Alex, Saji, Nikki, Jenny and Ben.
Last week, we travelled from the relative calm of London to the vibrant bustle of Hyderabad, India, to visit a truly inspirational charity that The Brothers Trust (TBT) has proudly supported since 2018 — The John Foundation (TJF)
Their remarkable journey began in 2007, when businessman Dr Saji John and his wife, Cynthia, unexpectedly welcomed two abandoned young girls into their home. Word soon spread, more children arrived, and what began as an act of compassion grew into the John family’s life calling.
Today, in 2025, the foundation provides homes for 310 children and education to 877 accross their two campuses. Additionally in their “back to school programme” they help 697 children of single mums with their school fees so they can continue their education at their local schools. A testament to what unwavering kindness and determination can achieve.
Over two days, we toured all two of the TJF’s campuses and their newly completed third campus - what we saw was completely inspiring.
The John Foundation’s newly completed third Campus
TJF homes provides safe and comfortable accommodation and a loving family structure to children (4yrs – 14) who have often endured terrible hardships and experiences. Boys and girls live in separate blocks, in houses of ten and grow up together like ‘adopted siblings’, under the love and care of a dedicated house mum who lives in a small adjoining room.
A spotless and tidy room, housing 6 children. Paddy take note!
Education is central to a JF home, enabling the children a chance of a successful and independent life ahead.
We visited classrooms with professional teachers across all age groups, each buzzing with its own energy and rhythm of learning. Children who would have failed had they not been rescued by Saji and Cynthia, and are grabbing their opportunity with both hands. They take an obvious pride in their new homes and classrooms which are immaculately tidy.
Weekly classwork scores help track progress with high expectations and rigorous standards. The older children naturally help the younger ones with their lessons and homework — creating a wholesome cycle of mutual support that shapes this vibrant community.
Immaculately turned out students wearing uniforms made in TJF’s clothing unit, many staffed by young adults who have completed TJF skills training programme - A very virtuous and practical circle.
Beyond its children’s homes, TJF academy rescues young women who are trapped in the appalling and inhuman Temple sex trade that plagues this region. These young women are accommodated and equipped with training in various skills to break this cycle of dependency and lead to independent and successful lives ahead.
Remarkably, 89% of graduates from TJF programme secure meaningful employment, while others establish businesses and even go on to employ fellow graduates from the program.
The academy cultivates skills in high demand: computing, dressmaking, embroidery, hairdressing, phlebotomy, electronics etc - in total 20 different courses. To date they have trained 16,868 students and have reached a capacity of 1350 per year.
Students from the JF Skills Training Programme
These intensive three-month courses are closely monitored, with tangible evidence of each student’s progress recorded for future employers, alongside the certificates they gain upon completion. The self-esteem these mostly women acquire is palpable and just as valuable as their newly learned skills.
Here in the cocooned ‘First-World’, we are all familiar with Asian doctors and nurses and so it is in the TJF academy which is ambitious enough to target medicine as a career opportunity. It was heartening to see the medical laboratory trainees of TJF, studying proudly in their crisp white lab coats.
The medical laboratory trainees of TJF proudly wearing their white coats.
It appears that Sajis’ vision for these young people knows no bounds.
On his third campus, he has ambitions plans to build a hospital, offering critical services to the local community while providing meaningful employment for the academy’s graduates.
Here, education is not merely a pathway, it is a lifeline, a bridge from vulnerability to self-reliance, skill, and pride.
Campus three, which only began construction in 2023, is already nearing completion with close to 800 beds for young people in desperate circumstances.
The completed third Campus
One standout feature is the impressive 700-seat conference auditorium, which TJF foundation hires out for corporate events creating an income and a virtuous circle by funnelling proceeds back in to fund their work.
The impessive 700 seat conference centre built within the third school Campus
Saji and his team also run after-school tutoring and homework clubs at nearly 30 small centres for children whose parents have limited education and are unable to help their children with homework. This reduces school dropout rates. Each centre hosts up to 30 children on weekdays from 5–7 pm, guided by a tutor who supports them with their homework diaries.
Children in their after school homework classes provided by TJF.
To see these deprived children embracing learning and determining a better future for themselves was so impressive. Our presence was a novelty, and many childen were keen to chat, ask us questions. But not every child was distracted. One little boy, fittingly with a Spiderman rucksack, just kept working away. A CEO in the making for sure!
A CEO in the making!
So successful is TJF’s education programme, that children of middle-class families also attend and pay fees to do so, the funds from which sustain the foundation and the virtuous cycle continues.
Alex, Jenny andNikki serving up a delicious lunch for the children
While, founders Saji and Cynthia John remain the heartbeat of TJF, it was wonderful to see that his son, Ben is taking up the reigns also. He manages a large team, while his wife Chanchal runs the education programme — both having returned from the UK with master’s degrees in economics and Structural Engineering, determined to put their skills to work for TJF.
Ben and Beulah.
Ben’s sister, Beulah, studied fashion and runs the thriving garment manufacturing unit. A business which creates employment and the profits from which fund further charitable endeavours.
Fun fact: the very first BT tee-shirts for Debra in 2018 were made in that very factory.
The manufacturing unit providing employment and funds for the charity.
TJF is much more than a normal charity. By matching skills with needs and business opportunities, TJF has created a self-sustaining model, by creating jobs and income streams and freeing itself from being entirely beholden to donations and philanthropy. 64% of their operational costs is funded by income generation projects and school fees.
Over the years, TJF foundation has provided us with regular updates and reports on their vital work, but these have never captured the energy, the dedication, and the abundant love that is invested each day.
And to crown our trip, the three campuses combined to put on a show of gratitude for us in front of a rapt and packed audience. It is something we will never forget, to feel the love of these beautiful children as they danced and proudly sang their national anthem for us, as rose petals fell on us all.
The children having fun on Childrens Day organised every year at TJF school
We are delighted to be able to share with our Trustees and with all of you — the thousands who have supported The Brothers Trust through donations, sweepstakes, or shopping from our store — the remarkable work of the John family.
Witnessing their dedication and the love they show to thousands of children and young people was humbling and inspiring. We were right to have believed in The John Foundation and to begin supporting them. A special thank you to a kind and generous philanthropist, who paid for this trip, meaning that the funds we raise can be entirely dedicated to good causes.
On behalf of TBT — Dom, Nikki, Tom, Harry, Sam, Paddy Holland (our Trustees), and Jenny – you are a part of something wonderful and remarkable in Hyderabad, India and for this, we thank you.
To find out more please visit their website The John Foundation