25 Years of Pudiyador: Growing Together 2001–2026
In 2001, six children gathered in the backyard of a house, and Pudiyador began. Over the next 25 years, we grew to include babies, teenagers, women, families, and friends who shared their time, kindness, and belief in what we could build together.
In October 2026, we came together twice, first with friends around the world and then with our family in India, to share stories, celebrate how far we’ve come, and thank the people who have made Pudiyador part of their lives. Whether you’ve been with us for years or are just getting to know us, we’re glad to share this celebration with you.
Watch both celebrations below, with captions and photos from our archives.
Our call with friends around the world
9 October 2026
Jump to a moment
- 00:00Swapnaa welcomes the Pudiyador family
- 05:00Ashwini, Pudiyador’s director, walks us through 25 years (with pictures galore!)
- 12:07Nancy, our outreach director, introduces the speakers
- 13:23Sabitha akka, from our Cradle Health program, on the support she found as a new mother (in Tamil, with English captions)
- 19:27Samuvel, with Pudiyador since 1st grade, on finding his voice through speaking, theatre and music (in Tamil, with English captions)
- 23:16Priya, with Pudiyador since kindergarten, who grew up to become a teacher here (in Tamil, with English captions)
- 30:20Anjona, a Playquity Frisbee coach in Assam, on growing in confidence and making her own choices
- 36:27Harini, a volunteer in Seattle, on teaching spoken English from the other side of the world
- 40:37Thank you, and a family portrait!
- 44:46Questions and answers with you all
- 59:06Nancy on ways to help, with love and gratitude
Our call with our family in India
30 October 2026
Coming on 30 October 2026
The recording will be here soon after the call.
Ways you can help
Give a gift
Your generosity helps our team in India bring learning, care, and opportunity into everyday life. Wherever you are, you can share in this work. And through employer matching, your gift could go twice as far.
Give from outside India Give from India Double it with employer matchingGive time
Teach or mentor at our learning centres in Chennai or from wherever you are, send the books and supplies our children use, host a fundraiser with your friends, or tell others about us.
Volunteer Send books and supplies Host a fundraiser Spread the wordGive a gift
Thank you for sharing the good in your life with Pudiyador. Your generosity helps create space for children to explore, young people to find their confidence, and women and communities to grow together. Every gift is part of that shared journey. When you give regularly, you help us plan ahead and keep showing up for the people who count on us.
Give from outside India
For anyone giving from outside India, and anyone without an Indian passport. Pudiyador Association for Community Empowerment (PACE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 26-0342774, so your gift is fully tax deductible in the US.
Give monthly: choose an amount to give each month.
You can also give through Fidelity Charitable and Vanguard Charitable. To give by bank transfer or cheque, email give@pudiyador.org.
Give from India
For Indian passport holders giving from India. Your gift goes to Pudhiyadhor Charitable Trust (PCT) and is 50% tax deductible under 80G.
Give monthly: choose an amount to give each month.
Choose any amount on the next screen. To give by bank transfer or cheque, email info@pudiyador.org.
Double it with employer matching
Many employers match your gift, some two to one. Matching makes up about a third of what Pudiyador receives each year. Search for your employer below.
On Benevity, search for Pudiyador or PACE.
1098 Ann Arbor Rd W, Suite 523, Plymouth, MI 48170
give@pudiyador.org
Not sure which applies to you? Email info@pudiyador.org.
Give time
Volunteer
Teach, mentor, or share a skill, at our learning centres in Chennai or remotely.
Send books and supplies
Books, laptops, learning games, musical instruments, desks: anything that helps children learn and play, or helps women learn new skills and earn a living, is welcome.
Have something to share? Write to us first so we can check what we need right now.
Host a fundraiser
Bring a few people together for Pudiyador. For 25 years, our learning centres in Chennai have given children and women a space to learn, grow, and lead. You can help keep that work going by inviting your friends, family, or colleagues to give.
- Celebrate a birthday by asking for gifts to Pudiyador.
- Host a dinner, chai evening, or small concert.
- Take on a walk, run, or reading challenge.
- Make Pudiyador part of your workplace, Diwali, or Pongal gathering.
You don’t need a big event or fundraising experience. We’ll help you choose an idea, share stories and photos, and arrange a giving link so gifts reach the right Pudiyador organization.
Tell us your fundraiser ideaSpread the word
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedInWant to introduce us at work or to an organisation? Write to us (email info@pudiyador.org).
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