From Long Forest Walks to Safe Classrooms Help Us Build a Home for Tribal Students

I still remember one evening in our village when a young tribal boy came to me with his school bag torn and soaked from the rain. He had walked several kilometres through forest paths just to attend a coaching class we were conducting. When I asked him why he came despite such difficulties, he simply said, “Sir, if I don’t study, my life will remain the same as my parents’.” That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that the biggest barrier for many tribal children is not their ability to learn; it is the lack of opportunity and a safe place to grow.

My name is Sibaram Pradhan, and I founded the Nandan Social Welfare Foundation with a simple belief: every child, no matter where they are born, deserves access to education, dignity, and a chance to dream. In the remote areas of Kandhamal district in Odisha, many tribal families struggle every day just to survive. Children often grow up without proper schools nearby, without books, without guidance, and sometimes without even a stable place to study. Over the years, our team has worked tirelessly to bridge this gap by organising free coaching programs, distributing books, running medical camps, and supporting vulnerable communities.

But the reality we face every day is heartbreaking. Many tribal children who want to study simply have no place to stay. Their villages are far from schools and learning centers. Some walk long distances through forests every day, while others eventually drop out because the journey becomes impossible. Poverty forces many families to prioritise survival over education. And slowly, dreams disappear before they even have a chance to begin.

That is why today we have taken a step toward a bigger dream – to build a dedicated residential building where tribal children can live, study, and grow safely. This building will not just be walls and rooms. It will be a home for children who have never had a stable environment for learning. This building will provide them with shelter, guidance, books, and the necessary encouragement to continue their education without the fear of dropping out.

For numerous children, this building will transform their life from one of hardship to one of opportunity. Imagine a child who no longer has to walk hours through unsafe paths just to reach a classroom. Imagine a girl from a tribal family who can continue her education because she finally has a secure place to stay. Imagine young minds studying together at night under proper light instead of struggling in darkness and uncertainty. This building will create that possibility.

For the past several years, our foundation has been working at the grassroots level to support education, healthcare, and empowerment in underserved communities. We have seen how even small support can transform a child’s life, leading to improved educational outcomes and increased opportunities for success. But now, to truly change the future of tribal children in this region, we must build something permanent: a safe learning space that will serve generations to come.

Today, I am reaching out to you, not just as the founder of this organization but as someone who has witnessed the struggles and hopes of these children closely. Your support can help us build this home for learning, hope, and opportunity. Every contribution will directly help us create a space where tribal children can stay, study, and build a future that once seemed impossible.

Sometimes, all a child needs is a safe place, a book, and someone who believes in their dreams. And together, we can build that place.