The Journey: From a Small Initiative to a Movement

Extracts from Our Founder Director’s Address on Completing 10 Years

Ten years ago, on 11th August 2016, Boddhi Tree Foundation began with a simple thought:

«“Better World for Underprivileged through Education and Dissemination of Knowledge.”»

What began as a small initiative was never imagined to grow into the Boddhi Tree family we see today. Over the past decade, the journey has been shaped by a simple belief—that education can create opportunities and bring meaningful change to people’s lives.

The education journey formally began in 2018, with offline classes for underprivileged children in West Delhi. The resources were limited, but the purpose was clear. Alongside the belief in the power of education were young people willing to give their time and make a difference.

Then came March 2020.

The pandemic brought the offline classrooms to a halt and created a moment of uncertainty. The education programme could have stopped there. Instead, Boddhi Tree chose to adapt.

The classrooms moved online.

Our teachers adapted.
Our students adapted.
Our volunteers adapted.
And Boddhi Tree continued.

What initially appeared to be a crisis became an opportunity to reach students beyond the boundaries of a physical classroom. The way we taught changed, but the purpose behind the work remained the same.

That ability to adapt became an important part of Boddhi Tree’s journey. A small initiative continued to grow, reaching more students and creating opportunities for more people to learn, teach and contribute.

Today, BTF has taught more than 1,100 students, trained more than 1,000 faculties and more than 140 young people, with its reach extending across 18 states of India.

Yet, as our Founder Director reflected, numbers tell only part of the story.

Behind every number is a person.
Behind every student is a dream.
Behind every teacher is service.
And behind every volunteer is time given to someone else.

These numbers therefore represent much more than statistics. They represent classrooms, conversations, opportunities, effort and countless hours given by people who believed that education and knowledge can make a difference.

That is the real achievement of Boddhi Tree.

Looking back at ten years, the journey is not simply about how much the Foundation has grown. It is about how a small idea, sustained with commitment and carried forward by many people, gradually became something much larger.

Ten years ago, we planted a small tree.

Today, we are sitting under its shade.

And yet, a tree is never planted only for those who plant it. It is planted for the generations that come after.

The first ten years have been about nurturing this tree—giving it roots, helping it grow and creating a foundation for what lies ahead.

As Boddhi Tree completes ten years, this journey is therefore not a conclusion. It is the beginning of another chapter.

Because every journey is ultimately shaped not only by where it begins or how far it travels, but by the people who walk it together.

Boddhi Tree Foundation — 10 Years of Learning, Sharing and Empowering.

The journey continues.