Udavum Karangal (HELPING HANDS) is a registered non-governmental non-religious and non-profit social service organization, established in 1983., with the sole objective of serving people in distress who are orphans & destitutes.

Udavum Karangal centers provide individualized services, treatment, care, rehabilitation and education to almost 2000 residents.

Udavum Karangal's humble beginnings trace back to 1983, when Vidyaakar began his work in a voluntary counseling and guidance centre, as a professional social worker, in the slums of N. S. K. Nagar, Chennai. The journey, over two decades, for Vidyaakar and our volunteers, has been arduous, at times almost unbearable, and always immensely satisfying.

Our Residents Children aprx. 600 Mentally Retarded/Sick aprx. 800 Women in Distress aprx. 100 Dying Destitutes aprx. 200 HIV +ve aprx. 50 Others aprx. 100 Numbers & Facts 100% Volunteer Driven Annual Operating Cost: $600K 8% operating overhead ISO 9001 Certified Recipient of several National & International Awards

Like a huge and sturdy Banyan tree, the Udavum Karangal family has grown around the qualities of dedication, compassion. Each of the homes was started out of sheer necessity and each began in a small way with just a few residents. Now Udavum Karangal's reach extends across 5 centres viz; Tiruverkadu, Maduravoyal, Velappanchavadi, Teynampet & Ambattur with one center at Coimbatore.

A constant and encouraging presence has been the increasing number of well-wishers whose financial, material and emotional support have been Udavum Karangal's major sustenance.