WHY WE EXIST
Irular children are capable. What they lack is support after school.
The Irulars are one of Tamil Nadu's most excluded tribal communities. In the villages where we work, most parents are daily-wage labourers and woodcutters, and many homes have no electricity or clean drinking water. In Pudhupattu, 12 of 24 children had dropped out of school. In Suradimangalam, 15 of 37. Arise gives each child a tutor, a nutritious snack and someone who notices how they are doing, every evening, in their own village.
OUR REACH
FOUR VILLAGES
Sponsor a child's learning. Keep a tutor in the village.
Rs. 15,000 a month runs an Arise centre for a whole village: a tuition teacher, eggs, pulses and protein snacks, notebooks and stationery. Any amount helps. Every donation gets a receipt, and Arise is approved under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Your gift supports the children at an Arise centre. To protect their privacy we do not assign one named child, but we send you updates from the centre you support.
IRULAR DAIRY FARM
4 Jersey cross cows. One Irular family on a full wage of Rs. 15,000 a month. Part of the milk goes to the children at our tuition centres; the rest is sold to pay the wage. Total need: Rs. 10 lakh. Rs. 80,000 buys one cow. Rs. 1,80,000 pays the worker for a year. Rs. 2,50,000 sponsors a cow named after you.
WHO WE ARE
Meet Our Team
Megala Manikam
Founder & President
She is the driving force behind our organization, shaping its vision and mission. With a deep understanding of the needs and challenges faced by the Irular community, she oversees all aspects of the project, including monitoring, field visits, government relations, and legal affairs. Megala's passion for social justice and commitment to empowering marginalized communities inspire us all at Arise Charitable Trust.
John Samuel
Cofounder & Secretary
John Samuel, M.S.W., serves as the Cofounder & Secretary of Arise Charitable Trust, actively engaged in fundraising and resource mobilization. With a passion for community development, John brings years of experience working with marginalized communities. As a social entrepreneur, he excels in identifying sustainable income opportunities, driving significant growth for the organization. John's expertise has been instrumental in Arise Charitable Trust's growth and success.
Joshua Billy Graham
Treasurer
Mr. Joshua Billy Graham is the treasurer of Arise Charitable Trust. He manages all trust funds, accounting, and financial transactions. With a deep commitment to social justice, Joshua's expertise and attention to detail have been instrumental in ensuring the financial sustainability of the organization. His dedication to serving marginalized communities, particularly the Irular community, serves as an inspiration to all at Arise Charitable Trust.
Senapathy
Senapathy is our Project Manager. He manages all Arise projects on the ground, from the evening tuition centres to village work like the school bus, land pattas and clean water, and keeps every initiative on track.
Project Manager
Gracie
Gracie, from the Irula community, serves as a teacher's assistant in our after-school tuition programme. She brings local knowledge and cultural insight, helps the tutor in class, and builds trust with families in the villages.
Team Member
Arul Augustin Joseph
Board Advisor
Arul Augustin Joseph joins Arise as a Board Advisor. He is the Managing Director of Unicorn Maritimes and brings years of business leadership to guide the Trust's growth, governance and partnerships.
Gallery
Explore the heartwarming moments and impactful initiatives captured in our gallery.
