Sondhar Charitable Trust
The Story of Sondhar Charitable Trust

From a Village in the Hills to a Home for Children

Sondhar is more than a location on a map. It is a village of memory, soil, migration, family, and return. The Trust was born from a simple belief: if a village can become a home again, children can find both education and belonging.

Terraced fields of Sondhar village at golden hour in the Garhwal Himalayas
The Journey

How Sondhar Came to Be

A winding path — from a quiet mountain village to a living home for children.

01

A Village Rooted in the Hills

Long before the Trust, there was Sondhar — a village shaped by terraced fields, stone homes, mountain paths, and the rhythm of community life. For generations, families here knew belonging not as an idea, but as a daily practice.

Old weathered wooden door of a traditional stone house
02

When the Doors Began to Close

Like many villages of Uttarakhand, Sondhar saw families leave in search of education, jobs, healthcare, and opportunity. Homes grew quiet. Fields were left behind. The village remained, but its heartbeat slowed.

A winding mountain trail through the hills of Uttarakhand
03

What Would Bring Life Back?

The question was not only how to preserve old houses or fields, but how to restore purpose. The answer began with children — because a village has a future only when children can grow there with dignity.

Children engaged in learning in a village setting
04

Opening the Door to Children

The earliest efforts began with children who needed more than school admission. They needed shelter, routine, affection, safety, and someone to stand beside them every day. The door was opened — not as charity, but as belonging.

Children reading and studying together
05

Not an Institution, a Family

Sondhar slowly became a home where children could study, eat, play, rest, celebrate festivals, receive personal guidance, and grow with emotional security. Every child became known — their strengths, their fears, their dreams.

06

Sondhar Charitable Trust

To give structure to this work, Sondhar Charitable Trust was formed with a focus on free education, boarding, holistic upbringing, and long-term village revival. A name, a commitment, and an open door.

Children from the Trust learning and living together
07

50+ Children, One Shared Home

Today, about 50+ children from nearby and distant villages of Uttarakhand live and learn at Sondhar. Most attend nearby schools, while the Trust provides boarding, daily care, mentoring, tutoring, and parental attention.

Terraced fields coming back to life in Sondhar
08

A Village That Can Welcome People Back

The next chapter is village revivalism — restoring agriculture first, and gradually building pathways for heritage, tourism, local livelihoods, and reverse migration. A village with children has a future worth building.

Our Philosophy

The Open Door Philosophy

At Sondhar, the compassion is not a symbol of charity. It is a symbol of belonging.

A child who enters is not treated as a case file. A volunteer who arrives is not treated as an outsider. A donor is not treated as a transaction. Everyone becomes part of a larger family effort to rebuild childhood, home, and village life.

This philosophy guides every decision we make — from how we welcome a new child, to how we speak about our work, to how we plan for the future of Sondhar village.

Our ApproachGet Involved
"To educate a child is important. To make them feel loved while they grow is sacred."
Children at Sondhar engaged in reading and learning together
Our Team

The People Behind Sondhar Charitable Trust

Sondhar is held together by a small team of trustees, educators, caregivers, community members, and volunteers who believe that children need both opportunity and affection.

Temporary portrait placeholder for Hukam Singh Uniyal
Founder & Managing Trustee

Hukam Singh Uniyal

Shri Hukam Singh Uniyal: Dedicated to the Education of Underprivileged Children

Shri Hukam Singh Uniyal is an experienced educationist and social worker who has long been active in the fields of education, care, and rehabilitation for underprivileged and needy children in Uttarakhand. His efforts boosted residential education programs across various districts of the state—including Dehradun—and paved the way for initiatives such as the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Boys' and Girls' Hostels.

While serving as a Headmaster from 2008 to 2022, he launched a free residential educational program for underprivileged children at a school located at 55, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, with the support of the community. Under his leadership, approximately 550 children were provided with accommodation, food, education, discipline, care, and proper guidance. This initiative gave many children the opportunity to join the educational mainstream and build a better future.

He was honored with the President's Award in 2016 for his remarkable services and dedication to the fields of education and social work. This honor serves as national recognition of his sustained efforts and distinguished contributions toward bringing about positive change in the lives of underprivileged children.

Currently, Shri Uniyal serves as the Chief Trustee of the Sondhar Charitable Trust. With the support of his team, he runs a residential program for approximately 52 children in his ancestral village in Tehri Garhwal. Through this program, the children are provided with safe accommodation, nutritious food, education, healthcare, values, discipline, and opportunities for holistic development.

Shri Hukam Singh Uniyal’s extensive experience, spirit of service, leadership, and social commitment make him an inspiring figure who brings about lasting, positive change in the lives of underprivileged children. His life exemplifies how a secure, educated, and dignified future can be provided to needy children in society through strong willpower, community support, and selfless service.

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Aseem Uniyal

Child Care & Residential Lead

Aseem looks after the children's daily routines, emotional wellbeing, food, hygiene, and personal care. For many children, she is the first person and motherly figure they turn to when they need comfort or guidance. She is the motherly figure in this family.

Temporary portrait placeholder for Balbeer Unal

Balbeer Unal

Education Coordinator

Devendra works with nearby schools, tutors, and volunteers to support each child's learning path. He tracks academic progress and creates individualised support plans.

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Gudakesh

Community Outreach Lead

Gudakesh works with guardians, village representatives, and local families to identify children who may need support and to maintain communication with their home communities.

Temporary portrait placeholder for Ayush Sati

Ayush Sati

Agriculture & Village Revival Lead

Ayush Sati coordinates the Trust's agriculture revival efforts, working with local land, traditional farming knowledge, and community participation to restore the fields of Sondhar.

Temporary portrait placeholder for Rohit Biswas

Rohit Biswas

Volunteer & Communications Coordinator

Rohit manages volunteer engagement, newsletters, updates, storytelling, and donor communication — keeping Sondhar's story alive and connected to the world.

Trust & Transparency

Our Registrations

Select a registration below to view its supporting document.

The door is always open.

Whether you wish to support a child, volunteer your time, or simply learn more about life in Sondhar — there is a place here for you.

Support a ChildVolunteer With Us
Sondhar Charitable Trust

A family-led initiative in Village Sondhar, Tehri — supporting underprivileged children through free education, boarding, and family-like care, while working to revive village life in the hills of Uttarakhand.

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Contact

  • Village Sondhar, District Tehri, Uttarakhand, India
  • +91 [Contact Number]
  • contact@sondhar.org

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© 2026 Sondhar Charitable Trust. A home for children. A future for the village.

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