Founder’s Vision – The Legacy of Aldis Jaspers

Arunachala Village School was born from the compassion and determination of Ms Aldis Jaspers, a teacher from Switzerland whose heart was deeply moved by the lives of rural children in Tiruvannamalai. Guided by her dream that every child, no matter how poor, deserves a joyful childhood and a meaningful education, she laid the school’s foundation in 1999 along with Mr Raja Kandaiah. With her husband, Mr Rudi Jaspers, standing firmly beside her, Aldis worked tirelessly—helping children under a simple coconut-thatched roof, fundraising, mobilising support from Switzerland, and shaping the school’s early systems and values. Her commitment, simplicity, and unwavering belief in the children became the soul of AVS. The strong foundations she and Mr Rudi built continue to guide the school’s growth today, inspiring everyone who walks through its gates.

Aldis Jaspers and Raja Kandaiah established the Arunachala Village School in February 1999 and registered it as a charitable trust. The school’s 42 kindergarten children were sheltered beneath a coconut-thatched roof. 

In 2001, the school’s expansion took an alternative trajectory. Mr Madhan Mohan succeeded Mr Raja Kandaiah as the organisation’s leader. Then the changes began to occur differently. 

In 2022, Ms Ramya happily stepped into the role of Managing Trustee of the Trust, with the support of Trustees Rakesh Thiyagarajan and Selvam. Madhan Mohan continues to inspire as the school’s patron and academic director.