My Life Journey - PAY IT FORWARD

India Education ForumIndia Development Coalition of America

July 23, 2011

Surya PadalaPadala Charitable Trust

www.padalacharitabletrust.org

InspirationI am only one, BUT still I am one

I cannot do Everything, BUT still I can do something

and Because I cannot do Everything I will not refuse to do the

Something that I can do..............................

                         - Edward Everett Hale

My Life Journey- From Tailor Family to NRI Family

• Dec 1972 – I was Born• Apr 1988 – State Ranker in SSC (X Std) with

93%• Apr 1990 – State Ranker in Intermediate with

91%• Jun 1990 –Top Ranker in State Wide

Engineering Entrance Examination (EAMCET)

My Life Journey- From Tailor Family to NRI Family

– I was the first recipient of NSF Scholarship (1990)

– $250/Year for all 4 Yrs of my Graduation

My Life Journey- From Tailor Family to NRI Family

NORTH SOUTH FOUNDATION

My Life Journey- From Tailor Family to NRI Family

• Jun 1994• Completed my Engineering Graduation• Secured All India Rank 226 in GATE Entrance• Got into Masters (M.Tech) in IIT Kharagpur

• Mar 1996• Joined an IT Firm (TCS) as Software Trainee

– became earning member of my family & first one in mandal to go abroad

• Local Tailor Family became an NRI Family

• Apr 2002• Started to PAY-IT-FORWARD with inspiration

from NSF

• Jun 2011• Provided 454 Scholarships to Poor & Brilliant

Students in East Godavari District of AP

• Several scholars have become sponsors by paying it forward

My Life Journey- PAY IT FOR FORWARD

• Scholarships by Category

49%

37%

6%2%

5%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

INTER DEG ENGG MEDICINE DIPLOMA

Scholarships

Scholarship Level # of Scholarships % of Total

Intermediate (2 Yrs) 240 53%

Degree (3 Yrs) 150 33%

Medicine (5 yrs) 8 2%

Engineering (4 Yrs) 30 7%

Diploma (3 Yrs) 26 6%

454

Total Scholarship amount distributed 2002-2010 = 16,88,926/- ($37,531)

• Supported the following projects

• Water/Sanitation Project by Bharathi Theertha Trust in Duppada Village of Vizianagaram

• Safe Drinking Water Plant Project by Gavarasana Foundation in Gollaprolu Village

• School Development Project at MPP School, Pentapadu, Nellore District

• Few other smaller contributions

My Life Journey- PAY IT FORWARD

Pay it Forward

Pay it Forward

My Concerns

- Am I really making a positive difference?

- Am I missing something?

My Concerns

• How much % of IITs & IIMs contribute back to the needy in society at least to their own village/people?

• How many are able to successfully handle practical issues in life (stress, personal tragedies, job loss, divorce)

• Supporting poor & brilliant to become successful in life – without 100% guarantee that they will make society a better place to live in for themselves AND for others?

• Stake Holders in Current Edu System– Parents– Teachers– Students– School/College Management– Government– Media (Print & Electronic)– Concerned Individuals & NGOs

Everyone blames others (not-me-syndrome)

Challenges

How do we enforce character / values / Wisdom / social responsibility while helping them go to school / college?

Shouldn’t we start this at the Elementary/Primary level?

How do we connect all the stake holders effectively and work together on the issues?

Thank You