A Dedication by the People’s Hut Foundation’s Founder to his Father Sh. M.J Koul (The Guiding Force behind People’s Hut Foundation) We have not used Late as we feel he is still here and guiding us and a reason to bring smiles on the face of people through our programs.The silence in the house is a constant, heavy reminder. It’s not just the absence of his voice, but the absence of his physical presence – the way he filled a room, the warmth he radiated. Dad’s chair sits empty, a stark silhouette against the window, where the afternoon sun used to catch the silver in his hair. He was a man of quiet strength, a steady hand in a world that often felt chaotic. His laughter, a deep rumble, could chase away the darkest clouds. He taught me the value of hard work, the importance of kindness, and the power of a well-told story. He could fix anything, from a leaky faucet to a broken heart, and always had a word of encouragement when I needed it most.
I remember his hands, calloused and strong, teaching me how to ride a bike, how to cast a fishing line, how to build a fire. I remember his eyes, filled with pride and love, watching me perform in school plays, graduate from college, take my first steps into the world. There are moments, fleeting and precious, when I feel him close. The scent of his favorite perfume, the sound of his old record player, the way the light falls across the garden – they all bring him back to me, if only for a moment. Grief is a strange and unpredictable thing, a constant ebb and flow. Some days, the memories are a comfort, a warm blanket against the cold. Other days, they are a sharp, piercing pain, a reminder of all that I’ve lost. But even in the midst of grief, I find gratitude. Gratitude for the time we had, for the lessons he taught me, for the love he shared. He may be gone physically, but his living spirit lives on, woven into the fabric of my life, a constant reminder of the man he was, and the man he helped me become.“Be like the dandelion seeds”, my mentor said, “the impact of your work should reach far and wide.” one is shaped by the socio-cultural political environment in which one is born. My realities shaped my vision and path. I started my career in education with the Centre for social responsibility and leadership (Super 30) where I worked as a “Program Manager” creating opportunities for the underprivileged kids of Jammu and Kashmir who were affected by the militancy. I wanted to support them to make their career in the field of engineering by helping them with free 11-month residential coaching. I started by supporting government and army goodwill schools in Jammu and Kashmir to enhance the quality of education with the support of Airtel foundation where I worked as a “State Academic Mentor” J&K. I understand the value of good mentorship and guidance which I wanted to give through my initiatives. My interactions with government school made me realise the gaps in government schools. I started working closely with the education department and Directorate of Samagra Shiksha in improving the quality of education in Jammu and Kashmir through Piramal Foundation where I worked as “Senior Program Leader” J&K. I have also been contributing to education through research articles/papers and academic books. I have also been helping organisations across the globe in developing processes, sops and other useful educational material. I am a member of education research and development association, association of North America Higher Education International, all India council for technical skill development, International Youth Council, United Nations (New York). This has helped me to open my academic horizons. Education is the greatest tool in the formation of conscious individuals and change makers. The harsh realities of Jammu and Kashmir motivated me to pursue this career. We started this organisation with an objective of providing Education and Healthcare through our different programs. The world is one family, and we wish to help our family members! With this vision and zeal, formed an organization called, “People’s Hut Foundation” which strives to support everyone in the field of Education, Health. I strongly believe in the values of empathy, integrity, hard work and determination. One’s success is not defined by competition but by persistence. Falling and giving up is the true defeat. I envision a world without barriers of class, caste, education, gender, sex and discrimination of any kind”
Dr. Ritu Koul is the Chief Operating Officer of People’s Hut Foundation, Ritu has played a key role in project expansion and enhancement of quality standards and system efficiency, while constantly keeping the team’s morale high to deliver their best in the challenging ground conditions. She has led the development of organization’s Healthcare and Education programs at ground level with an aim to improve the overall quality of the healthcare and education programs for all beneficiaries through the program. Under her leadership, the Foundation has broadened its scope from executing programs to engaging deeply with the stakeholders. Ritu is a certified Clinical Psychologist and has a vast experience of providing Individual/family counselling related to crisis intervention, chemical dependency, rating disorders, impact of disability/disease in patient and family-situational disturbance / stress / dysfunction. Her expertise involves providing psychological services for a variety of multi (specialty diagnostic treatment teams including: acting as liaison with appropriate referral sources and community agencies. She is also a renowned resource person for conducting educational sessions on related topics and has also developed programs pertinent to psychological needs of patients with couple of Book and Research paper publication.