What is a Chatralayam? 

AIM for Seva’s flagship programme, the Chatralayam (free student hostel) was instituted with the aim of helping children from the rural and tribal parts of our country to gain uninterrupted access to education and holistic care and well-being. In this video, we bring you the stories of students from the length and breadth of our country – and how our Chatralayams were the first step to a positive change in their lives.

(This video is in English with English subtitles for dialogues in Indian languages)

Kamatchi’s Journey with AIM for Seva

Kamatchi is a young girl who comes from Sembarai Village in Javadhi Hills, near Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. Kamatchi wants to be a teacher but the village school has classes only until Class 5. Girls like Kamatchi come from families that cannot afford education and hence prefer to marry off their daughters early. In this video, Kamatchi talks about her life story, how AIM for Seva has helped her gain access to education – and the means to making her dream come true.

(This video is in Tamil with English subtitles.)

Rebuilding Life After the Tsunami 

After the tsunami hit coastal Tamil Nadu in 2004, several villages were deprived of all infrastructure – homes were lost, schools were left bare and futures looked bleak. To ensure that the children of these villages did not suffer a break in their education, AIM for Seva built the Swami Dayananda Rotary Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Kadalur Village, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. Today, the school is a centre of learning and sports – and the launchpad for the dreams of many young students.

(This video is in Tamil with English subtitles.)

L. Divya’s Journey with AIM for Seva 

(Part 1)

Divya is a student of the Atmalaya Swami Dayananda AIM for Seva Chatralayam for Girls in Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu. She joined the Chatralayam when she was Class 6, and has recently completed her Class 12 Board Exams. Divya’s father is no more, and her mother is a wage labourer. Divya is the first person in her family to attend school and complete formal education. In this video, shot before the Board Exams (2020), Divya talks about her experience and learning at the Chatralayam. Subsequently, Divya scored 90% in the Class 12 Board Exams (2020) and stood first in her school (among 220 students). Now, she is on her way to achieving her aim of becoming an IAS officer.

(This video is in Tamil. Read about Divya’s story in English here: https://aimforseva.in/success-stories-from-south/)

L. Divya’s Journey with AIM for Seva (Part 2)

Divya is a student of the Atmalaya Swami Dayananda AIM for Seva Chatralayam for Girls in Udumalpet, Tamil Nadu. She joined the Chatralayam when she was Class 6, and has recently completed her Class 12 Board Exams. Divya’s father is no more, and her mother is a wage labourer. Divya is the first person in her family to attend school and complete formal education. In this video, shot before the Board Exams (2020), Divya talks about her experience and learning at the Chatralayam. Subsequently, Divya scored 90% in the Class 12 Board Exams (2020) and stood first in her school (among 220 students). Now, she is on her way to achieving her aim of becoming an IAS officer.

(This video is in Tamil. Read about Divya’s story in English here: https://aimforseva.in/success-stories-from-south/)

Priyanka Panwar’s Journey with AIM for Seva

Priyanka Panwar comes from Tiwadiya, a small village located in Dewas District, Madhya Pradesh. She joined the AIM for Seva Balika Vidyalaya in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh in 2012, to pursue high school. From there on, she went to the Swami Dayananda College of Arts & Science in Manjakkudi, Tamil Nadu. Today, she is a trainee with City Union Bank. Priyanka Panwar talks about her journey with AIM for Seva – a story about making the best use of the opportunities she was presented.

(This video is in English.)

Sakharam Muvel’s Journey with AIM for Seva

“Thirteen years back when I joined the Chatralayam, I did not have the slightest hint that my life would undergo a massive transformation. Today, I am in the police force in Mandla zilla, Madhya Pradesh and I am very happy. The reason for this is my parents and the contribution of my hostel coordinator and other staff at AIM for Seva…If I were to talk about education, I can safely state that one can get educated in any institution but culture and value based education can only be imbibed at AIM for Seva.” These are the words of Sakharam Muvel, an alumnus of the Bapu-Buddh AIM for Seva Chatralayam for Boys in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. In this video, he talks about how living and studying at the Chatralayam was a turning point in his life.

(This video is in Hindi. Read about Sakharam’s story in English here: https://aimforseva.in/value-based-education-only-at-aim-for-seva/)

Tulsiram Bhil’s Journey with AIM for Seva

Tulsiram Bhil, a student from the Arsha Vidya Tirtha AIM for Seva Chatralayam for Boys, Jaipur, Rajasthan, scored 88% in the Class 10 Board Examination (2020) – and came first in his school. Tulsiram’s aim is to become an Income Tax Officer. In this short video, he talks about himself and his decade-long association with AIM for Seva. We congratulate him and wish him all success in the years to come.

(This video is in English.)

Vikash Bhargav’s Journey with AIM for Seva

“Namaste. Hari Om. My name is Vikash Bhargav. I am currently studying in Class 11. I come from a small village Tiwadiya in Madhya Pradesh that contains a maximum of 50 to 60 houses. My village is surrounded by a river and hills and it looks very beautiful. But with lack of access to education, its beauty decreases!” Vikash Bhargav’s honest form of expression is telling of the difficulties faced by many young boys and girls in the rural and tribal parts of India. Vikash, a student of the Bapu-Buddh AIM for Seva Chatralayam for Boys in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, shares about how life in the Chatralayam was the stepping stone to success and progress in his life.

(This video is in English.)

Kanchan Yadav’s Journey With AIM for Seva

“AIM for Seva has been the turning point in my life. Had it not been for the AIM for Seva Chatralayam intervention in the early part of my life, I don’t think I would be doing this medical course today. What I have learnt by living in the Chatralayam eco system has been very precious to me. We were taught how to be confident, socialise with others, how to view various situations in life and how to move ahead, all this and more was imbibed during my Chatralayam days. I don’t think I would have learnt all of this if I were part of some other institution.” These are the words of Kanchan Yadav, an alumnus of the Swami Dayananda AIM for Seva Chatralayam for Girls in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Today, Kanchan is pursuing a degree in homeopathy at the Chandola Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand.

(This video is in Hindi. Read about Kanchan’s story in English here:

Ajay Kumar Dhemar’s Journey With AIM for Seva

“I belong to a very poor family and there is no source for studies. So I joined the AIM for Seva hostel in Kareli in 2007 … After school, I had a chance to get higher education in Tamil Nadu. So I have completed my B.Sc. Mathematics in Swami Dayananda College of Arts & Science at Manjakkudi. After completing my graduation, there are many companies that came for placement. I have been selected in TCS (Tata Consultancy Services). Currently I am working in TCS in Chennai. Today, whatever I am, all credit goes to the AIM for Seva family.” This is a short snippet from this video shared by Ajay Kumar Dhemar, an alumnus of Smt. Krishna Rani Papneja AIM for Seva Chatralayam for Boys in Kareli, Narsinghpur District, Madhya Pradesh. Ajay’s story is truly one of positive transformation.

(This video is in English.)