Freedom to Dream!
Vandemataram Foundation is a registered charitable trust working since 2005 to transform rural India through value-driven education.
With a grassroots presence in Telangana for over two decades, VMF has directly impacted the lives of 10,000+ children through its pioneering programs across early learning, school success, and residential education.
"Education is the most potent tool to transform lives and uplift entire communities."
Despite substantial government investment in school modernization, quality and cultural gaps remain. VMF fills this gap by bringing ownership to local village stakeholders through Village Educational Development Centers (VEDCs), strengthening the concept of "Our School, Our Village, Our Country".
Our Vision
To shape a thriving nation where every child has the freedom to dream and the opportunity to achieve, through equitable education, grassroots empowerment, and strong partnerships.
Our Mission
To transform education by delivering innovative, inclusive programs that nurture curiosity, build capability, and inspire confidence—through active collaboration with communities, institutions, and corporate partners.
Core Values
Rooted in timeless Indian wisdom, these values guide every decision and every program.
Partnership
Cooperative collaboration with government entities and communities
Equity
Fair and inclusive education regardless of economic status
Innovation
Progressive strategies to enhance teaching-learning
Empowerment
Enabling communities to lead their learning journey
Patriotism
Nurturing national pride and respect for heritage
Integrity
Acting ethically with honesty and moral courage
Civic Responsibility
Active participation in community development
Character Building
Fostering self-discipline and compassion
Shri Vandemataram Ravindra
Grassroots Nation-Builder, Education Reformer & Founder-Trustee
"Today's system creates knowledge-rich but wisdom-poor individuals. Education must consciously nurture character, patriotism, service, and social responsibility in every child."
Early Life & Awakening
Shri Takkelapalli Ravinder, widely known as Vandemataram Ravindra, hails from Warangal district in Telangana. A graduate who began his journey as a journalist, he chose to become a full-time social activist, dedicating his life to empowering government school children in rural India.
His formative years in rural Telangana exposed him to poverty, discrimination, and the fragile state of government schools—experiences that deeply shaped his resolve to work at the grassroots. Inspired by the philosophies of Swami Vivekananda and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he envisioned an India where every village child receives not just information, but wisdom, values, and a sense of nation-first responsibility.
Founding Vandemataram Foundation
On the centenary year of the national song "Vande Mataram" in 2005, he established Vandemataram Foundation as a people-powered movement to transform rural government schools—not just another NGO. As Founder Trustee, he shaped the Foundation's core mission: to build character, inculcate the right values, and provide quality and moral education to children in under-resourced schools.
He positioned the village school as the nodal point for change, bringing together village elders, youth, alumni, parents, teachers, and volunteers into cohesive Village Educational Development Committees (VEDCs) guided by the spirit of "Our School, Our Village, Our Country".
Vision & Leadership Philosophy
His leadership style is deeply participative: he treats Vandemataram Foundation as a mass movement where every stakeholder—from sarpanch to student—owns the responsibility of nation-building through education.
Refusing to depend on government grants, he has championed a culture of self-reliance, mobilizing socially conscious citizens and businesses to support the Foundation's programmes while keeping its mission uncompromised.
Key Initiatives Envisioned
Under his guidance, the Foundation has designed a wide spectrum of programmes: enrolment drives (Aksharabyasam), examination preparation camps, value and culture camps (Vatsalyapurna – Bala Chaitanyam), and adolescent girls' development initiatives.
He led the creation of residential homes like Rudrama – Home for Girls and Pragnadhamam – Home for Boys, plus initiatives like Kalam 100 to encourage academic excellence and life skills.
Impact & Legacy
Through his stewardship, Vandemataram Foundation has worked with hundreds of government schools in Warangal and Mahbubnagar districts, leading to sharply reduced dropout rates, lower teacher absenteeism, and significantly improved student performance. His "each one helps two" philosophy has created a chain-reaction model, where every beneficiary becomes a mentor and change-agent.
Nationalism & Cultural Rootedness
Shri Ravindra is renowned for nurturing a deep sense of nationalism and cultural pride among rural youth, often using festivals, national days, and community events as platforms to inculcate patriotism and service. He consistently emphasizes that national development begins in the classroom of a village school and that a single transformed classroom can eventually reshape the world.
Guided by his commitment to Dr. Kalam's 2020 vision, Shri Ravindra's long-term goal is to help create at least 100,000 responsible citizens and to touch 1,000 government schools, so that social justice and quality education truly reach the last mile in rural India.
Shri Ravindra at Nithin Bhavan, embodying the rural connection he champions
VMF Leadership Team
A dedicated team of visionaries, strategists, and changemakers driving VMF's mission to transform education across rural India.
Vandemataram Ravinder
Founder & Vision Lead
The founding force and cultural custodian of VMF. He anchors VMF's long-term vision, values, and ethos, representing VMF across key forums and building strategic relationships with institutional leaders, sponsors, and CSR partners.
Ravi Pendurthi
Senior Advisor & Governance
Provides senior-level oversight across VMF's flagship initiatives including Kalam-100, Shata Shaatam, and Study Centers. Brings execution discipline through milestone tracking, accountability frameworks, and structured program reviews.
Naveen Soodini
Head – Operations & Tech
Leads VMF's operational backbone spanning technology enablement, logistics, compliance, and international coordination. Drives digital platforms, dashboards, FCRA compliance, and USA relationships.
Santhosh
Financials & Accounting
Responsible for financial planning, budgeting, and reporting across all VMF programs. Ensures robust financial governance, operational accounting discipline, and audit readiness to safeguard donor trust.
Dayakar Ravikoti
Director – Shata Shaatam
Leads strategy, execution, and governance of Shata Shaatam and mentorship initiatives. Strengthens CSR partnerships, builds mentor ecosystems, and oversees mentor training and outcome tracking.
Ramki Duriseti
Director – Kalam-100, Digital Platforms & Marketing
Drives Kalam-100 student sponsorship while leading branding, marketing, donor engagement, and digital innovation. Oversees fundraising systems, donor CRM, IT infrastructure, and immersive learning initiatives.
Sudhir Vemuri
Director – Study Centers
Leads planning and implementation of VMF's Study Center initiatives. Defines academic frameworks, learning standards, and quality benchmarks while identifying funding opportunities and CSR collaborations.
Shyam Avvari
Director – Prathibha Puraskar
Heads the Prathibha Puraskar program, VMF's flagship talent recognition initiative. Designs merit-based frameworks, oversees program execution, and coordinates events to celebrate student excellence.
Madhavi Kanaparti
Program Manager
Ensures operational coherence across VMF programs through rigorous coordination and reporting. Tracks milestones, dependencies, and deliverables while preparing performance and impact reports for leadership.