Vinita Sidhartha spearheads and manages the Petralthan Pillaiya Trust that works to support children living with HIV across the state of Tamilnadu by providing them counselling and support for higher education. In this role she manages several innovative programs that harness the power of media and celebrities to extend the awareness about HIV and support to HIV+ve children. Vinitaa plays the role of Project Director for the Trust in a voluntary capacity.
Petralthan Pillaiya began from the seed of an idea to provide support for children with HIV, on October 26, 2009. Since then, the Trust has come a long way. we have come a long way.
At the beginning of this initiative, there was no clarity on whether the children would live beyond the age of 21. But thanks to changing drug protocols and better understanding, many of the children are well into their 30s, married with children of their own – what we like to call the grandchildren, all negative. Over 150 children have graduated, thanks to the support of the Trust.
They have overcome the odds of poverty, the emotional trauma of being HIV positive, as well as the challenges of living in a society where an HIV positive person is still shunned. These children not only dared to dream but have gone on to live productive lives.
Ripples Of Life and Time 