Rural Development Foundation, India

It promotes rural development mainly through education: building and operating high-quality, non-sectarian schools in underserved villages in Telangana & Andhra.

It was conceived by several members of the Errabelli (or Erraballi) family, descendants of those who had amassed considerable wealth and build an imposing 40-room mansion in Kalleda village, Warangal District, Telangana.

Matendla Rural School began instruction before it had a building, with students attending classes held under palm trees.

In 2007 it opened the Vanitha Achutha Pai junior college (grades 11-12) in a newly built campus near to the original Kalleda Rural School.

The junior college hosts the Village India Program every summer, run in collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis.

The Village India Program brings Washington University students to teach English-medium minicourses in a variety of subjects.

Children from poor rural backgrounds often lack the confidence, knowledge, connections, and family support needed to move into good careers.

TOP: Students in Matendla village, Medak District, attend classes in 2002 before they have a building. BOTTOM: Students study math in the new Matendla Rural School building, 2005.

Left: Pranitha and Fauzia, Hindu and Muslim girls at KRS in 2004. Pranitha later went to the Beijing Olympics on the Indian archery team, and Fauzia began a career with General Electric, Hyderabad. Right: Fauzia returned to Kalleda in 2008 to encourage younger students.