Empowerment Member, Project RISHI UCLA