About Us
Who we are
Second Circle Project Foundation is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to building a compassionate and inclusive support system for people living with HIV (PLHIV). We believe that an HIV diagnosis is more than a medical event and every human deserves care beyond treatment. We focus on post-diagnosis support by integrating mental health care, peer-led community initiatives, and the creation of safe, stigma-free spaces. Through our work, we aim to reduce isolation, foster resilience, and affirm the rights and dignity of every individual we serve.
Our Vision
We envision building a just and inclusive society where people living with HIV live free from stigma, with full access to care, support and policy.
Our Mission
Second Circle Project Foundation is on its mission to uphold the rights of people living with HIV. We work to challenge stigma, advocate for the rights of PLHIV, and ensure that every individual is empowered to live a full and meaningful life.
Director’s Note
Starting Second Circle Project Foundation was deeply close to my heart. Something I worked extensively and engaged during my masters dissertation.
But why Second Circle? Maybe because every life deserves a second chance, a safe and supportive space where one who can grow with dignity. In recent years, medical advancements have ensured that HIV is no longer a terminal disease. One can live healthily
with proper ART treatment. But then why was there a need to start something around this? Is HIV like any other disease? The answer is no. HIV affects one’s mental health more than physical health. It carries the burden of stigma and that stigma creates a hollow gap in access to healthcare for many individuals living with HIV. People living with HIV (PLHIV) deserve more than just
medicines. They require care that listens, respects, and uplifts.
I’ve heard those stories where people had to approach the court before starting their treatment. These practices still exist despite clear anti-discrimination and protection laws. Why are such incidents not in the public domain? Because disclosure often leads to
discrimination, and people remain silent by living invisible lives while navigating and fighting the very system that claims to protect them, but only on paper.
I can’t do medical interventions. I can’t provide free medications or perform tests. But what I can do is build something that offers people a space they deeply need after their diagnosis, a space after the tests are done and after the medicines are given. A safe community support system that focuses on the everyday realities of mental health, loneliness, identity, ageing with HIV, belonging and everything else that matters.
At Second Circle, our approach is rights-based and centred on the belief that everyone deserves a life filled with connection, dignity, and possibility.
Often, when we see a problem, it feels too big and that feeling paralyses us. We end up doing nothing. But real change can begin with helping one individual, one creature, changing one life and at the same time, questioning and raising our voices against the injustices we witness around us.
I hope we can make this world better.
At the very least, we can begin.
In Solidarity,
Karandeep
Our Team
Karandeep Pupneja - Founder and Executive Director
Karandeep Pupneja is the Founder and Executive Director of the Second Circle Project Foundation. Karandeep was born in New Delhi, India. He studied at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), with a degree in Legal Studies and Politics, a Master’s in Development Studies, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Guidance and Counseling from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
He developed his passion for community well-being and service during his time in graduation. He strongly believes that our education is of no use if we can’t use it for working towards the welfare of underrepresented communities.
He started building the Second Circle Project during his time working on his Master’s thesis. He chose to work on the policy related to HIV/AIDS in India, and during the course of his research, he found that people living with HIV remain in silence due to persistent stigma, discrimination, and the view of society. He understood that HIV is not like any other disease, as it is burdened with stigma and discrimination, which hinders growth and care.
As a strong advocate for sexual health and rights, Karandeep decided to create a safe space for people living with HIV, which they ultimately deserve—a life that is free from stigma, empowered, and meaningful. He named it Second Circle, where he believed that everyone deserves a second circle—a community that sees people not just as a patient, but as a human.
Shashank Maheshwari is an Assistant Professor at Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat. His research interests include queer rights, international criminal law, and state responsibility. At Second Circle Project Foundation, he contributes to the legal and policy dimensions of the organization’s work, with a focus on advancing rights-based approaches to care, inclusion, and justice for people living with HIV.
Shashank Maheshwari - Advisory Member
