The Beginning
“It was a hot summer day in Kadapa in 1992 when I was horrified to find a 2-year-old girl abandoned on the street. Her father had left her to starve on the road after murdering her mother.”
Shocked and moved by finding the infant, Sandhya’s overwhelming concern led her and a few like-minded individuals to establish a home for abandoned children and those in need of care and protection. Housed in rented premises with 6 children, the initiative was registered as the ‘Vijay Foundation Trust (Association)’. By 1996, since the number of children had grown to 36 they moved to Aarti Home, named after Sandhya’s niece Aarti, their first donor who tragically passed away at 18.
Aarti Home grew in numbers and strength, and so did our resolve to address the deeper underlying societal issues. Our growth has been an organic process in response to each of these. Today, 30+ years later, Aarti Home has expanded into an umbrella organisation that works towards the upliftment of girls and women in society.
The Aarti way of life— helping girls and women realise their strength and potential.
- Sandhya Puchalapalli, Founder & Director of Aarti for Girls
Our Journey From Inception to Now
Watch BBC’s Documentary on Aarti for Girls to learn more about us!
Meet Our Team
Our team is an extended family of volunteers, donors, board members, community members, and even Aarti girls themselves. We all share the common drive to educate girls, empower women and care for those in need.