About us
For the past 18 years, the "Heart for India" Foundation has been helping children and young women from underprivileged backgrounds in India to access to quality education.
THE FOUNDATION
The Heart for India Foundation, created in 2005 by Princess Françoise Sturdza, is an NGO and Foundation based in Geneva.
We support and develop projects in the fields of education, nutrition, health, sport, environment and safety for children and young women from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in Chennai (TAMIL NADU).
This is the strong will and determination of the Foundation’s President and Board.
The Foundation’s programs enable children and young women to have a future based on equal opportunities for all, and to overcome illiteracy and malnutrition.
The Foundation supports 6 gouvernementale schools, 2 kindergartens (balwadi) and a vocational training center in Chennai.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Princess Christine Sturdza
President
Princess Françoise Sturdza
Founder
Honorary President
Geoffroy de Missolz
President
MédiaGraphic Group
Alain kolly
general director of the foundation
Clair Bois
Alix Lerebourg
Founder of ALIX HEIGHT
Marco Camilletti-Domenichetti
Treasurer
Banque Eric Sturdza
Eleonore de Poortere
Rey Group
Richard Schoonover
Honorary Member
CHENNAI OFFICE
Equipe
The Heart for India Foundation employs 43 local staff to ensure the day-to-day success of our programs.
They include teachers (Maths, Science, Commerce, English, Sport, Karate, Gardening, Supervised
Studies), nutrition and meals distribution teams, security guards and maintenance staff.
La Fondation Heart for India emploie 43 employés locaux qui assurent le succès quotidien de nos programmes.
Il s’agit de professeurs (Mathématiques, Sciences, Commerce, Anglais, Sport, Karaté, Jardinier, Etudes Surveillées) , équipes en charges de la nutrition et de la distribution des repas, de gardiens de sécurité et d’agents d’entretien.
Sarah Minnie Abraham
Director
Ensures program implementation
Monthly report on expenses and events (monitoring/control)
Management of local staff (43 people)
Collaboration and monitoring of partnerships with NGOs Nivedan and YWCA
Liaison with local authorities
Baskaran Govindhan
Program Coordinator
Accounting
Monitoring budgets and Program performance
Control of daily operations
Management of the distribution of meals
LOCAL PARTNERS IN INDIA
NIVEDAN Women Development Trust Organisation Non-Gouvernemental
Local Partner for the gouvernemental Schools and the kinder garten
YWCA of Madras
Local Partener for the professional training for young women
AMBASSADORS
HFI Ambassadors share our values and take an active part in our actions
for children… Many thanks!
Chef Vineet Bhatia
He is the world’s first Michelin-starred Indian chef. Author and media personality, he owns numerous restaurants around the world, including “Kama by Vineet” at Harrods in London. He appears as a judge on the Netflix show “The final Table” and as a judge-host on Master Chef India. Chef Vineet Bhatia has carried out an incredible project in help of Heart for India: he organized a “GASTRONOMIC LUNCH AT 6000mètres” at Everest base camp for 10 participants.
Vineet has just been appointed by His Majesty King Charles III, Member of the Order of the British Empire.
Sini Shetty
Miss India World 2022
With a degree in Finance and Accounting, Sini is a public figure in Mumbai.
She is very active for women’s rights and independence, and supports the Heart For India Foundation in all its objectives.
Pria Kataaria Puri
I’ve been dedicated to Heart for India since 2010. I consider it a great privilege to act as a Foundation Ambassador and promote this remarkable NGO. Led by Princesses Françoise and Christine Sturdza, the organization actively transforms the lives of over 4,400 students in Chennai every year. Through their empowerment initiatives, they are paving the way for a promising future for underprivileged children in South India.
I am very proud of my involvement with this foundation and wholeheartedly support its noble mission. By joining forces, our collective efforts have the power to effect real change and inspire a brighter tomorrow.