Visakhapatnam: Vizag youth Kiran Chukkapalli’s keen desire to work for the underprivileged has changed the lives of children and other residents of 200 villages in Araku Valley.
Kiran, 29, who was running a PR company earlier, sold it and opened two pre-schools, providing education free of cost in the Araku area. With monetary help from friends, he is next planning to open 30 such schools that will help 600 children to emerge, dynamic and confident.
“We will also upgrade the schools and try to push the children in the right direction as per their skill and talent,” said Kiran, who is also creating jobs for local youths who have passed their Class X, to serve as teachers in these schools. Working for the uplift of the poor was an early childhood desire in Kiran.
“I was waiting for a right time to give shape to my desire and work for the people who want to do something in life, but their socio-economic situation holds them back,” said Kiran. He hopes to bring together like-minded people and create opportunities for community service, foster leadership and empower the young, but he admits that the last six years have been tough.
“Initially, people were averse even to talk to us. We began by distributing solar lamps to 42 huts in a village — it was a vital need — and until now, we have been able to do this in 200 villages without any government help, using only donations from friends and our families,” he said.
“All the donations we have received so far have been by word of mouth. Many of my young and talented friends and volunteers have joined our organisation, which is called ‘Think Peace’. We did not publicise ourselves the last six years, but now, we are contacting corporate houses as funds are required for the sustainability of these schools; our efforts should not turn into a mere photo shoot,” Mr Kiran said.
“Many young people are contributing to this cause in various ways as we have made our working system fully transparent,” he added proudly.
“We have thus been able to bring some changes in people’s lives through our work,” he said.
