Message from the Founder & Chief Managing Director

Greetings in the Grace of God!

I am Chintapalli Rajasekhar Shastry (Raj Shastry),

Founder and Chief Managing Director of Apna Shelter India Foundation.

First and foremost, I am a soldier—an Air Veteran—who proudly served the nation for two decades in the

Indian Air Force. I dedicated the prime years of my youth and energy in the service of our beloved India.

I have always lived by the principle:

“The safety, honour and welfare of our country come first, always and every time. The honour, comfort and

welfare of the people we lead come next. Our own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time.”

I was born and raised in Hyderabad, Telangana, where I completed my schooling. At the young age of 18, I made the life-defining decision to join the Indian Air Force. Due to early enlistment, I pursued my higher education through an open university program, continuing to learn even while serving.

After completing my service, I was driven by the same patriotic spirit to serve the nation once again—this time through social upliftment. With the support of like-minded friends and well-wishers, I founded Apna Shelter India Foundation, with a mission to serve underprivileged children and women across slums and rural communities.

As a committed social activist, I have been working tirelessly for several years to support orphaned and underprivileged children, advocate for women’s rights, and promote education and empowerment at the grassroots level. My dedication, sincerity, and passion are fueled by a deep desire to bring positive, lasting change to our society.

My ability to manage diverse initiatives, coupled with a practical approach and a courageous spirit, continues to guide Apna Shelter India Foundation toward greater impact and growth.

As an Air Veteran, I want to share a message with every citizen of this great nation:

“It is a proud privilege to be a soldier—a good soldier, with pride in one’s country, a high sense of discipline, duty, and loyalty toward one’s comrades. The soldier is, above all, a citizen. No army is greater than its soldiers, and no citizenship is more meaningful than the willingness to serve and protect.”

About the Foundation

Apna Shelter India Foundation was created to bridge the gap between people who want to make a difference and those already doing meaningful work but needing more support. Our vision is to build trust in the social sector by ensuring transparency, conducting thorough due diligence on our non-profit partnerships, and showcasing the real impact of every contribution.

Over the years, we’ve had the honour of facilitating giving from generous individuals, anonymous donors, corporations, and foundations. We remain focused on listening to local needs, developing scalable models, and inspiring everyone who can—to give back.

India is a nation blessed with abundant natural and human resources. There is no reason for over 300 million people to still live in poverty.

Annual Reflections: 2024–2025

As we step into a new year, I am pleased to present the Apna Shelter India Foundation Annual Report for 2024–25. This report highlights our milestones, achievements, and the collaborative spirit that has made this a landmark year in our journey of nation-building through child, youth and women empowerment.

We firmly believe that every child’s development is a step toward national progress. It is our shared responsibility to ensure no child is left behind—especially those living on the streets, in slums, and in tribal communities. This year, we intensified our efforts to create safe, nurturing, and opportunity-filled environments for these children.

I am proud to share that we directly impacted the lives of over 1,200 children and youth through our programs and services. Our team’s capacity has grown significantly, strengthened by training sessions, workshops, and professional development efforts.

Quality, credibility, and transparency remain the pillars of our foundation. The accomplishments of this year would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our partners, donors, and well-wishers.

A Heartfelt Thank You

As we conclude another successful year, I extend my deepest gratitude to:

• Our frontline workers, who work relentlessly on the ground.
• Our donors and supporters, whose generosity powers our mission.
• The government officials and board members, for their guidance and cooperation.
• Our collaborative partners and the corporate sector, for believing in our cause.

A special thanks to our dedicated team—your energy and commitment are the driving force behind our progress.

Looking ahead, we are more committed than ever to expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and sharing our journey with communities across India. With your continued support, we will ensure that every child has the opportunity to dream, grow, and thrive.

Thank you for standing with us. We warmly invite you to join hands in realizing our vision of a poverty-free India within our lifetime.

Jai Hind!

Warm regards,

Chintapalli Rajasekhar Shastry

Chief Managing Director

Apna Shelter India Foundation