Our Story

It all began in the early 90s, when a tea seller near the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus sought academic help from a JNU student for his son, who had failed the 10th-grade exam twice and was struggling to pass. Moved by compassion, the JNU scholar stepped in to offer the needed guidance. With dedicated support, the boy not only passed his exams but excelled, marking a turning point in both their lives.

Inspired by this success, he called out to his peers at JNU and they enthusiastically joined in, recognizing the need to support other children in similar situations in their proximity. They committed to spending two hours each week teaching marginalized children who lacked academic support at home. The enthusiasm and dedication of these young volunteers were so profound that soon, the number of teachers outnumbered the students. Through this collective act of empathy, the seeds for what would become the Ark Foundation were unintentionally sown. Over time, this initiative expanded its focus to include not just education but also protection, health, livelihood etc. all of which directly or indirectly influence the well-being of children, aiming to provide them with opportunities for a promising future and a happy childhood.