It Started With One Question
βWhat if every child in this village got a real shot at school?β That's the question Vikash Pathak asked in 2018, after meeting a girl in his ancestral village who had been pulled out of class to help at home.
Pathak Education Foundation began as a single-room learning centre with thirty children. Today, we run scholarship programs, digital classrooms, vocational training, and teacher development across thirty-five communities in Uttar Pradesh. We've stayed close to the original question. Every program we run still has to answer it β does this give a child a real shot?
Mission, Vision & Values
Three statements that shape every decision we make β from which village we enter next to how we spend a single rupee of your donation.
Our Mission
To provide equitable, quality education to every child regardless of their economic, social, or geographic circumstances β and to equip young adults with skills that lead to dignified livelihoods.
Our Vision
A society where no child is denied learning because of where they were born or what their family can afford. A future where opportunity is not a privilege.
Our Values
Transparency in every rupee, dignity in every interaction, community at the heart of every program, and a long-term commitment to outcomes β not just outputs.
By the Numbers
Eight Years of Showing Up
The milestones that shaped Pathak Education Foundation β from a single room in 2018 to a growing community of learners today.
It Begins in a Single Room
Vikash Pathak starts the foundation in Noida β teaching a handful of out-of-school children to read, write and count from scratch.
Word Spreads Through the Lane
More families send their children as the single room fills up; evening classes are added so kids who work during the day can still learn.
Learning Through the Lockdown
When schools shut for the pandemic, lessons continue through home visits, printed worksheets and phone check-ins so no child falls behind.
The First Volunteers Arrive
As centres reopen, local college students and teachers join as volunteers β doubling the number of children we can reach each week.
A Real Learning Centre
We move beyond the single room into a dedicated space, with proper seating, a small library and room to grow.
Skills From Day 1
Spoken English and a hands-on computer lab join the daily timetable, so every learner builds job-ready skills alongside academics.
The NIOS Pathway
Our first students step onto the National Institute of Open Schooling route β a legally recognised board degree at minimal cost.
A Dedicated Team
Core academic teachers, a computer teacher and an English-speaking expert come together to support every age group.
The Work Continues
Eight years in, we stay focused on outcomes β confident, employable young adults β not just numbers.
We didn't start this to build an institution. We started because a child wanted to learn and the world was telling her she couldn't. Every program, every centre, every rupee β it all comes back to that one promise. We're not done until that answer is yes for every child.
Be Part of the Change
There are many ways to help a child break the cycle of poverty. Choose the one that fits you.
