For Reena Charles, a classroom was never limited to four walls, a blackboard, or rows of students waiting to learn. To her, the world itself became a living classroom — filled with people, struggles, stories, and opportunities to serve.

At 54, Reena Charles wears many hats: teacher, author, social worker, motivational speaker, and founder of the Ek Ehsaas Foundation (EEF), an organisation transforming lives through compassion-driven initiatives. But her extraordinary journey began with something remarkably simple — a small gullak, or piggy bank.

A Life Built Coin by Coin

Long before awards, recognition, and humanitarian projects, Reena believed in quiet sacrifice and purposeful living.

“If the rickshaw fare was ₹50, I would walk and save ₹30,” she recalls.

Her family shared the same mindset. Slowly, coin by coin and rupee by rupee, they saved ₹50,000 — the amount that would eventually help register the Ek Ehsaas Foundation in 2017.

“That foundation is like my child,” she says with deep emotion.

From Educator to Humanitarian

Reena spent more than three decades in the education sector, teaching Social Science, English, and Value Education. She later served as Principal of a reputed school in Rajnagar, Uttar Pradesh, and eventually became a CEO in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

But teaching values, for her, was never confined to textbooks.

“Value education means living human values every single day,” she says.

She and her husband even turned down opportunities to settle abroad because they believed their purpose was rooted in serving society in India.

Then came a moment that changed everything.

The Day Everything Changed

While driving to school one day, Reena noticed children eating food from dustbins on the roadside.

Most people would have looked away.

She didn’t.

Instead, she mobilised neighbours and students, collected funds, bought 250 burgers, and distributed food, clothes, socks, caps, and crackers to underprivileged children.

“That day, I realised the world had become my workplace,” she says.

Building Ek Ehsaas Foundation

The Ek Ehsaas Foundation was founded with a powerful philosophy:

“Ehsaas nahi toh kuch bhi nahi” — Without realisation, there is nothing.

In 2019, Reena resigned from her CEO position to dedicate herself fully to humanitarian service.

Soon after, the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

When the country shut down, Reena sold her old WagonR car to continue supporting those in need. During lockdown, she stayed at Philomena’s Paradise — a shelter home for destitute senior citizens located along the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.

Remarkably, none of the residents contracted Covid-19 during the crisis.

Philomena’s Paradise: A Shelter of Dignity

The shelter home itself began with a chance encounter.

One rainy day, Reena met an elderly man — someone who had once repaired her umbrella — living homeless under a yellow tarpaulin sheet.

She invited him to the ashram.

He arrived with his sister.

That single act of compassion became the beginning of Philomena’s Paradise, which now houses nearly 20 elderly residents with dignity, safety, and care.

Feeding the Hungry, Healing the Broken

Under Reena’s leadership, EEF expanded into multiple humanitarian initiatives:

• Samtripti — a hunger relief campaign distributing hygienically cooked meals across Delhi.
• Vidhya — providing basic education to underserved children and adults.
• Poshaak — distributing clothes, blankets, socks, and winter essentials, including to inmates in Tihar and Nuh jails.
• Marhamm — a counselling and healing initiative supporting people struggling with depression, anxiety, abuse, broken families, and suicidal thoughts.
• Dharti Maa — focused on environmental conservation.
• Sakhee — dedicated to women empowerment.

EEF’s financial backbone is the Ek Ehsaas Motivational Academy, where proceeds from workshops and motivational sessions directly fund humanitarian projects.

Reena lives by a personal mantra:

H.O.P.E — Help One Person Everyday

For her, meaningful change begins with small acts of kindness.

“You do not need a massive plan or huge wealth to help people,” she says. “You only need discipline, compassion, and the willingness to not look away.”

A Global Voice for Peace

Reena also serves as the International Director of the I Am Peacekeeper Movement, an initiative of the Wockhardt Foundation active in 72 countries.

Alongside her humanitarian work, she authored the book “Parvarish: The Powerful Parenting Tips”, sharing insights on parenting, emotional well-being, and values.

Recognition and Legacy

Over the years, Reena Charles has received numerous honors, including:

• Delhi Minorities Commission Community Service Award
• Shakti Achievement Award
• Rajiv Gandhi National Excellence Award
• National Women Excellence Award
• Khyaal 50 Above 50 Humanitarian–Philanthropist of the Year Award

Yet, despite the accolades, she remains grounded.

“Success is like an iceberg,” she says. “People only see the achievement above the surface. They don’t see the struggles underneath.”

“Maanav Sewa is Maadhav Sewa”

Today, Reena Charles continues to inspire countless people with a life rooted in service, empathy, and action.

Her message is simple yet powerful:

“You do not need a lot of money to change lives. Start with a small gullak, a little discipline, and a compassionate heart. The rest will follow.”

For Reena Charles, humanity itself is the mission — and the world will always remain her workplace.