About
“Koodu” Trust
“Koodu” Social Educational and Rural Development Trust has been functioning in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu since 1995. The organization was registered as a charitable trust on 10th August 2005 under the Trust Registration Act of 1882. Koodu Trust is dedicated to the development and the empowerment of the marginalized irrespective of their religion, gender, colour and political affiliation. During the initial stages “KOODU” focused on formal education and tribal development. Currently, Koodu Trust focuses on education, health and hygiene, Women’s empowerment and eco conversation projects.
Jane havoch
Founder
Vision
“KOODU” envisions a society that fosters a dignified life for every human being in harmony with nature.
Mission
The mission of the “KOODU” TRUST is to promote holistic development for all humans, regardless of their religion, caste, creed, race, color, or gender. The trust follows a development philosophy that is centered on people and led by them, which guides all of its activities.
Dr. SUNNY K J
Founder & Chief Functionary
Dr.Sunny K J is the founder and chief functionary of Koodu trust, with over 27 years of experience in social work. After working with ArivoliIyakkam which is a Government sponsored project, he started Koodu with a vision to contribute to the community. He is dedicated to the upliftment of women, tribal and marginalized communities, and works tirelessly to improve their lives. His expertise and passion have been invaluable in guiding the organization towards its mission. In addition, Dr.Sunny K J aims to transfer the responsibility of Koodu trust to young and dedicated individuals who share the same passion for social causes in the future.
Director's Message
Dear Friends,
I am thrilled to welcome you to the website of “Koodu” Trust, a not-for-profit organization that has been serving the poor and marginalized communities for many years. Our mission is to create a world where everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to live a dignified life.
At Koodu, we firmly believe that social development is crucial to improving the lives of underprivileged communities. Our programs focus on improving the societal conditions of tribal communities, children, and other marginalized groups. Through our work, we hope to empower these communities to take charge of their lives and make positive changes in their communities.Our development philosophy is centered on people, and our programs are people-led, people-based, and people-centered. We aim to create a sustainable and equitable world that respects all forms of life and fosters harmony with nature.
We invite you to explore our website and learn more about our work & you can become our volunteer to . We welcome your support in our efforts to create a more just and compassionate society.
Thank you for visiting Koodu Trust.
Sincerely,
Dr.SUNNY K J,
Founder & Chief Functionary
Board Members
Mr. Varghese John
Secretary
Varghese John has been a part of Koodu for almost eight years, starting as a volunteer and working on various projects. By profession, he is an advertisement filmmaker and specializes in documentation and film making. He has been a part of films and documentaries.
Whole Time Trustee
Sijil Wilson has been working with Koodu for over four years. He has contributed to the great achievements of Koodu as a well-wisher and as a part of the advisory board. Currently, Sijil Wilson works as a senior software developer and specializes in training and mentoring. He has been a part of various training programs in different parts of Tamilnadu and Kerala.
Financial Trustee
Biju has been associated with Koodu from its initial stages. He has worked in almost all areas of social work and has acquired knowledge about rural communities through fieldwork. By profession, Biju runs a restaurant and has extraordinary analytical skills. He has also pioneered several successful business ventures.
Advisory Members
A Franciscan Capuchin monk of St. Joseph Province Kottayam, Fr. Tom Kannamthanam has been associated with Koodu for more than six years. He is a former chief editor of Assisi Magazine and director of Kaleidoscopic Teens. Currently, he is working as a Correctional Chaplain in the USA and pursuing his research in Educational Studies - Learning and Thinking. He is passionate about holistic education and social empowerment for sustainable development. He is interested in multicultural diversity and inclusive learning for a better world.
A professional and resourceful social worker with 17 years of experience in social/community development, Peter Ronald has worked for three years with the District Administration and UNICEF at Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, for war and tsunami-affected families. Then, he headed an NGO in the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu working with the tribal community. He is an accomplished expert in working with and training others to work with children and young adults. He has developed skills in leadership, communication, training, active learning, and multitasking. He has managed projects with District Collectorate, National Health Mission, SamagrahaShiksha, Residential School for Tribal Dropouts, AzimPremji Foundation, National Leprosy Eradication Programme, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, and Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre.
