The CARD – Light to Life Project, Shenkottai, in Vishwanathapuram, Tenkasi District, serves 100 children from diverse and marginalized communities, including SC, ST, OBC, sex workers, migrants, farmers, and the general population. The project runs a range of educational and leadership initiatives such as Breaking Bread (community outreach), Fight to Win (sports development), Fly High (career guidance), Follow Me (leadership training), and Chase Your Dream (exam orientation). Alongside academics, the program actively nurtures creativity, cultural awareness, and social values through events like environmental campaigns, anti-drug drives, parents’ meetings, talent-focused sports, national celebrations, arts and science exhibitions, food festivals, and educational trips. These initiatives encourage both academic growth and holistic development, enabling children to learn discipline, teamwork, and responsibility.
Over the years, the project has fostered stronger community connections and improved children’s performance, fitness, and social behavior, while gaining increasing support from families, local leaders, and political representatives. Despite challenges such as alcoholism, caste-based divisions, exam-related fear, and religious conflicts within the community, the program has succeeded in instilling educational awareness, unity, and discipline among children and families. Children have shown progress in self-motivation, leadership, and social awareness, reflecting the impact of consistent guidance and exposure. Today, the Shenkottai Project stands as a beacon of hope, combining academic, cultural, social, and awareness-driven programs to promote holistic child development and long-term community transformation.