Ganna is the second child of Appalanayudu and Gangamma, a poor peasant family residing in the Munakalavasa village in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. It was difficult for the family to make ends meet. To exacerbate their problems, their son suffered from a serious heart ailment.  The parents who had lost their first son to a similar disease were determined to save the life of their second child.. With the help of some villagers, Ganna was taken to a hospital in Vizag where the doctors advised an immediate operation. It would cost them Rs. 1.5 lakh. Ganna’s parents returned to their house dejected. It would be impossible to raise such big amount.   

GMR Varalakshmi Foundation conducts several health programmes in the Munakalavasa village including a health camp for children. The Foundation’s volunteers took Ganna to the health camp where the  doctor confirmed the earlier diagnosis. The volunteers pursued the matter relentlessly to get the right treatment for Ganna.

 It was around the same time that  the Government of Andhra Pradesh was conducting a ‘health shivir’    (health camp) for the children. The health camp was set up to provide free treatment or operations, if need be, for children diagnosed with serious medical problems. The Foundation made arrangements for Ganna and his parents to attend this camp. The doctors recommeneded an emergency operation and referred him to a government hospital. Ganna was eventually shifted to a private hospital where the Foundation’s volunteers successfully persuaded the hospital authorities to operate free of cost. The operation cured Ganna. 

Today, Ganna is growing up in good health. His parents say they can’t thank GMR Varalakshmi Foundation enough for giving their son a new lease of life... 

“My parents feel proud of me today… my friends and neighbours look up to me” – Indira, Golapally Village, Hyderabad 

19 year old Indira hails from the Golapally village of Hyderabad. Her family consists of three siblings and her parents, both of who work as koolies or porters in the neighbouring town. After failing a subject in Std. XII, Indira had little to do sitting at home all day.  Her parents, who could not afford sending her to school again wanted to get her married. However, the financial constraints faced by the family, put a hold on the marriage plans as well.  

Indira,however, did not want to get married at such a young age and neither did she want to burden her parents. She was determined to achieve something in life, though she didn’t know how to go about it. . It was at this point that she learnt about the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation through one of the awareness programmes conducted  in her village.

The Foundation has initiated a number of community service activities in Education; Health; and Empowerment and Livelihoods in the villages surrounding the upcoming Hyderabad International Airport. Under the ‘Livelihood’ programme, which began in 2006, the Foundation has been conducting a number of short-term vocational skill courses like electrical wiring, appliance repair, computer hardware, refrigeration and air-conditioning etc. free of cost for youth residing in the area. The institute also provides free bus pass as well as lunch to students undergoing training.  

Indira met with the counselling staff at the Foundation and discussed her various options. Thereafter, she enrolled for the three-month Computer Basics and DTP course. 

Her parents who were not too enthusiastic about this, agreed to send her for the course,feeling confident that she would soon lose interest and discontinue. But Indira was determined to finish her course and get a job.  She performed well in her class and displayed tremendous eagerness to learn. She never missed a single class, would participate in all the activities and was one of the brightest students of her batch. The course not only imparted technical training, but also soft skills and personality development training.  “At GMR they did not stop at teaching us computers but they also taught us how to believe in ourselves,” says Indira. 

Today, Indira is a self-motivated individual who has not only finished her course successfully but has also been selected for a job with the help of GMRVF. The Foundation, apart from conducting training also works with potential employers for placements. Indira has since finished her Std. XII and is also pursuing her Bachelors degree through open university.

“This is just a stepping stone, I have further to go from here….” she says, confidently. Each month she gives money to her family and also saves some amount in her personal bank account. Indira is no longer the timid and shy girl that she once was, she is today a confident and self-sufficient person, with eyes firmly set on a promising and bright future.

Koyyana Guruvulu has been a resident of Medara Street in Rajam for the last 40 years. This Medara community has around 40 families and most of them earn their living by weaving and selling bamboo items. Like many of the men of the community, Guruvulu was also an alcoholic, spending most of his hard-earned money on buying alcohol. In the process, his family suffered.

Guruvulu was introduced to GMR Varalakshmi Foundation through one of his granddaughters who was studying in the Bhavan’s Varalakshmi Vidyashram under GMRVF’s “Gifted Children Scheme.” The Foundation works extensively with the Medara community.

Guruvulu, was counseled by GMRVF supervisor and referred to St. Ann’s De-Addiction Centre. Through constant persuasion of the supervisor, Guruvulu started attending the sessions at the Centre regularly. Besides offering counseling services, the Centre also served as a meeting point for people with similar afflictions to discuss and share their experiences and thoughts. The success stories inspired Guruvulu to give up his habit. Not only has he come out of his alcoholisim, he has now become a role model for his neighbours and relatives. Guruvulu has received a medal from the Centre for giving up his alcoholic ways and more importantly influencing other people to do so too.

  Koyanna Guruvulu is a completely changed man, today. Once in every few months he visits Vijaywada, Salur, Cheepurupalli, Boddavalasa and other places to counsel and share his experiences with others who are trying to change. He conducts regular meetings in the Medara Community Hall for addicted people and is considered as a guide by many community members.

  With further counseling and awareness sessions held by the Foundation, Guruvulu has started saving his income in Postal savings schemes LIC and the like. He is also an active member of one of the Self Help Groups (SHG) facilitated by GMRVF in the area. His children and wife are very happy with his transformation and can’t thank the Foundation staff enough for this. The family today plans to move to a better house, and is saving money for this.

Noticing the transformation in Guruvulu and its positive effect on his family, other members of the Medara community have also started saving. GMRVF has started four Self Help Groups in the area involving 60 women. All the families have taken insurance policies. In the last two years, two women who lost their husbands have also benefited through this by receiving Rs. 20,000 each.

26 year old Kotha Bala Krishna hails from the small town of Rajam in Andhra Pradesh. But that is not all about him. Kotha is today, a well qualified and accomplished chartered accountant, employed in a reputed organization. His accomplishments despite his humble background and surroundings, are testimony to what one can achieve through perseverance and hard-work.

Kotha however had to face several challenges to fulfill his dreams. Coming from a poor family, consisting of his father, mother, and two school-going siblings, it was difficult to make ends meet. Kotha’s father an owner of a small paan shop, was the sole breadwinner of the family, earning a monthly income of about Rs. 2500/-.

Kotha was however, a hardworking and intelligent boy and showed great promise of becoming a successful person. His father knew this, so despite the financial constraints, he sent him to school and college. Kotha lived up to his father’s expectations and won a gold medal at the degree level.

Kotha however, wanted to continue his studies and become a Chartered Accountant. He nursed the desire to stand on his own feet without being a burden on his father. However, he did not have the financial wherewithal to pursue his studies for becoming a Chartered Accountant. Kotha had almost given up when he learnt about the scholarship scheme being offered by GMR Varalakshmi Foundation for meritorious and bright students.

Kotha contacted the Foundation facilitators at Rajam. With their help, he applied to GMRVF for financial support to pursue CA. GMRVF accepted the application based on Kotha’s good academic record and his enthusiasm to achieve something in life. He was provided a part of the amount as grant and the remaining as interest-free loan, which he was to start paying back once he finished his course and found a job. This helped him complete the course without being a burden on his family.

Today, Kotha is a qualified CA, working as a Manager in a good firm in Hyderabad. He has started repaying the loan he had taken and soon plans to relocate his family to the city to live with him. Kotha is very grateful to GMRVF for providing him a loan without any security and for standing by him when the chances seemed bleak.