My name is Merce and since I´m 18 y.o. (now I´m 35) I´ve been working as volunteer in several NGO´s, apart of developing projects, etc... In all this years of experience, I´ve never seen a NGO like PYDS. It´s amazing how a retired couple (Swamy and Chinni) has created such a great environment for children without resources. These children have the same school system as the rest and the values and acknowledgement that they are getting is even better than most of the schools that I´ve visited in Dehradun, where I´m also teacher. But Swamy and Chinni don´t stop here!!. The kids have proper food from morning till evening when they leave the school, the transport for going to school and coming back home, medical service , etc... and something that you can feel from the moment that you arrive there, it´s the strong feeling of love and caring for these children. It´s an incredible sensation seeing them going to University, achieving their aims and what it´s more important for me, seeing them becoming great human beings. All these kids have great values and they are incredibly conscious about all the world around them.... It´s a great feeling experience belonging to this huge family where every single member is loved and cared.
PYDS is a group of sincere people, who take care of each and every iota of the needs of little ones. Children are learning various life skills according to their expertise and interest. I am absolutely sure the students from this institutions will be future leaders and will make their benefactors proud.
I am a PhD candidate and Instructor of sociology in the USA. My husband and I have traveled the world evaluating NGOs. We had planned to volunteer at PYDS for a month and stayed for over 4! It is absolutely the most transparent, hardworking organization I have seen- and I have worked with dozens. PYDS is honest about its capabilities and limits, and they are always striving for excellence and I believe in many ways they are achieving it. It is one of the few NGOs I have seen that I can whole-heartily recommend as place worth donating your time or resources to. PYDS is making changes in the lives of these children beyond what I can describe here, but should you have the chance to visit, the students themselves will tell you that this isn't a school it is a family.
I had great experience & association with the Purkal Society. They have very honest and transparent approach towards the project they are working on. I really admire the sincerity of the core team associated with this society.
My husband and I are english teachers in France ( high school and college)and will retire very soon .We feel like continuing transmitting and will do it at Purkal next march .we have been to India many times ,to many places ,bringing groups through our non profitable association ,we also have good friends there and it is through our close friend Sujit who is an administrator that we found out about Purkal.there ,we will share our experience with the pupils and the teachers .we are really looking forward to it .
I am a donor and financially look after the educational expense of one boy at Purkal. As I am in The US, I have not been able to visit. But I get to know all the imprrovements they have been making and the new programs they have undertaken for the development of under-privileged children. I like the work they do and will always be associated to this organisation working to take care of under privileged children.
I have been a part of this project since its inception and it has been a great experience to watch these children grow into responsible young citizens over a period of time. They have never missed an opportunity to do us proud.
It is fortunate when one is associated with social endeavours that have great intentions but also great results. My experience with PYDS is just that. When I look back at my own involvement with PYDS of over 6 years, I feel that I am fortunate to be engaged with and supporting in my small way an initiative that is not just transforming the lives of those beneficiaries - children and women - that it is serving, but also touching in a unique and inspirational way, all those who support it. PYDS has a connect with a large network of such wonderful people who I am sure have been further ennobled thanks to their association with PYDS.
I have been a part of the Purkal Youth Development society right from its inception. All the results, achievements and the output that one witnesses today has been due to the effort of a selct few in the initial stages. As a parent of two school going youngsters I would like to say that the education imparted at PYDS is so wholesome that if given a choice I would put my own children who are going to one of the best schools in Delhi in this learning centre. No stone is left unturned to make sure that the overall personality of the students is developed not just through class room activities but also through outdoor activities and workshops from experienced people from different arenas.
