From 2001-2010, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation worked in partnership with World Vision in Gandhinagar slum of Chennai. During this period, two Anganwadi centres were established in the slum reaching out to 60 children. A night school was also started for 160 slow learning students. 24 women SHGs and 4 men SHGs were formed, and 17 of them are linked to banks for loans for income generation programs. Various other programs in the areas of Education, Health and Hygiene were implemented which included summer camps for the children, formation of children’s clubs and organizing various awareness programs on social issues.

The World Vision project has phased out of the area in October 2010. GMRVF in association with GMR Power Corporation Ltd. (GPCL) then took on the implementation of the program directly from November 2010 onwards.

Education
The focus of GMRVF, Chennai is to work with five Government Schools around Pullianthope area for improving the quality of education thus increasing the learning levels of about 5000 children. Measures are taken to enhance the capacities of teaching staff, infrastructure facilities, teaching pedagogy and learning effectiveness of students. Repairing drinking water facility, providing mid-day meals plates, providing play materials are some of the specific interventions taken up in the partner schools. Foundation also started tuition centres to support the children with weak learning skills and organizes various extracurricular activities.

Six additional teachers are working with four Higher Primary Government Schools reaching out to more than 4000 children. Apart from supplementing the normal teaching processes in the school, these teachers are also managing tuition classes for students with weak learning skills.

Three tuition centres are operating at two Government Schools benefitting more than 400 children from Std X and XII.

Two school libraries are operating at Govt High School, Pullianthope and Adi Dravida Boys School benefitting more than 1500children. The additional teachers provided by GMRVF are managing these libraries.

Teachers training programs were organized in association with AIDS India, Chennai on innovative teaching methods for 34 teachers from three Govt schools.

Parent Teachers Association meetings were facilitated by GMRV Foundation. The meetings focused on increased parent’s involvement in improving the quality of education.