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Pappa Vidyaakar
"It is not the way I intended to live my life. It is dangerous, tough, thankless job... but someone's got to do it. It'd be nice if society did not need people like me but while it does... I will be right there."
Born in a village in Kollegal - Mysore - Karnataka in a poor family Mr.Vidyaakar was provided with shelter and a prolonged education culminating in Master degree in social work by Mr. Ramakrishnan of
Chennai. His Mentor's words " Help others" became the guiding force for Vidyaakar in starting Udavum Karangal (Helping Hands) as a guidance centre way back in 1983, in the slums of NSK Nagar, Chennai.
"It all began when I carried an eleven month old baby which was found abandoned in a theatre counter in
Chennai. It has nowhere else to go. It needed care and I felt a sudden urge in me to take care of the baby".
From that day onwards I came across many such unfortunate victims, including
AIDS patients. With the dedicated help of about 75 volunteers, Udavum Karangal today has become a haven for
2000 socially under-privileged persons.
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