I once went to Dehradun and visited Purkal Youth Development Society (PYDS. I was so impressed that I immediately sponsored the education of a poor child. As I saw more of PYDS, I came to the conclusion that this is what India needs-genuine NGO's in the villages who raise the educational and economic standards of the villagers. By imparting quality education to the poor chidren and helping village women in making quilts and patchwork textiles, the average income of these poor village women has now become Rs 3000-5000/month. One can see all round improvement in living standards, hygene, education and family planning now in about 20 villages covering a population of 5,000. Indeed, it is my view that if India had 4,00,000 PYDS's in the villages, this country will improve positively for the better. All it needs is 4,00,000 Mr Swamy's, the man who started PYDS and is running the show. Is it too much to ask for 4,00,000 such dedicated people in a country with such a large population and such a large middle class?. I am now a regular donor to PYDS and I have introduced many of my frieds to PYDS. They are all most happy. I wish all sincere and well meaning people to help PYDS
Purkal Youth Development Society is a unique NGO. At Purkal we follow the vision of our leader and mentor Mr.Swamy and all of us work selflessly to achieve the goals of the society. The work put in by Mr/s.Swamy and all friends of Purkal has brought tremendous benefits to the socio-economic scenario of the villages that are covered under our project. We are proude to be associated with PYDS, Yuva Shakti and Stree Shakti projects
I first became aware of PYDS through my late husband, he worked with a corporate client running an incentive which included a donation to the school so they could build a classroom. I have followed the schools progress ever since. I visited the School in June 09 to set up a scholarship for Robert Ryan and I am totally amazed by the dedication and hard work by everybody invloved. It is fantastic that such people dedicate their time to give the children a good start in life, because without them these children would have no hope at all. I only wish I could do more!
its a unique society, which has touched on many facets of life and brought about a sea change in the population of the area, in particular in empowering the women and children. wish there were many more such societies in our country, with mentors like Mr & Mrs Swamy. we visited their place about 4 years back, and have been receiving regular updates - must compliment them - the progress achieved is phenomenal. we wish them all the best in their endeavour.
I was a volunteer with PYDS in 2008 and 2009. I came from the UK with no intention of staying in India for such a long time. However, on seeing the work of the society, I was determined to offer my help. The organisation is not only run by selfless and endlessly caring individuals, but is visibly changing the lives of the whole community in which it works. The children in Purkal truly believe in themselves and their future and they continue to be role models for eachother. If only the world was made up of more small organisations like this, that have the simple goal of bringing communities together to help eachother and inspire high aspirations and faith in mankind.
My field is of an infantry soldier over 25 yrs and residential schools for about 10 yrs. PYDS and I have been together for over 18 months on a regular contact three times a week. I have yet to see anyone who is not deeply moved by the experience of seeing the good work at PYDS.And so our supporters are many ordinary folks who are happy to give their little donation More recently corporates have also begun to show interest in our work and are evaluating us through professionals. The Society has transformed the lives of the villages it has touched.Of young girls and boys, and women who were hiterto unemployed and have now found a voice in their circle.
I have known this organization from its inception and the kind of work it does has inspired me to do my bit. The most wonderful moment was when a small boy working in the fields (farm) walked up to me 6 years after I met him first – the time he was taken on by the project and put into school, conversed with me in English and finally joined my company for training - to meet and greet international tourists at the airport on their first arrival into India! Many such stories there makes me believe in the mantra of “intent”.
I am a director with PYDS now but started working with them to raise funds & interest after seeing the dedication & passion of Mr. G K Swamy to make PYDS. He has been the main catalyst to change the lives of not just the children but the entire families in villages in & all around Purkal. PYDS is a driving force with great vision to create so much from nothing, a small classroom in a cow shed to a great facility with so many delightful options for the children to not just get an education but also fully develop in & out of the classrooms. PYDS has also made great environmental efforts to plant trees, harvest rain water & recycle; even the Forest Department has applauded them & assigned more land to use their great efforts. PYDS vision continues & they need all the support possible.
I had visited PYDS back in 2003 and got the opportunity to see their work up-close. They interacted with, taught, and developed young, under-privilaged kids from in and around the area, who would not have know education otherwise. I remember a 7 year old girl, previously a rag picker, walk up to us and ask us in fluent english, "Do you need some water?" The experience was moving.