Benjamin Paul Kaila is the founder of Friends for Education International or FFEI. He founded it in 2003 after failing to start a school in his native village in Andhra Pradesh.

Born to Dalit Christian elementary school teachers in a village in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, he migrated to the United States after working for 12+ years in the IT sector in India. Most of his early childhood was spent in Dalit ghettos and experienced discrimination associated with caste system since his childhood. As a Dalit Christian, he was introduced to Gandhian philosophy at an early age by is his father but was introduced to Dr Ambedkar in his late tenties while he was working in Hyderabad. Since then, he became a disciple of Dr Ambedkar and dedicated the rest of his life to follow the philosophy of Dr Ambedakar. Initially he was apolitical with no interest in politics or any political party. But, after meeting Manyawar Kanshi Ram of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) twice, he was influenced by his political thoughts. His “pay back to society” attracted him most.

He believes in education as a weapon to dismantle most of the social and economical ills of India. After coming to the US in 1999, he was looking for opportunities to help the less fortunate people of India, especially the Dalits or ex-untouchables who were forcefully denied education, wealth, and basic human dignity. His first thought was to start a school in the memory of his parents. It failed as he didn’t find suitable people to run it in his absence. 

While looking for other opportunities, he stumbled upon an idea of starting a scholarship program to help a few Dalit students. When his friend in Hyderabad Late Mr Devdas agreed to assist, he started “Ambedkar Scholarships” or AS in 2003 with just Rs. 15,000 and a fixed deposit of Rs. 2,40,000 to give 2 scholarships of Rs. 5,000 each to a boy and a girl who completed tenth grade with good marks. When advertised in the newspaper, around 40 applications were received.

During those days, he was an active participant in discussions in an electronic email group, [email protected]. When advertised his new project, none showed interest initially, but the next year a number of people came forward to support with donations. Year after year, Ambedkar Scholarships grew and in some years it was able to give more than 100 scholarships not only in Andhra Pradesh but in other states too. AS conducted its business with 100% transparency by publishing their work on its website. Donations, disbursements, information of the beneficiaries were posted on its website and donors were encouraged to communicate with the beneficiaries. 

In 2006, Outlook India published an article on Ambedkar Scholarships. One of the readers (Late Ms Mina Kumar) contacted him soon after to know more about it. She liked what was being done and became a friend of Benjamin and started contributing a substantial amount every year. 

“Ambedkar Scholarships” was renamed as “Friends for Education International” or FFEI in 2008 and registered both in India and the US. FFEI also got non-profit status in the US.

Unfortunately, Mina passed away in 2016 due to cancer. Before her death, without the knowledge of Benjamin, she wrote a will donating all her estate to FFEI. With her generous donation, FFEI is now has substantial assets to take the work further in helping the most discriminated students of India.