Monday, March 4, 2013
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
My Interview - Raisers' Ask Magazine
Hi there,
Attached is my Interview that had come in Raisers' Ask, South Asia's Fundraising Magazine (an initiative of MCC - Murray Culshaw Consulting) comes quarterly. Each issue is packed with:
· articles and case studies on communication and fundraising;
· legal and financial matters;
· interviews with opinion makers and doers;
· events and announcements;
· tips & tools;
· book reviews & excerpts;
· and more …
Raisers’ Ask aims to encourage and equip fundraisers in India and South Asia with information and good practices to guide their fundraising. It will be a tool that will guide fundraisers to make better decisions based on evidence and experiences from other fundraisers in south Asia and around the world.
Not sure but you could download the complimentary issue of the magazine from http://www.raisersask.in/.
First issue : http://www.slideshare.net/ranj06/raisers-ask-south-asias-fundraising-magazine-presentation My interview is in second issue which isn't uploaded:)
Smiles,
Prarthana
Attached is my Interview that had come in Raisers' Ask, South Asia's Fundraising Magazine (an initiative of MCC - Murray Culshaw Consulting) comes quarterly. Each issue is packed with:
· articles and case studies on communication and fundraising;
· legal and financial matters;
· interviews with opinion makers and doers;
· events and announcements;
· tips & tools;
· book reviews & excerpts;
· and more …
Raisers’ Ask aims to encourage and equip fundraisers in India and South Asia with information and good practices to guide their fundraising. It will be a tool that will guide fundraisers to make better decisions based on evidence and experiences from other fundraisers in south Asia and around the world.
Not sure but you could download the complimentary issue of the magazine from http://www.raisersask.in/.
First issue : http://www.slideshare.net/ranj06/raisers-ask-south-asias-fundraising-magazine-presentation My interview is in second issue which isn't uploaded:)
Smiles,
Prarthana
Homage to the victims and Martyrs + Walkathon!!!
This was in Dec 2008...
Hi there,
Mamatha, Program manager, Samarthanam too has uploaded snaps, so final updated Snaps links:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008#
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008AbhiSCamera#
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/mamatha.esteves/SamarthanamTheGreatWalkathon6Dec08#
Wishing you all a very happy weekend with some or other volunteering activity.
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!” Ready for a rural assignment???
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 12 December 2008 02:42To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'kilikili_volunteers@googlegroups.com'Cc: 'mahantesh'; 'bineesh@samarthanam.org'; 'mamatha@samarthanam.org'Subject: RE: Thank you very much -- Homage to the victims and Martyrs + Walkathon!!!
Hello all,
I know many of you are curious to see more snaps and read the feedbacks of people who volunteered and participated as well!!! So here you go:
Snaps links:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008AbhiSCamera#
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008AbhiSCamera#
Feedbacks:
Samarthanam Program manager – Mamatha
Dear Prarthana & all the iVolunteers
It was a great event, a huge success, a wonderful day and it was the most memorable Birthday Gift anyone could ask for J You guys were just amazing... I have no words to appreciate your hard work, involvement & support. Sam Family values your wholehearted contribution towards the Great Walkathon. Let’s Walk Again in 09.
A BIG THANK YOU J J J from all of us at Samarthanam.
Samarthanam Coordinator – Jatin
The Walk a thon was an unforgettable event, This successful event was a perfect amalgamation of the dreams of Mahantesh sir, vision of Vasanti mam, Swamy sir, Papanna sir and Ganesh Sir. Which was perfectly executed by all the volunteers and Samarthanam employees under the able leadership of Mamatha.
This walk a thon was truly a momentous day as it not just brought the focus back towards disability, but also contributed substantially for the cause of disability by boosting The National Accessibility Campaign’ to ensure that the problems pertaining to information and infrastructural accessibility, for the persons with disability are known to every one who participated in the event. I would like to thank the following people for making this signature campaign a grand success. Mahantesh Sir for having given us the permission for using this great platform to advocate this noble cause. A special thanks to Swamy sir and Ganesh sir for having guided us through this great Endeavour, thanks to Mamatha for having supported us to the fullest, a special thanks to Prarthana and her iVolunteer team for having gone to each and every individual and getting their signature to support the campaign.
