Be the Pebble in the Pond: The Andrew Hillary Story

I was born in Madras (now Chennai) in 1990, during a time when India was undergoing a significant transformation in all spheres. A land with a vast and rich history, India was taking giant strides to establish itself in the modern world after gaining independence in 1947.

I was fortunate to grow up in a family where my parents were well-rounded individuals. My father worked as a community officer, and my mother, who was originally an accountant, later transitioned into a career as a kindergarten teacher.

Growing up in Chennai, I witnessed both the highs and lows of society right at my doorstep. Not a day went by without me encountering stark wealth inequality, a complex issue deeply rooted in India’s diverse social and cultural fabric. My parents were incredibly generous, always seeking opportunities to help those in need—especially the downtrodden, marginalized, and vulnerable members of society. I watched their actions closely, learning from them with curiosity and intent.

▲ Andrew, on the left forefront, teaching guitar and mentoring kids — one of the passions in his life. Andrew serves on the board of Restoration Humanity. He plays a very integral part in the strategizing and decision-making process, all while playing his guitar!

After completing my undergraduate studies, the last thing I wanted to do was to work at an humanitarian organization. But instead, one thing led to another and I ended up in an IT role for a humanitarian organization that specialized in freeing forced or bonded laborers. While I had always been aware of injustice, working in this organization exposed me to exploitation and suffering on a scale I had never seen or heard of before.

In 2014, I had my first exposure to what happens in a brick kiln. The injustice that prevailed was unimaginable. I was lambasted with images of people living in the dire conditions — people who ate one meal a day, received no pay, were ill-treated and lived in conditions no human should be living under. This was done just to keep them alive so that they could work — or should I say, slave at the brick kiln for the profitability of the owner.

This first hand exposure to modern slavery burned an image in my mind and brought about a conviction in my heart about the need to liberate the people from this violent exploitation. I started to question everything about my life, purpose and existence. The realization that they had been displaced and exploited for the sake of societal paradigms & profitability forever altered my worldview.

To put my damaged, impaired and slanted outlook into perspective, I had the opportunity and privilege to witness the power of true restoration. One of my then colleagues (name withheld), my good friend and a survivor of modern slavery, had an impact as to what a liberated, restored life would look like. He was once trapped in a place of no return caught  in a cycle of exploitation, starvation, brutality and overall mistreatment.

Due to the intervention of the organization I was working for, he was rescued from this unending cruelty and injustice. For the first time in a very long time, he was in a place of safety, acceptance and security. As it turns out he went on to become a lawyer, dedicating his life to fighting for justice on behalf of marginalized communities through the same organization that I ended up working for. Seeing such transformation reaffirmed my belief in the impact of compassion and followed by action.

▲ Andrew with the love of his life, Abigail.

As life would have it, following a series of events, I met the girl of my dreams, Abigail, while working at the same organization. We are blessed with 2 girls, and 3-month-old twin boys who keep our home alive and interesting to say the least.

▲ Andrew and Abigail with their whole family.

The plight of Yenadi people was too compelling to ignore. The profound impact that dignity and true restorative compassion could have on their lives made it impossible not to join the cause through Restoration Humanity (RH) and Society For Integrated Rural Development (SFIRD). The reality is that we might not be able to impact every single one of them but the trajectory of one person's life could be changed — it could cause a ripple effect that could and will impact many generations to come.

The persuasion that our lives need to be purposeful and intentional really changes the way we live our lives, particularly when we realize that everything that we do and say has a ripple effect — that every word you speak, every action we commit to affects people around us.

Appropriately, William Wilbeforce, politician and abolitionist said:

You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.

Thank you for being a part of this inspiring journey!

If you would like to know more: more.info@rhlife.org

To donate to Restoration Humanity: www.rhlife.org/donate

Website: https://www.rhlife.org

Social: Facebook  Instagram