Our Founding Story
Mr. Santosh Bidari
Founder | Executive Director
The People for People Foundation traces its roots back to the humble beginnings of its founder, Mr. Santosh Bidari. Born and raised in a small village in Nepal, Mr. Bidari experienced firsthand the challenges of limited resources and educational disparities. Despite walking five hours to and from school, he was always disappointed with the education he received.
“In school, it was all about books and homework, with little room for excitement. Being good in exams was everything; otherwise, you were just seen as an average student,“ Mr. Bidari recalls.
These struggles painted him a stark picture of the obstacles faced by many in his community, especially in the rural areas of Nepal. Although he was younger then, he had a passion for social engagement. He formed a group and started taking action for the betterment of society. He created walking paths, organized events during festivals, and hosted many sports, music, and drama programs. He found great joy in this kind of work. Unfortunately, it was a conflict time in our country, and, although they had a positive impact on society, they could no longer continue our actions due to the war. The authorities forced them to stop their activities.
Once the conflict in the country settled down, Mr. Bidari took a big step and founded the People for People Foundation just at the age of 21. He wanted to make sure everyone had equal opportunities and a chance to succeed. With the help of Peace for People (P4P) and others, the foundation has helped 3,000 kids and adults get education and skills in 14 years. What started as Mr. Bidari’s mission is now a group effort to empower people and communities through the Peace for People Foundation.
The foundation’s mission revolves around empowering people through education, particularly by emphasizing joyful learning and life skills. P4P envisions schools as places of happiness, where play-based learning is central. P4P believes in the power of mentorship and simplicity, advocating for education as a tool for personal and global change.
The People for People Foundation believes that investing in education not only transforms individual lives but also sparks positive change in the community, paving the way for a brighter future for all.