I shall also take this opportunity to thank CIS and Nirmita Narasimhan on behalf of all the stake holders for having aggresively taken up the cause for making information more accessible to persons with disability and hope that they will be able to take this campaign to its logical conclusion.
iVolunteer star volunteer Rashmi K C:
AS USUAL!!!! , another SUCCSESSFUL event!!!!!!!!!
It was a wonderful & fantastic experience which is plugged to my memory album of volunteering.
Just cannot forget the slogans and songs during our walk. Felt good to meet new volunteers, new ideas ….etc
Paying Homage by candle lighting and silence as a mark of respect to the victims and martyrs of the terror attack.
Lastly not to forget the walkathon which gave sense of pride and satisfaction.
"We volunteers have the power to change the world and let’s change it the way we wish to see it”
I Volunteer Rocks …………………
iVolunteer star volunteer Archana V Kumar:
It was wonderful being a part of Walkathon. Not only enjoyed walking but also volunteering. I am also happy that ivolunteer contributed in many aspects for a good cause. I just wish that all the people who were a part of this and also the public who saw us walking for a purpose are now more sensitized towards the physically challenged. So I hope we have gone a little further in bringing awareness. And seeing the ivolunteer band, I few asked about what ivolunteer is about. And so we, the ivolunteer volunteers have also brought in some awareness about ivolunteer.
The stadium just looked so lively with all the little ones, the banners and the balloons. It was quite touching during the homage while they sang was song, then when each of us were lighting the candles, helping others to light it and then when we all made "heroes" with the candles. That was a great idea. Of course, the walk was exciting. Thanks to NCC people who carried the banner throughout the walk and also Prarthana for her all-time-high josh and encouragement and ideas...
Infact, when I was on my way, I met a visually challenged girl who has a sweet voice and had sung many songs during the Samarthanam cultural event at Yuvanika. She being a part of Samarthanam was so excited about Walkathon and started telling about her previous experiences at Walkathon 2006 and 2007 when I started talking to her. And when I met Mahanthesh Sir, he was so enthusiastic about the whole event and the arrangements.
So my experience as a whole was great. Hope we have achieved the purpose behind the event and also made an impact on a small portion of the society.
iVolunteer volunteer Krishna Tadepalli (Part 1)
Good morning rather good afternoon :) :P to everybody after a great event :)… It was great to see you all there.
Why can’t we have an iVolunteer song? When I was in 8th class, I attended a Republic Day Camp as an NCC cadet in Secunderabad. We used to sing NCC song (Hum sab Bharatiye Hain) with full enthu during dinner:). I still remember that josh we had when we sung itJ. Why can’t we write and sing an iVolunteer song??? (During such events???) New iVolunteerians can learn the song in the Orientation session. We can even sing this during our meetings (as an anthem) etc., :) If anyone sharpens his / her wits and pen down one song, I’m here to tune it :)
Not to forget our slogans… Our songs and all… One of the most memorable events in my life :) Hoping loads of similar such events in store, and awaiting iVolunteer song’s script for one for you guys :)
iVolunteer Star volunteer Krishna Tadepalli (Part 2J a brief descriptionJ)
Good morning to you all again. A page from my wonderful life – Walk-a-thon day.
Day started with a teek-teek teek-teek from my mobile @ 4.00 am. Thought to snooze the alarm, and saw “2 new messages”. Wondering where they’re from, I opened them and they read – “Get your id cards and be there by sharp eleven” and “Get candles as well…” timed 1:24 and 1:56 am respectively. Gosh!!!! Never seen a human being working round the day (literally) with same enthu – I thought. Did my daily rituals and started to kanteerava stadium by 1000am. Took some candles and called Amit on my way “Amit start hua ya nahee??” replied “starting in another 20 min yar!!!”
