The foundation currently operates a school in Andhra Pradesh, India, for those children living in poverty and/or those that are orphaned. Yet, this is the painful reality for many children living in
around the world, who are unable to reach their full potential due to poverty
and lack of resources. I experienced this first-hand as a child
and with the help of others was able to overcome many obsta
cles. I am
now dedicated to helping children living in similar situations by providing access to education and creating opportunity and hope where
it did not previously exist. The Bright Life Foundation was founded with the Polineni Chinammai Trust in November 2010 with the goal to provide the highest quality education to impoverished children globally. The focus of our initial project is to meet this goal for under-privelaged children living in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, India. In January 2009, the Sri Sarada Niketan school infrastructure development was initiated with the mission to provide free room and board to children in need regardless of religion, caste and gender. To date, 7.3 acres of land adjacent to the National Highway 5 in the village of Martur located in Andhra Pradesh, India has been acquired and registered under the name of the trust. Approximately 7,500 square feet of buildings were built and roads, sanitary facilities, electricity and power were procured. On June 18, 2009, classes were initiated in a temporary rented facility and in November, 2009 classes were moved to the main campus. The school, which is an undertaking of the trust, has an enrollment of 300 boys and girls and enrolled the first group of HIV positive children in the current academic year. According to UNICEF: India has an estimated 220,000 children infected by HIV. It is estimated that 55,000 to 60,000 children are born every year to mothers who are HIV-positive. The southern state of Andhra Pradesh currently has one of the highest prevalence rates of HIV and continues to report significant numbers of newly infected women and children every year
