Aval Vikatan Feature on Gold Heart Foundation’s Founder – Sripriya
Transforming Lives Through Education
Every evening, Sripriya would meet students from underprivileged backgrounds, encouraging and motivating them to pursue education. Many college students joined her as volunteers, and together, they provided free tuition for 10th-grade students, ensuring that their basic educational needs were met. Seeing positive progress, she expanded this initiative in 2007 to more schools and government shelter homes, helping children who lacked proper guidance.
Her mission was not just about academics; she also listened to students’ dreams, needs, and struggles, working towards practical solutions. Soon, she started receiving invitations from various schools and communities, asking her to support their children. With a compassionate heart, she responded to as many as she could, fulfilling the dreams of countless children who longed for care and guidance.
With a smile, Sripriya founded the Gold Heart Foundation, expanding her educational service to reach thousands of children in need.
Many children in our society face distressing situations—parents who don’t value education, fathers struggling with addiction, domestic violence, or complete lack of parental guidance. In North Chennai, these challenges are even more prevalent. Recognizing the urgency, Sripriya established evening tuition centers in various communities and underdeveloped villages, including 25 backward villages in Thiruvannamalai district.
The True Responsibility of Education
“Is schooling alone enough for a child’s academic growth?” Sripriya often questioned.
When a child is deprived of proper education and goes astray, parents, teachers, relatives, friends, the education system, and society all share the responsibility.
Determined to reach as many children as possible, Sripriya and her team traveled to various areas, enrolling children in their tuition programs. Along the way, they encountered heart-wrenching stories—children who were stuck between working as laborers and continuing their studies, many of whom felt hopeless about their future.
“We want to study, but we also have to work. Our education depends on your support,” many children told her, their voices filled with helplessness.
As a responsible educator, Sripriya could not turn a blind eye. She sought help from various sources and many kind-hearted individuals joined hands with her.
This led to the launch of ‘Siragugal’ (Wings), a scholarship program supporting economically disadvantaged school and college students across Tamil Nadu. Each year, hundreds of students are carefully selected, and Gold Heart Foundation covers their educational expenses until they complete their college education.
Through Siragugal and other initiatives, the foundation continues to empower underprivileged children, ensuring that education becomes a reality for all.
Featured in Aval Vikatan – March 2, 2021
