For two-year old Sadhana of Mercy Home, life would have come to a sand-still even before it actually began.

But, thanks to the Aadhirshta Educational and Social Welfare Trust, the baby who was tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) at the time of her birth is in safe hands now.

Coimbatore-based Soundhariya Meenakshi who is the founder of this Trust closely works with children who are tested HIV positive. Through her Trust she supports the inmates of the Mercy Home that is located in Puliyakulam. Children living with HIV/AIDS and who are disowned by parents are admitted into this home. Currently, this home has 30 inmates. Sadhana is the youngest while a 12-year old child is the oldest inmate of this home.

Since her college days, Soundhariya has been making her contribution in cash and in kind and supporting children who are tested HIV positive. It has been four years now. However, the urge to do something more for these children prompted her to start the Aadhirshta Educational and Social Welfare Trust.

Last week she formally started this Trust and Soundhariya shares with us that she already has her hands busy putting things together for the debut project of the Trust.

“We are organising a fund-raising event to raise money to construct a park for the inmates of the Mercy Home. We are organising a shopping expo called The Pride of Manchester. All funds that are raised from this event will be used to construct a park,” Soundhariya shares.