Pardada Pardadi translates directly into English as
"great-grandparents". The term is used as an analogy to the ancient
Indian wisdom that knowledge and education from your family contributes
to the full blossoming of an individual.
Since 2000, Pardada Pardadi Educational Society (PPES) has been
improving the lives of girls in rural India. Its mission is to uplift
and empower girls from the poorest section of society by providing free
education and vocational training - creating a new generation of
self-reliant and educated girls who will break the cycle of poverty in
the region.
PPES is based in the village of Anupshahar, in the Bulandshahr
district of Uttar Pradesh, India. This area is one of India' poorest. It
is infamous for being crime-ridden. Moreover, it is one of the
least-educated and least-literate sections of India.
PPES was founded by Virender (Sam) Singh, a retired head of DuPont
South Asia. Sam grew up in Anupshahar; although he left many years ago,
he moved back in 1999 to use his success for the benefit of the people
he left behind.
Sam knew that to break the cycle of poverty, he had to first focus on
improving the quality of life for the weakest members of this society:
rural female children. Since they're often neglected and uneducated,
they're forever dependent on male family members for their livelihood.
