Physical Health India Project #24641

Gift a Happy Childhood to Orphan Children

by Sphoorti Foundation

Gift a Happy Childhood to Orphan Children

Project Report | Nov 5, 2024
Update Nov 2024

By Srivyal | Director

We are using this report as an opportunity to tell you about Madhuri.

Madhuri's story begins at the tender age of 4, when she lost her mother. With no one to look after her and her siblings, her grandmother stepped in. One evening, while her grandmother was selling flowers, Mr. Srivyal Vuyyuri approached her. He was building a home for orphans, Sphoorti Foundation, and offered to take Madhuri and her siblings as the first candidates. Their grandmother agreed, and moving to Sphoorti Foundation felt like a re-birth for Madhuri. Mr. Srivyal, who the children lovingly called mamaiya, took care of them like their own father, dropping them off and picking them up from school, giving them tuitions after school, taking them to museums and attending parent-teacher meetings.

When Mamaiya married Ms. Venkateshwari, whom the children now called “attamma”, became a motherly figure, showering them with love and care. Madhuri discovered her passion for singing at Sphoorti. Mamaiya enrolled her into music classes, and she even had the opportunity to be selected for training by a famous Indian playback singer and teacher, Komanduri Ramachary. Unfortunately, there were issues with transportation and the initiative fell through.

Though disappointed, Madhuri didn't give up on her passion. She used her skills to perform at school events, conquering her initial stage fright with the help of Mamaiya's encouraging words: "Everyone will have opinions. But even if you make a handful of people feel good with your music, your talent is making an impact." After finishing high school, Madhuri faced a tough decision.

Due to personal circumstances, she opted for a beautician course instead of pursuing a BA degree at Osmania University. While working at salons and as a salesperson, she noticed her peers from Sphoorti who had completed their degrees and were doing well financially. Inspired by them, she applied for a HR role at Crescent Tax Filing and got the job. Despite not having a degree, Madhuri considers herself a quick learner and aspires to complete her bachelor's degree someday with the help of savings and financial aid.

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Jul 17, 2024
Update July 2024

By Srivyal | Director

We wish to post a story of one of our children in this update.

Carrying the Torch: How Sphoorti Shaped Sai's Life Mission

Sai's story began with financial hardship. Raised by farmer parents in Hyderabad, he and his brother were sent to a Christian missionary school, at the age of 4. The hostel conditions were bleak. Sai excelled in his studies but was forced to show his answer papers to other students and earned 10 rupees per paper. All the while, he shouldered the responsibility of caring for his younger sibling.

In 7th grade, Sai's mother got them into the Sphoorti Foundation. Here, education came alive. Literature classes involved movie analysis and scriptwriting, and academic competitions like Learnasium, where Sai secured first place, fueled his confidence. The foundation fostered a sense of belonging and kindness, replacing the stress of his earlier life with a supportive environment. He even blossomed into a leader, taking initiative to show visitors around. Sai describes Sphoorti as, “A luxurious life that nurtured dreams”.

During 12th grade, Sai set his sights on prestigious colleges like BITS Pilani and VIT. He approached Mr. Srivyal, whom he lovingly called "Mamaiya," for help with coaching fees for the entrance exams. Mamaiya provided the funds and even sent him on his college trips. This helped Sai get some exposure to the outside world and helped learn communication skills.

Despite his dedication, Sai managed to score 800/1000, which didn’t help him in qualifying for BITS Pilani. Dejected, Sai turned back to Mamaiya, who motivated him to pursue NCC and a Bachelor's degree at a top university. However, in his final year, managing both academics and NCC with his mother's declining health became difficult. He completed his NCC certificate but failed his final degree examination. But this didn't stop Sai from pursuing his dreams.

Stepping out of Sphoorti, Sai embarked on a journey of self-reliance. He began as aZomatodelivery boy, gaining valuable lessons about customer interaction, business models, and professionalism. This experience propelled him forward, leading him to apprenticeships and eventually a full-time team lead position at GenPact. Currently, he works as a Query Management Associate atAccenture.

Today, Sai embodies the values instilled by Sphoorti. He lives in a rented space, pays his bills, and embraces practices like meditation and yoga for inner peace. To further up-skill himself, he is currently pursuing a certification course in Artificial Intelligence with a startup incubated by IIT Madras. His desire to empower others led him to become a social investor inRang De, a platform that supports rural entrepreneurs.

Sai's message to future Sphoorti students is a testament to the foundation's impact: "Dream big, for Sphoorti will give you wings. Seek support, be it for mental health, sports, or career."

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Mar 26, 2024
Update 2024 March

By Srivyal | Director

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