(In) Article for rediff.com

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Dear all,

 

Checkout article below published on site rediff.com

 

Regards,

 

Nilesh Bhanage

www.pawsasia.org <http://www.pawsasia.org/>

" The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray " .

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2008/aug/29ngo.htm

<http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2008/aug/29ngo.htm>

 

August 29, 2008

This is not an article on 'young generation-bashing'. In fact, it's quite the

contrary.

While we see the glam and excitement of youth, we rarely see their grit and

determination.

It is that grit and determination that is inspiring many young people to

volunteer towards some social cause.

The primary reason for volunteering is the passion to do some social good. The

fringe benefit -- volunteering definitely adds value to your CV.

For Mahalakshmi Ganpathy, a third year Arts student from Symbiosis Institute

(Pune), the constant niggling thought is, " Country ke liye kuch karana hain. I

keep thinking that I have to do something. It all started when I was in my 11th

standard. I was asked if I could write the exam for a physically challenged boy

at Symbiosis. I knew it was tough, but I agreed. I wrote his exam, he passed,

and got 65 percent. That made me realise that me doing a small thing could have

a great impact. The next year I used my entire vacation to pursue social

activities. "

Since then Mahalakshmi has traveled on her bike to remote villages around Pune,

participated in workshops with girls from villages, championed environmental

causes in the city, travelled to villages in distant Manipur and studied the

lives of rural folk -- rather a lengthy list!

Ask her how she manages her academics and she quips, " I don't score very badly.

I do spend very little time in college, but then I've also become more

passionate about studying harder. "

Currently, she wants to start a youth development centre in her college. " But I

haven't got many volunteers. I'll keep trying, though, " she adds.

While for Mahalakshmi, the social cause takes precedence over any other

activity, techie Nikhil Bandiwadekar volunteers to fulfill his duty towards the

society.

A 29-year-old technical lead in a software company, Nikhil is also the director

of a children's home called Ishwarpuram. " I am sensitive towards beggars, street

children, and the handicapped. I had decided for myself that I would participate

actively for the betterment of this class when I start earning. At the start of

my professional life, I donated and tried to work for famed organisations like

CRY (Child Relief & You), but could not identify with their principles. Hence I

looked for an organisation that works at the grass root level and is in genuine

need of volunteers. In Ishwarpuram, I found that, " he explains.

Abhishek Gier, a young professional from Delhi [images

<http://search.rediff.com/imgsrch/default.php?MT=delhi> ], feels the social

disconnect between the very rich and the very poor needs to be probed more

deeply. " Catalyst, our NGO, aims at bridging this divide in Delhi. We get

upwardly mobile youth and professionals to interact with the underprivileged. We

organise programmes and activities with the two groups. "

Nilesh Bhanage is working with a Japanese multinational in Mumbai. He was

inspired to start off animal rights group PAWS Asia at the sight of a hurt and

dying pigeon. " I was just 18 years old. While flying a kite on the terrace, my

brother spotted an injured pigeon. It was being attacked by crows, so we took it

home. We tried to save it, but it died. The apathy of the pigeon led me start an

NGO. "

Nikhil feels that his social work helps him network better. " My volunteering

definitely gives me better visibility in my friend circle and among networking

sites. At work, my colleagues understand and respect the cause, trying to help

in any way they can, " he explains.

Mahalakshmi agrees that volunteering enhances your CV. However, that is not the

primary reason behind lending a helping hand. " I volunteer because I am

interested in doing social work, " she asserts.

She says her perspective of life has changed since she started these social

activities. " I want to do an MBA. Qualify professionally, basically. I will also

give the UPSC (government service) examination, " she sums up.

The day seems shorter when you have a mission at hand, even more so if you are

young. However, the motivated do find time for their favorite activity. " I am

doing this full-time now, " says Abhishek. " I've worked in multinationals and

banks, but realise that this cause is the need of the city currently. For

financial sustainability we have a bakery that employs these underprivileged

people. It caters to very well-known hotels and restaurants. "

Nikhil volunteers on weekends. " At times it is difficult to maintain a balance

between work, this activity and my personal life. But when I see joy on the

innocent faces of the orphans at Ishwarpuram, it makes me forget everything, " he

smiles.

They all agree that the journey is tough. " It's difficult to get people to visit

the underprivileged. They usually don't come, but when they do they are there to

stay. Once they attend a session, their perspective changes, " says Abhishek,

" The outlook of the upwardly mobile towards the underprivileged and the poor

changes. "

Yet, there is a sense of joy at the tiniest of achievements. Nikhil elaborates,

" I have received more than Rs 1.5 lakhs in donations from my friends in India

and the United States for Ishwarpuram. Currently we have 45 children. We want to

extend this number to 100. We also plan to support female children, mentally and

physically handicapped children and elderly people. In short, we want to have

Ishwarpuram as a home for any underprivileged person. "

Nilesh has worked on many rescue missions for animals and run awareness

programmes. He has been volunteering for the last 10 years and has made big and

small changes in the animal rights arena.

Many agree it is a call from within. Most of us hear our soul reach out to some

social cause. However, experts caution that it is not always a wise idea to jump

into the first NGO that you see.

Nilesh says, " Start with (activities) yourself...then volunteer with an NGO,

learn lessons from them, and accordingly develop yourself. "

The biggest step towards volunteering is listening to that tiny voice that comes

from within.