Vivek Oberoi

Planet VO- Be the difference...make the change

“Our entire world, all of humanity is divided into two. Those who need

help and those who can give it. We must count our blessings, we must

thank God for how fortunate we are to be on the other side. We must

reach out, We must help, We must love with all our heart” ~ VIVEK OBEROI

Planet VO is your exclusive pass to the personal life of Vivek Oberoi exploring a very important aspect of his life. The Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation, which is operated by the Oberoi family, is very close to Vivek’s heart. Over the years, as a family, and as an NGO, the Oberoi’s have worked on several projects. Through these projects they have met some amazing people, touched the hearts of many and have made a real difference in society.

Over the years, the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation have provided free education and healthcare, they have helped women overcome a number of circumstances, they have provided funds for heart and eye surgery for children and in addition have helped a number of cancer patients. The Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation’s principle focus is towards helping children and women.

PROJECT DEVI

The Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation has sponsored Project DEVI (Development and Empowerment of Vrindavan girls' Initiative) through Food for Life Vrindavan (FFLV). Food for Life Vrindavan’s work includes food distribution, basic medical assistance, training courses for women, assistance to the elderly and the disabled as well as primary school education for disadvantaged children. Project DEVI, founded by Vivek Oberoi, focuses on enriching the lives of the underprivileged girls of Vrindavan, providing them with the skills and the education to become productive, self-sufficient adults.

“My aim is to get maximum public support and spread awareness of the appalling conditions in which so many Indian children in rural societies, especially young girls live in. There are girls who are married off at the age of 13-14, even though it is illegal. Food for Life Vrindavan is an organisation that puts 95% of every penny that comes their way directly to the cause. At a pound a day, you can sponsor a child. You can give them a life, an education, self belief, confidence and most of all you can give a child, a childhood. We’re taking a very hands on approach to help over 3000 girls as well as build an orphanage within the facility. It’s a big ask, it’s a big task and I’m looking for all the support I can get.”

The Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation and Food for Life Vrindavan have partnered to support the Sandipani Muni Schools, schools with over 1200 students, giving first priority to girls who make up 70% of the schools’ enrolment. In addition to offering extracurricular activities like classical music, dance and art, the schools provide students with nutritious morning snacks and healthy lunches, and operate a small clinic staffed by a full-time doctor, nurse and pharmacist, providing free medical care to children and their families.

ANGELS FOR ANGELS - A Project DEVI Initiative

"There are 3000 angels in Vrindavan who need your support. I truly believe that together we can make a real difference to the lives of these young girls. Join me in making the world a brighter place lighting the world one smile at a time!" ~Vivek Oberoi

Sponsoring a Child:

Sponsorship is as simple as a donation and any length of commitment is greatly appreciated. For just Rs 60/day (approximately USD$43, 32 Euros, £23 per month - please check xe.com for current rates) is sufficient to ensure a child receives an education, medical care, nutritious diet, and clothing. In addition to that we ask that sponsors give an extra $5 a month for each girl sponsored. This is to help prevent her from being taken out of school for premature marriage. This will give us an extra $60 a year, which will be placed in a special bank account. When the girl reaches the age of 18 and has completed her studies, that money will be given to her.

Vivek-Oberoi.Com will feature 5 girls on the website at a time until each girl has been sponsored!

Click here to view the profiles of the first 5 girls for sponsorship

Come join VO in making the world a brighter place...light a smile!

To sponsor a child or for more information on how to contribute to the Project DEVI initiative, please email the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PAST PROJECTS

PROJECT HOPE

“Let's all get together and let there be another tsunami. Let there be a tsunami of hope, a tsunami of compassion, and a tsunami of love”

When the tsunamis hit Tamil Nadu in December 2004, entire villages were devastated, lives were lost and time stood still. In the midst of destruction, the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation and the India Heritage Research Foundation joined hands to form ‘Project Hope’, for the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the village of Devanampattnam – a village with approximately 3000 families.

Project Hope was a complete success. As a result of the project, 650 homes have been built; orphanages have been built as well as an extension to the school, a community center, a vocational training center, a computer center and a medical clinic.

ONGOING PROJECTS

The Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation continues to provide funding to children who are in dire need of heart or eye surgery. Pooja and Abhijit are two examples of the many children whose lives have been changed forever because of the contribution made by the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation.

LIGHTING A BILLION LIVES

For his parents’ anniversary on August 1st, Vivek Oberoi sponsored a village (Beharda) in Madhya Pradesh as part of the ‘Lighting a Billion Lives’ project. He is one of the very few celebrities who is committed and has fulfilled his promise.

“I’ve made an ongoing commitment, that every year on my parents’ anniversary one village will get light.”

Approximately 76 million households in India have no access to electricity, something we all take for granted. This project aims to replace kerosene and paraffin lanterns with solar lighting devices.

Each village has a trained entrepreneur (they are usually village youth, women or school teachers) who runs a central solar lantern charging/distribution centre within the village where lanterns are rented. The lanterns have two components, ‘Compact Fluorescent lamps’ which provides bright illumination for studying or cooking and lasts up to 4-5 hours daily and ‘Light Emitting Diodes’ which provides low-level illumination throughout the night, lasting another 6-7 hours. There are multiple benefits for the residents, both health-wise and financially.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Haji Ali’s story: Vivek Oberoi met Haji Ali in Tamil Nadu post-tsunami. Unlike the other kids, he was evidently frail and was the only child who wouldn’t smile. On speaking to him, Vivek discovered that Haji had a weak heart. His father, a labourer had been saving money for two years to operate his son’s heart only the tsunami had washed it away. Vivek immediately organised for an operation at Apollo Hospital.

“Today, Haji Ali is a different boy. He’s well, his heart beats – strong, solid and most importantly what’s changed is that now, Haji Ali smiles”

Pooja’s story: It was Pooja’s story that inspired Vivek to sponsor heart surgeries for children.

“I remember going to this studio where the gatekeeper’s six year old daughter would be around. One day, when she was playing, her face suddenly turned blue..she was gasping for breath. When I asked the gatekeeper what was wrong, he broke down. He said she had a hole in her heart. He said the surgery would cost Rs 1.5-2 lakhs. I told him that I would take care of it.”

The operation was a complete success and Pooja was able to start living a normal and healthy life. The dramatic change the surgery made to Pooja’s life inspired Vivek to continue sponsoring heart surgeries for many children through the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation.

“When I saw her smile, I knew that was the best investment I had made. She came home to meet me after she got well, she gave me flowers and all..I was very touched.”

Abhijit’s story: In August 2009, the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation gave back the vision of a young 8 year old Keralite boy. Abhijit from Trivandrum lost his vision in an accident where he fell face forward onto a stick that poked and damaged his eyes. Vivek Oberoi learnt of the boy’s trauma through the Yuva Hind organisation, covered the expenditure of the operation to save the boy’s vision.

“Abhijit has now successfully recovered. Actually he wrote me a letter, managing to write his name and mine in English, the rest was in Malayalam – it was so adorable!”

WE WANT YOU!

The Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation sponsor several projects a year with their current major project being Project DEVI through Food for Life Vrindavan.

To learn more about the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation, its projects and Vivek’s involvement, please join the forum and go to the section ‘Reach out with Vivek’ where Vivek will answer questions directly as well as discuss current and future projects.

If you would like to contribute to the Yashodhara Oberoi Foundation or have projects in mind you would like to share with Vivek, please write to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it