Dhamodharan is the program head for community development, and content head for the language program at AID Tamil Nadu. He has been with AID for the last 9 years.
Damu, as he is affectionately called by everyone at AID, is a self-made first generation graduate from a poor dalit landless family in a remote village in Villupuram. He is a major source of inspiration for volunteers and children alike. He has played a key role in developing the reading program of AID India. A terrific organizer, he has also been responsible for developing a strong field base for the organization across the state.
Having come to Chennai from his native village to pursue his Bachelors, Damu started as a volunteer in the free evening tuition center jointly run by AID India and Tamil Nadu Science Forum. Within a year he was coordinating 5-6 centers in the area. When the Makkal Palli Iyakkam (People’s School Movement) was launched to improve quality of school education, Damu became the coordinator for Chennai district. As the program expanded to more districts, he developed into a state-level resource person responsible for training and motivating volunteers across the state.
Damu has been the major driving force behind the wide spread implementation of the “Padippum Inikkum” reading program launched by AID TN in 2006. He has also been instrumental in initiating and developing the pre-primary program. These programs are being implemented in 10 districts of Tamil Nadu. In addition to his role in developing and conceptualizing such program, Damu has played a most significant role in building organizational capacity in these districts. He has been field coordinator for all 10 districts for the past 3 years.
A team builder by nature, he is much sought after for solving inter-personal problems. AID INDIA was awarded the Pratham 2006 Achievement Award for the reading program developed jointly by Damodharan and Chandra. Damodharan is also the author of a number of children’s books and educational kits.
Dhamodharan holds a B.Sc degree in Botany, and an MA, M.Phil in Anthropology from Madras University.
