We are dedicated to providing Quality Education and support to under-served and under-privileged tribal communities in North-East India. We work at bridging the gap between marginalised communities and opportunities, opening up the horizons up for the most vulnerable and exposed youngsters in this geography.

The founders S Henna & Samuel Luis connected in the year 2020 while working in two remote schools in Manipur. It was here that the thoughts of the two began to get aligned to create a Charitable Trust to provide Quality Education to the tribal children and at the same time empower the communities to be self-reliant and grow. 

S Henna was born and raised in conflict-ridden Manipur; her childhood marked by a series of unconventional memories and experiences led by violence and political unrest in her home state. At just 9 years old, she was sent to a residential school In Andhra Pradesh, away from home. This was a painful decision made by her parents, to ensure her safety and good education. Though away from Manipur, she always stayed close to her roots and felt an innate desire to one day be able to drive the much needed and required change in her home state.

Samuel Luis a musician by profession was always drawn towards social work and been working with marginalised tribal communities and teaching music to children. Worked as a school supervisor in Mumbai before he visited Northeast India in 2017, for a month-long volunteer programme with an orphanage which catered to under-privileged and orphaned tribal children from 16+ tribal communities. At this orphanage the stars aligned, and 1 month turned to 8 years; there has since been ‘no turning back’.

Together, they founded Tandan Charitable Trust, with the objective of bringing Quality Education to thousands of first-generation learners, Empowering Communities by helping revive traditional tribal skills, introducing healthy, Nutrition Programs in all communities; all of which empowers each tribal community to become a self-sufficient and sustainable powerhouse of development.

The name Tandan in the local Manipuri language means “Firefly”, and just as the firefly provides a glow to illuminate the dark night, Tandan Charitable Trust works towards illuminating the lives of tribal children by providing them with much needed education to help them grow, and provides them with the hope of building a better future for themselves and the community at large.