Inspiring Transformation in Rural India
Communities across the USA welcomed Moncho Ferrer’s message about “RDT’s Legacy of Impact” with resounding excitement and enthusiasm.
Many individuals are dedicated to supporting causes that interest them and making a positive impact to the society. VFFUSA’s implementing partner, Rural Development Trust (RDT), is an exceptional organization for those with that spirit to put their plans to action. Founded by Vicente Ferrer in 1969, RDT has positively impacted lives of over 3,000,000 people living in around 4,000 villages and provided numerous benefits, including financial resources for over 100,000 women, educational and medical support for 120,000 children, medical care for 75,000 individuals through three hospitals and four medical clinics, and being a benchmark organization for supporting children and people with special needs. It’s no surprise that those who get involved with the foundation feel passionate about it, as RDT is truly changing lives. Recently, the program director, Moncho Ferrer, visited several U.S. states to connect with people and share the organization’s mission. It’s heartening to see so many ardent individuals in the US, coming together to support this important cause.
Moncho Ferrer connected with the local communites in Austin, Dallas, Ner York, New Jersey and Miami.
In Dallas, VFF USA Board Member Mr. Prem Gangalakunta organized an outstanding event at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) called “Discovering the Power of Community-Driven Development.” During the event, two practicing physicians, Dr. Sripathi Kethu and Dr. Ismail Penugonda, originally from Anantapur region, shared their thoughts on the challenges of rural health and how hospitals run by RDT play a crucial role in bolstering the healthcare infrastructure of the region. Their opinions about how telehealth and proactive patient management can benefit rural India was insightful. Attendees were pleasantly surprised when a lady raised her hand and shared that she was a beneficiary of RDT and currently works in the U.S. She shared that her baby, who she brought with her, was born at a RDT hospital at Bathalapalli in rural Andhra Pradesh. This exemplifies the power of holistic, community-driven, and all-inclusive development. Pallavi Srichinta, who attended the event, was so moved when she understood more about the role of RDT’s rural hospitals that she decided to make an impromptu donation to benefit the pregnant woman care at the Bathalapalli hospital. It is noteworthy that the hospital handles almost 1000 deliveries a month.
Companies can inspire others and make a positive impact on society through corporate social responsibility. Anand Dasari from ITVision360, recently invited Moncho Ferrer to launch the company’s philanthropic endeavors. Anthony Schell, a partner with ITVision360, praised Anand’s drive to uplift others, which inspires all employees and associates. ITVision360 plans to work with Rural Development Trust to realize the vision of empowering youth with vocational IT skills, such as data science, and help them enter the workforce with meaning employment and linking it with a higher purpose of uplifting rural communities in India.
The Miami ACCIO Director shared Vicente Ferrer’s remarkable work and impact at an event held at Books and Books in Coral Gables. The audience was intrigued by the challenges faced by RDT at its nascent stage and how it has addressed those challenges and spread its activities in over 4,000 villages. Additionally, at Xavier Ruiz’s place, the attendees were thrilled to learn about the challenges Vicente Ferrer faced in his early years and how his vision has benefited the Rural Development Trust in making developmental footprints even in the hardest-to-reach areas like the Nallamala forest region, where RDT works towards uplifting the Chencu community.
During an event at La Nacional, Professor Shobana Musti from Pace University in NYC shared her moving experience during her recent visit to RDT’s inclusive school. It’s important to note that RDT’s inclusive schools serve as an excellent example of how children with special needs can be accommodated and integrated into mainstream education, even in rural areas. The Anantapur Inclusive High School has recently decided to replace its Braille system with digital technology, allowing visually impaired children to access a wider range of educational resources and providing them with more career opportunities. Cristina Campadal, a long-term supporter and ambassador for Latin American countries, shared our work with a group that can further champion our impact.
The Robbinsville Innovation 4-H Club event in New Jersey showcased the power of youth in influencing others to support a cause. The participants’ enthusiasm and dedication to uplift their counterparts in India were contagious, inspiring not only their peers but also their parents. This event highlighted the potential of youth as catalysts for positive change.
Supporters of VFFUSA in Austin hosted an informal meet and greet event with Moncho Ferrer where attendees shared about how they can be involved with the cause of transforming rural India. Paramesh Reddy took the initiative to get like minded people together at this event.
In Dallas and Austin, the focus was mainly on connecting with the local Indian communities, while in New York and Miami, Vicente Ferrer’s journey and RDT’s exceptional work over the years was shared with people from Spain, the country from which Vicente moved to India in 1952 and the rest is history.
We at VFFUSA can make a greater impact in underserved communities with the help of individuals and organizations who share our philanthropic goals. Please join us and support our mission by promoting our work on social media, tagging your friends and family members, or writing a blog post about what we do.
If you are an employee, we encourage you to speak with your colleagues and employer about partnering with us to strengthen our efforts. Please also find out if your employer has a matching program where your donation can go further. For employers, we invite you to encourage your employees to support our nonprofit organization, which has transformed millions of lives in rural India.
We would be more than happy to arrange a visit to our hospitals, projects, and sports facilities for you and your colleagues. We believe that the best way to believe in something is to experience it.
How can you get involved? If you are interested to be involved, we can help you find a specific project in an area you are passionate about. We always have active projects related to inclusive education, healthcare, women empowerment, sports and infrastructure development. You can also help us by hosting a small fundraising event in your community to find sponsors for two to three children. Supporting children in their formative years is one of the most effective ways to address poverty and bring about sustainable change.
If you have other ideas, we are happy to brainstorm with you. Please contact us at info@vffusa.org or 240–935–1538 if you would like to learn more. The Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA Inc. (VFF USA) is a 501(c)(3) organization committed to using donor contributions responsibly and efficiently. Please visit www.vffusa.org for more information.
