‘The Roof Was Collapsing’: How Two Friends Are Fixing Schools & Changing Lives in Tamil Nadu

In the quiet villages of Tamil Nadu, where resources are scarce and hope often hangs by a thread, two friends are building something extraordinary—not just with bricks and paint, but with compassion and vision.

Prthush and Kaali, childhood friends with a deep commitment to community service, founded Aram Seiya Karam Koduppom (ASKK)—a grassroots initiative focused on renovating dilapidated government schools across the state. Their journey began when they visited a rural school and saw a classroom with a crumbling roof and cracked floors. Children were trying to learn amid unsafe, uninspiring surroundings. That one moment sparked a movement.

With ASKK, they decided to reimagine schools as spaces of creativity and dignity. Their approach was simple but powerful—repair structural damage, repaint classrooms with colorful murals, fix blackboards and benches, and ensure proper toilets and drinking water. What began as a weekend project has now blossomed into a life-changing mission.

Their work isn't about grand announcements or celebrity endorsements. Instead, it's rooted in action. Each renovation is handled with care, involving local volunteers, teachers, and even students, who help paint and clean up their schools. This participation gives the children a sense of ownership and pride in their transformed environment.

Beyond aesthetics, these efforts have had a tangible impact. School attendance has improved, student morale is rising, and teachers say the new environment has reinvigorated their commitment to teaching. In villages where dropouts were common, children now look forward to stepping into cheerful classrooms with inspiring artwork on the walls.

What’s remarkable is that ASKK operates largely through crowdfunding and volunteer support. The team shares before-and-after stories on social media, drawing support from across the country. Their growing network of supporters has enabled them to renovate multiple schools, each project a beacon of hope in its community.

Prthush and Kaali don’t see themselves as heroes—they see themselves as enablers, giving back to the villages that raised them. In a world where rural education is often neglected, ASKK is proving that two determined individuals can ignite a quiet revolution, one school at a time.

From a collapsing roof to brightly lit classrooms, ASKK's story is not just about fixing buildings—it’s about restoring faith in the future of every child who walks through those school gates.