VISION
DHARMA
- Concern for others.
- Work beyond duty.
- Pursuit of Excellence.
- Reaching as many poor as possible.
WHERE WE WORK
OUR STORY
Vicente Ferrer lands in Mumbai, India for the first time and dedicates himself to the development and progress of the farmers of Manmad, Maharashtra 
Vicente Ferrer, along with journalist Anne Perry and two other local volunteers arrive in Anantapur. They start to work in the drought prone areas throgh the newly founded organisation, Rural Development Trust. 
Food - For- Work programme is implemented. Over the next five years, 10,000 wells are dug, 2,500 houses are built in the village, and a leprosy centre is started. 
The Integrated development programme is launched in more than 200 villages in Kalyandurg area along with land development programmes that helped labourers to become farmers. The Community Health Sector and the first community- based organisations are established. 
Small rural hospitals are started in Kalyandurg, Kuderu and Venkatampalli to provide basic health assistance to the needy. 
The Education Sector is founded with the goal to ensure the enrollment of children from poor communities. At that time, 90% of them could'nt attend primary school 
RDT encourages cultural and sports events in order to foster integration and promote equality among the children and youth in Anantapur district. 
For the first time, RDT starts to work directly with women through self - help groups. Women pool their small monthly savings to increase their collective strength and economic independence. 
RDT starts focusing on the importance and value of education by motivating the parents to retain their children in school upto 10th Class. 
RDT partners with the Government and UNICEF for the fisrt universal immunisation programme in the country 
During immunisation, RDT becomes aware of the throusands of persons with disabilites living without access to rehabilitation and dignified life. The Community - Based Rehabilitation Sector is established for their progress and the first self - help groups are formed. 
After three years of successive drougts, the Ecology Sector is constituted to work towards a sustainable environment and agriculture. In the following years, it worked systematically for soil and water conservation, afforestation and introduction of horticulture. 
First special schools for children with different abilities are started in the rural areas so that all children have access to rehabilitation and formal education. 
Started awareness campaigns on HIV in villages to explain about the virus, how it is transmitted and how it can be prevented. 
Started awareness campaigns on HIV in villages to explain this new virus, how it is transmitted and how it can be prevented. 
Fundacion Vicente Ferrer (FVF) in Spain is launched to directly support and give sustainability to RDT Projects. 
Started Community Habitat Sector to support the government's effort to move people out of huts and facilitate them to have safe and secure housing 
RDT's health programmes further help to bring quality healthcare to rural areas by opening two secondary level care hospitals in Bathalapalli (2000) Kalyandurg (2006), and a primary healthcare center in Kanekal (2004) 
First Handicrafts workshop for women with disabilities is established in Udegolem. It provides them with professional skills to be independent and recognised members of their family and community. 
RDT uses its 30 years of experience in development to help the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Gujarat Earthquake. 
Increasing the focus and importance of sports in development by establishing the Anantapur Sports Village. 
RDT participates in the emergency, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts after the Tsunami in Tamil Nadu and Coastal Andhra Pradesh. 
To assist farmers and implement sustainable agricultural methods, micro- irrigation methods are implemented along with solar- panels to support it. 
A Department for Infectious Diseases (HIV and TB) is inaugurated. It soon becomes well - know throuhgout the state for its quality and empathetic care. 
RDT's founder, Vicente Ferrer, passes away. More than 1,00,000 people from all across Anantapur district, India and Spain attend his funeral. 
In coordination with the Government and other organisations, a specific programme to eradicate violence against women and a shelter home for women are started. 
RDT starts working with Chenchus, a tribal community in Srisailam to strengthen their individual and collective capacity, protect their cultural heritage, access resources and services under the provision of law. 
For the first time, youth with Intellectual Disabilities hailing from Anantapur travel abroad to represent India in the Special Olympics. 
The first Professional School for young rural graduated is launched. More than 90% of its students, both boys and girls, find employment after completing the course. 
The India For India Programme is initiatied, a unique initiatibe in which rural communities donate a part of their savings for a common cause. RDT also starts partnering with Indian companies for different social projects. 
Started collaborating with the AP Government for the Swachhh Bharat Mission, by constructing bathroom- cum-toilets. 
Launched the Vicente Ferrer Foundation in Washington to support and expand the work of RDT. 
Provided flood assistance in Chennai and Nellore. 
ForRDT is registered as a charity in UK to support RDT's Programmes. 
