Bharti Foundation and Dinner

The Bharti Foundation, the non profit unit of Bharti Enterprises, is headquartered in New Delhi, India with the mission of helping underprivileged children and young people in India realize their potential. Its primary focus is on young girls and using education and technology in education to offer access to quality primary instruction for disadvantaged children. Started around 2000-2001, Bharti Foundation uses a multi-pronged approach to provide services through the Bharti Library and Activity Centers (BLAC), Mid-day Meal Program at Vrindavan, Bharti School of Telecommunication, Technology, and Management, the Bharti Scholarship and Mentorship Program, Bharti Woman Exemplar Awards, the Satya Bharti School Program, and the School Improvement in Partnership Program (SIP).



The Bharti Foundation works in conjunction with state and local governments, and at times other NGOs i.e. Azim Premji Foundation, Plan India, etc… to meet its education initiatives to educate children up to grade 5. Bharti estimates approximately $50K to build a school and $25K to teach 200 kids per year. All teachers are from local communities with salaries based on ensuring decent living. The goal of the Satya Bharti School Program is to set up 1000 new schools that will create temples of learning radiating knowledge and excellence for underprivileged children. Bharti is also looking to expand the program beyond grade 5.


Sam, a retired Dow Corning engineer, heads the Pardada Pardadi Educational Society which also recognizes that the India Shining initiative has yet to reach rural India, where 70% of its population lives. Sam argued that no amount of pity or doling out of money is going to solve the problem. The solution he postulates is a business model geared towards ensuring that every child (particularly the more vulnerable girl child) is socially and financially independent. The Society provides food, clothing, books, paper, pen, pencil, and 10 rupees per day per child (class attendance) in a bank account. With this personalized business model, upon completion of high school, the child would have 30K-40K rupees in the bank, and a guaranteed job in the village or neighboring village.



As the president of the Bharti Foundation is Badri Agarwal, Professor Naren Agarwal’s uncle, the Santa Clara Study Abroad India Team had the connections and the pleasure to have dinner and the opportunity to talk on a one on one basis about the works of Bharti Foundation and the Educational Society at Mr. Agarwal’s home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Agarwal, and their daughter Nithi were very gracious and hospitable. We marveled at the rich collection of Hindi religious artifacts, art, and Baby Ganeshas, and the interesting fact that Sam was also providing match making services for the girls that his program was educating. The home cooked vegetarian food was delectable and the evening ending on a warm, insightful, and hopeful note.



-- Joan Simon