Our Story

Founded in 1992 by Ms. Oona, a rural development practitioner from IRMA and the University of Sussex, and her husband, Dr. Sushil Sharma, an anaesthesiologist from the Armed Forces Medical College, arrived in the tiny mountain village of Satoli with hope and belief that the Himalayas deserved better. Aarohi began its journey of ascension and growth in the picturesque village of Satoli in Ramgarh Development block of Nainital.

A failed apricot harvest sparked innovation, a cottage turned into a hospital, and four children learning under a tree grew into a full-fledged high school. What began as a humble community effort is today Aarohi, a movement serving over 500 villages through health, education, livelihoods, and natural resource management. This story of courage and compassion continues to inspire our work.

Oona, the founding spirit of Aarohi, left us prematurely in 1996. Her vision and direction laid the foundation for lasting change, a ripple that continues to expand, drawing more and more people into Aarohi’s journey of service.