Anaadha Vidyarthi Griha, an orphanage in Hyderabad, is operating with a difference as it encourages social entrepreneurship among students. It not only provides shelter, but also gives education to hundreds of needy children.
Established in 1919 with few students, the orphanage is now a home for many students studying in various schools and colleges across the city.
The orphanage’s has a remarkable approach towards giving training, accommodation and employment to the orphans besides giving them a graceful shelter.
Over last 90 years, several hundred students completed their education and training while staying in the orphanage hostel during their schooling or college days.
On the other hand, several students became social entrepreneurs to provide employment and training to the poor and orphan children in the state.
When Anaadha Vidyarthi Griha chairman Shashi Mohan was asked about the orphanage, he said this accommodation facility is different from others in many aspects.
He said that students or children staying at the orphanage do their daily chores on their own and there would not be any caretaker, rather a guardian.
“Students in the orphanage belong to poor families. They wake up in the early morning and start working at the garden in the hostel. They then participate in meditation and exercise. After break fast they leave for their respective schools and colleges in the city,” he added.
Besides this the entire hostel is maintained very clean, neat and proper and appears like a corporate institute. Students of the hostel are well discipline and have a zeal for education, Shashi Mohan informed.
AVG general secretary M Rajesh said that several government employees and generous donors have been supporting the orphanage in many ways including donations, providing required accessories to the students and guiding them for higher education.
“With the government providing a prime land at L B Nagar, the orphanage building stands ideal for a good learning atmosphere and training for the zealous orphan children,” Rajesh noted.
He said that the orphanage has been providing shelter and free education facility for students from anywhere in Telugu state irrespective of their caste, creed and religion.
An old student from the orphanage G Srinu, who spent his precious time here learning the life skills, left his Railway job to start his own start up. He has been training the orphan and poor students in several technical subjects thus providing a platform for many to earn their living.
“When I got the railway job i was satisfied and i could have lived a happy life but i decided to quit it so that i can help several disadvantaged students across the state and since then i have been doing so,” Srinu said.
I am now a satisfied person by helping others who are like me, he said. His social entrepreneurship program has been giving a livelihood for many students, most of them from the same orphanage.
Admissions
M Rajesh has informed that the orphanage will be taking admissions for the next academic year. Students who are orphans and want to study can take admissions. He said that nearly 100 seats were available for the students from 1st standard to degree colleges.
Further details can be obtained by logging in www.orphanage1919.org or by contacting at orphanage1919@gmail.com or by calling at 040-24038676.