In a remarkable cross-continental initiative, Indian Americans are transforming the lives of blind children in rural India through the Ek Kadam Aur Foundation (EKA)—a nonprofit registered in both the United States and India. Founded by Dr. Satish Tripathi from Chicago, the organization combines compassion and technology to bring education and independence to children who have long been overlooked.
EKA’s flagship project, ‘Arunodaya,’ meaning Sunrise in Sanskrit, is devoted to empowering more than 288,000 visually impaired children across India. The program provides individualized, home-based learning for children between the ages of five and seventeen—many living in areas with no access to special education services.
Mentors, several of whom are blind themselves, visit these children six days a week, using smartphones, keyboards, and screen readers to teach English, mathematics, object recognition, and mobility skills. Each child’s progress is closely tracked, ensuring they can eventually transition into mainstream schools with confidence and skill.
Pradeep K. Agrawal, professor emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a member of EKA’s board, highlights the organization’s holistic approach. The foundation not only focuses on education but also assists families in securing government disability IDs, social welfare benefits, and teacher training to promote inclusive classrooms. EKA also educates peers to build empathy and teamwork within schools.
The program’s impact is deeply personal. One mother expressed, “We had lost all hope. But when the mentor came and taught my son to read and speak using a phone, it felt like the sunrise after years of darkness.”
Since its inception in 2015, EKA has educated over 740 children across eight Indian states, including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. More than 188 students have graduated to mainstream and specialized schools, guided by 200 trained mentors, including 25 visually impaired teachers who embody the foundation’s mission of empowerment.
EKA’s dedication was recognized in September 2024, when it received the Best NGO in Education Award at the Social Impact Conference in New Delhi.
For the Indian American community, EKA represents more than charity—it’s a bridge of hope, allowing donors to sponsor children’s learning, mentor training, or digital accessibility tools. Through Arunodaya, the foundation continues to illuminate lives, proving that with compassion and innovation, even the blind can see a brighter future—one sunrise at a time.
