Agaram Foundation is an educational foundation located in Tamil Nadu, India founded on 25 September 2006 by Tamil film actor Suriya. The foundation aims to help and improve the socio-economic status of rural society in Tamil Nadu by offering education to underprivileged students.[1]

Agaram Foundation
அகரம் அறக்கட்டளை
Formation25 September 2006; 18 years ago (2006-09-25)
PurposeFinancial assistance and education to the underprivileged
HeadquartersChennai, Tamil Nadu
OwnerSuriya
Karthi
Key people
Sivakumar
Websiteagaram.in

Activities

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Sivakumar, father of Suriya and Karthi, used to provide financial assistance to students from rural areas through his Sivakumar Educational Trust from 1979.[2]

In 2013, the foundation donated 1 million for the Uttarakhand disaster relief fund.[3] In July 2017, Suriya and his family donated one of their family homes to the foundation.[4] Suriya announced in 2018 that his team at Agaram Foundation had planned to renovate 400 government schools across Tamil Nadu.[5] In 2020, the foundation provided funds to Tanjore government hospital to purchase medical equipment and beds during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7] Agaram Foundation has provided scholarships for higher education to students from Sri Lanka, who lived in refugee camps located in Tamil Nadu.[2][8]

Project Vidhai

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The foundation initiated a project named "Vidhai" (transl. Seed) to support the college education of underprivileged, meritorious, and socio-economically struggling students living in different parts of Tamil Nadu.[9][10]

Mentorship program

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In 2020, the Agaram Foundation launched two books, Vidhyasam Thaan Azhagu (transl. Beauty lies in variance) and Ulagam Pirandhadhu Namakkaga (transl. The world originated for us) at a function. It provides a mentorship program called "Vazhikatigal" (transl. Torchbearers) for school children living in the remotest parts of Tamil Nadu.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Saravanan, T. (4 November 2015). "The other side of Suriya". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b Subramanian, Anupama (7 July 2014). "Suriya announces new training center for underprivileged". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Suriya, Karthi donate Rs 10 lakh for Uttarakhand victims - NDTV Movies (July 01, 2013)". Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  4. ^ "South Indian superstar Suriya donates his house to Agaram foundation". The Youth. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Actor Suriya plans to renovate, maintain 400 government school toilets across TN". The news minute. Archived from the original on 24 January 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  6. ^ Arockiaraj, D. Vincent. "Jyothika: Actor Suriya's Agaram Foundation donates 25 lahks to Thanjavur hospital | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  7. ^ K., Janani. "Jyotika donates Rs 25 lakh to Tanjore government hospital". India Today.
  8. ^ ""Education the only hope for so many children" - TAMIL NADU - The Hindu (July 7, 2010)". The Hindu. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. ^ Aishwarya, S. (13 August 2010). "Sowing the seeds of hope in the minds of needy students - The Hindu (August 13, 2010)". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  10. ^ Subramanian, Archana (27 June 2011). "Changing lives - The Hindu (June 27, 2011)". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  11. ^ Subramanian, Anupama (8 January 2020). "Suriya gets teary-eyed at Agaram event". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 28 February 2021.