Take Heart is a youth run charity focused on IT education projects in India for blind and disabled students. It is relatively unique in the UK charity sector for two reasons: 1. Take Heart does not employ a single person, which means that 100% of proceeds are directed out to the IT education projects in India. 2. Take Heart runs with the principle “Work builds, charity destroys”. Rather than giving money to people Take Heart aims to empower people through practical education and skills training.

Take Heart was founded by Lucian’s Father in the 1960’s after he met the legendary Baba Amte on a Global expedition to assess the situation of physically handicapped people worldwide. Take Haert has since given thousands of disabled people the required skills to start their own micro-business.  In 2003 Lucian took over the running and established the IT education focus.  Since then Take Heart has built an IT school that has provided real job opportunities to several thousand students. The school specialises in training blind students IT skills and is now setting India’s national curriculum for the training of blind teachers in IT skills. It costs Take Heart just £37 to provide a 6 month computer training course which secures these blind students with a job for life.

Lucian set up a committee of 36 exceptional young people to take the charity forward and organise annual fundraising events. These people include Sam Branson (Son of Sir Richard), Simon Ambrose (Winner of The Apprentice).  The annual ball attracts around 700 people including celebrities, royals and loyal Take Heart supporters.  The 2009 Take Heart Ball raised over £25,000 for the cause.

For more information see www.TakeHeartIndia.org or follow updates @TakeHeartIndia