RDT celebrates it's 50th Anniversary OUR STORY
1952
Vicente Ferrer lands in Mumbai, India for the first time and dedicates himself to the development and progress of the poor farmers of Manmad, Maharashtra
1969
Vicente Ferrer, the journalist Anne Perry and two other local volunteers arrive in Anantapur. They start to work in the chronic drought prone area through the newly founded organization, RDT.
1970
Food-For-Work programme is implemented. Over the next five years, 10,000 wells are dug, 2,500 hourses and 50 nutrition centres built in the villages, and a leprosy centre started.
1976
The integrated development programme is launched in more than 200 villages in Kalyandurg area along with land development programmes that helped labourers to become farmers. The Community Health Sector and the first community-based organisations are established.
1976
Small rural hospitals are started in Kalyandurg, Kuderu and Venkatampalli to provide basic health assistance to the needy.
1978
The Education Sector is founded with the goal to ensure the enrollment of children from poor communities. At that time, 90% of them were not even attending primary school.
1979
RDT encourages cultural and sports events in order to foster integration and promote equality among the children and youth in Anantapur district.
1982
For the first, time RDT starts to work directly with women through self-help groups. Women pool their small monthly savings to increase their collective strength and economic independence.
1985
RDT starts focusing on the importance and value of education by motivating the parents to retain their children in school up to 10th class.
1987
RDT partners with the Government and UNICEF for the first universal immunisation programme in the country.
1987
During immunisation, RDT becomes aware of the thousands of persons with disabilities living without access to rehabilitation and a dignified life. The Community-Based Rehabilitation Sector is established for their empowerment and progress and first self-help groups are formed.
1987
After three years of successive droughts, the Ecology Sector is constituted to work towards a sustainable environment and agriculture. In the following years, it worked systematically for soil and water conservation, afforestation and introduction of horticulture.
1992
First special schools for children with different abilities are started in the rural areas so that all children have access to rehabilitation and formal education.
1994
The first of four orthopedic and prosthetic workshop is opened in Kalyandurg to improve the life of persons with physical disabilities.
1994
Started awareness campaigns on HIV in villages to explain this new virus, how it is transmitted and how it can be prevented.
1996
Fundacion Vicente Ferrer (FVF) in Spain is launched to directly support and give sustainability to RDT projects.
1996
Started Community Habitat sector to support the government’s effort to move people out of huts and facilitate them to have safe and secure housing.
2000
RDT’s health programmes further help to bring quality healthcare to rural areas by opening two secondary-level care hospitals in Bathalapalli (2000) and Kalyandurg (2006), a primary healthcare center in Kanekal (2004).
2001
First handicrafts workshop for women with disabilities is established in Udegolem. It provides them with professional skills to be independent and recognized members of their family and community. The products are sold locally and in Spain. After few years, four more workshops are opened.
2001
RDT uses its 30 years of experience in development to help the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Gujarat earthquake.
2002
Increasing the focus and importance of sports in development by establishing the Anantapur Sports Village.
2004
RDT participates in the emergency, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts after the tsunami in Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh.
2005
To assist farmers and implement sustainable agricultural methods, micro-irrigation methods are implemented along with solar panels to support it.
2009
A Hospital for Infectious Diseases (HIV and TB) is inaugurated. It soon becomes well-known throughout the state for its quality and empathetic care.
2009
RDT's founder, Vicente Ferrer, passes away. More than 100,000 people from all across the Anantapur district, India and Spain attend his funeral.
2010
In coordination with the Government and other organisations, a specific programme to eradicate violence against women and a shelter home for women are started.
2010
RDT starts working with chenchus, a tribal community in Srisailam to strengthen their individual and collective capacity, protect their cultural heritage, access resources and services under the provision of law.
2011
For the first time, youth with intellectual disabilities hailing from Anantapur travel abroad to represent India in the Special Olympics.
2012
The first Professional School for young rural graduates is launched. More than 90% of its students, both boys and girls, find employment after completing the course.
2012
The India For India programme is initiated, a unique initiative in which the poor, despite their own difficult circumstances, donate part of their savings for a common cause. RDT also starts partnering with Indian companies for different social projects.
2015
Started collaborating with the AP Government for the Swachh Bharat Mission, by constructing bathroom-cum-toilets.
2015
Launched the Vicente Ferrer Foundation in Washington to support and to expand the work of RDT.
2015
Provided flood assistance in Chennai and Nellore
2015
FoRDT is registered as a charity in UK to support RDT’s programmes.
2015
RDT celebrates its 50th anniversary.