57 Years and Beyond: A Legacy of Empowerment, A Future of Possibilities

What does it take to create change that lasts for generations?

For 57 years, Rural Development Trust (RDT) has worked alongside rural communities in India, building an approach to development that goes beyond individual projects. Healthcare, education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, sports and community infrastructure have evolved together, responding to the changing needs of the same communities over time.

On September 25, Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA invites the Bay Area community to spend an evening learning about this unusual journey and the lessons that have emerged from nearly six decades of sustained work.

Moncho Ferrer, Program Director of RDT, will share how an initiative that began in rural Andhra Pradesh in 1969 grew into an organization serving communities across the region, and why continuity, local participation and long term commitment have been central to its approach.

We will take a closer look at rural healthcare, where RDT today operates three hospitals alongside community based health programs, and hear from healthcare professionals about the challenges and possibilities of building accessible, quality care in rural communities.

The evening will also connect the Bay Area live with young people in India. Students and alumni will share how opportunities in STEM education and sports have shaped their education, careers and aspirations, offering a glimpse of what long term investment in people can look like across generations.

For anyone curious about India, global development, healthcare, education, philanthropy, sustainability or how organizations create lasting community institutions, this will be an opportunity to learn from a model built over 57 years and to engage in thoughtful conversation with others from across the Bay Area.

The evening includes appetizers, dinner and networking.

Friday, September 25, 2026
India Community Center, Aspen Hall, Milpitas
Registration, appetizers and networking: 5:30 PM
Program: 6:15 PM