Babu John started the journey with Koodu as a volunteer and has collaborated with various programs of Koodu as an advisory board member. As a social entrepreneur, he is responsible towards society and possesses great leadership qualities. His guidance towards the organization’s activities has contributed to successful deliverance.
Radhakrishnan is a progressive farmer in the area and a major supporter of Koodu from the beginning. He still engages as an advisory member. His agriculture activities, literary work, and social responsibility inspire public farmers and workers. He is an asset to the organization, and they adopt his scientific knowledge and guidance in their activities.
Mrs. Meseena Vargheese
Meseena Varghese has been travelling with Koodu from the very first day of their journey and served as an earlier board member, program coordinator, etc. She still supports the organization through untiring support over the years. By profession, Meseena is an accountant and has worked in management roles with leading financial sector
Dr. Joseph P V
Dr.Joseph P.Vis a social worker with experience spanning more than two decades. From working with tribal communities in rural areas to dealing with international fundraisers, his skills and experience are vast. His leadership qualities in the field of social service are unmatched. Professionally, Joseph has been an IT professional for more than two decades.
As an advisory member, Subini has guided us in the field of ecological tourism activities. She is the co-founder and ex-Director of a responsible tourism organization based in Kerala. Professionally, Subini has vast experience across multiple industries. She started her career in marketing with a global leader in FMCG, then worked with a leading Indian shipping firm and a leading global bank. She also had a remarkable stint in handling District e-governance with the Govt of Kerala. Currently, she works as a Management Consultant for an Ayurveda hospital in Visakhapatnam and as a Managing Partner at Zenith Day, a workwear design and production startup. She is an art and theatre enthusiast, involved in various literary activities, including matters of environmental importance.
Mr. Jose Kurian
As a long-time supporter of Koodu, Jose Kurian has been part of our team for more than a decade. An associate of director K J Sunny for many decades, Mr Jose Kurian is a journalist by profession. Former Bureau Chief and Special Correspondent of Deccan Chronicle Daily at Calicut and former Senior Correspondent at The New Indian Express Daily, now Mr Jose Kurian is working as the Kerala Correspondent at Inmathi.com news portal. He is also serving as a Reporter at '101Reporters' and is also an author at 'The Fourth' news portal. His support and guidance as an advisory member will be of great help to the organization.
As a part of our advisory board member, she has been associated with Koodu for more than 6 years. Professionally, she has 33 years of experience with government, non-government agencies, and corporate companies in various development fields like institution building, natural resources management, research and development, knowledge management, and medicineless healing. Apart from these, she has also developed modules for life skill training using art and craft to manage emotional burdens of children.
Sneha Sunny
Sneha Sunny has been an invaluable member of our Koodu program for over 7 years. Alongside her CA studies at Mar Ivanious College in Trivandrum , she actively engages in our volunteer initiatives. Her dedication extends to life skills development, children's development, children's rights advocacy, COVID-19 pandemic relief, Kerala flood relief, and tribal area field programs. We are immensely proud of her contributions and confident in her ability to excel in both studies and volunteer work.Her commitment leaves a lasting impression, making a positive impact wherever she goes.
Coordinators
Program Coordinator
Faijas is working as a program coordinator with Koodu. He's been so active and working on various projects. He has been with Koodu for more than 3 years as a volunteer. Professionally, he is an accountant and was working in Dubai for Staybridge Suites by Intercontinental Hotel Group previously.
Tribal Coordinator
Paramasivan is working as our tribal coordinator. He has been well-educated (B.Ed.) among his community, despite the trend of their community. He has been with us for more than 6 years as a volunteer.
Field Coordinator
Nallasivam is an accomplished field coordinator at Koodu, leveraging his background in Information Technology (IT) & master graduated. He brings a strong technical foundation to his role & plays a pivotal part in coordinating field activities and identifying beneficiaries for Koodu's projects. His multifaceted skill set make him an invaluable asset to the Koodu team. Simultaneously, his diligent approach to field coordination ensures that projects align with Koodu's mission and effectively meet the needs of the intended beneficiaries. With his dedication and passion for making a positive impact.
Become a volunteer
Come, let us join hands for better future, together.
Our Supporters
At Koodu, a major share of our total operating expenses are used to fund programs for children, women and marginalized people in the communities we serve. This means that when you make a monthly donation to our organization, the majority of your contribution goes directly towards supporting children, women and individuals living in poverty.
