Matt Thekkethala

Matt Thekkethala

Co-founder

Hi, I’m Matt Thekkethala. I was named a Fulbright scholar after graduating from Yale University, where I was challenged every day to think globally. I developed a passion for children’s education while volunteering and living at Sneha Care Home and Snehagram, two residential institutions for HIV+ orphaned or abandoned children and adolescents in rural India. I am very proud that the Snehagram holistic model that I helped pioneer has helped many of our HIV+ students receive their high school diplomas, a first for any program of this kind in India.
At Yale, I co-founded the Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association (YULAA) and worked with the New Haven Legal Aid Assistance to support U-Visa and VAWA applicants. I also co-founded the Yale Human Rights Society and led the weekly ‘Wilbur Cross Human Rights Workshop’ that engaged New Haven high school students with domestic and international human rights issues. I also conducted research on trafficking of minors in Connecticut which culminated in the presentation of a memorandum amending a trafficking statute at the Connecticut State Legislature.
My extended family and friends inspire me with their passion and commitment to make a difference in our community and the world. I created the Learn for Life Foundation to inspire young people in developing communities around the world to make a difference in their worlds. I want to teach my students to think of themselves as global citizens, each of who can change the world through the power of education. Please join me in making a difference in people’s lives at https://realppl.org