11:05 am reached entrance of kanteerava stadium… let me see how things are going on!!! To my astonishment none from iVol came… He he he I’m the first to reach :)… Everybody assembled and after good round of introductions – a slight confusion where to start. Rashmi and Prarthana started collecting iVol registration forms. Why can’t we have a small plan laid up? All the volunteers have the xlsheet. Why didn’t we ask all of them to bring a hard copy of it? Why to rework again? Let me mark this as learning and now do what ever possible from my side. Somebody came from Samarthanam and told they want some volunteers for Signature campaign. OK let me do that. All of us went inside discussing what to do to pay homage to the victims and Martyrs. Took some pix and started for signature campaign. After some time heard a voice “Krishna keep this money too with you – Make a wish foundation’s registrations” Its Rashmi’s. Again another voice “Krishna do u want to go to the care taking team? You need to help our spl guests in having their lunch” It’s Prarthana. Thought OK and headed there. It was wonderful handling different things simultaneously. Explaining the objective of the campaign to IBMR students and others – taking the volunteer’s work while they’re signing – helping our beloved guests. Oh man!! I can handle several things at a time!!
2:30 and all the iVols assembled at the registration desk. Again bit confusion. Where to give my reg forms?? OK let me write down the registered names of various NGOs. Same thought – Why rework?? Collected T-shirts, caps and headed towards the centre stage.
After practicing the song to be sung, we reached the sands. I took a small sand leveler, leveled the sand and started writing HEROES. iVol ppl put up the candles. On the stage – Sung the song and volunteers started lighting up the candles. I felt elated while singing the song. After a very very long time, I’m performing again on the stage. Good. After taking some pictures of our beautifully written HEROES and tri colored balloons, we opened our iVol banner and started forming line. Out of the blues, WE’RE SHOWING PATH TO OTHERS!!! Great. With slogans, patriotic songs, we completed the Walk-a-thon successfully. Another pix session. Oh God, am tired!! How can people like Prarthana and Ankur are still so much energetic? May be they’re blessed with eternal energy to show path for all the volunteers so that we can also be a part of the change!
Performances from our special abled guests started. AWESOME ones!!! Dance performance and singing!!!
Amit and I decided to start back to home and met a guy Vishwanath on our way. He was at the Samarthanam stall at the gate 4 of the stadium. He is visually impaired and work for Samarthanam as a COMPUTER FACULTY!!! He asked “Can you give me some water?” We went back to the centre court and searched for a glass of water in vain L What Can’t I give him a glass of water atleast? Looking around, I found an audience with a bottle of water. After having that, Vishwanath asked me “Can you do me a fovour? Can you please drop me at the bus stand? So that I can get a bus to Srinagar?” Good God why not!
This walk of 1 or 2 KM is the actual Walk-a-thon event of the day for me. We talked all about life, traffic, Samarthanam and on and on! When asked how your work is – he says ' I am enjoying it'. Oh man! How many of us think like that?? I wondered.
Guys bear with me for such a long mail!! :) It was a great event and just wanted to share my stream of thoughts there. I also have a madness to write long mails… Event is so joyful and wonderful! I cannot forget this!
Yesterday, I went to Samarthanam to dump some lesson recordings. I met Chandrasekhar – stall committee incharge, the one who danced and others. One great thing with them is. The moment they hear your voice they’ll wish a great moment and will ask “what can we do?” or “Have you come for something?” etc., They will respect other’s time and theirs. They will give importance to work. :)
Better I stop here!!!! Again don’t curse me for long mail… hehehehe
iVolunteer volunteer Jayasree Jayaprakash (who shares views of few dignitaries as wellJ):
It’s always been a great experience to be a part of Walkathon. This year also it was very wonderful to be a part of this event which has a very insightful concept behind it. The concept is to create a difference less society, breaking all the barriers that’s assumed to exist for the differently abled and show that this world is same for all!!
Here is view of Nagasekar, Kannada Actor and Director, Aramane:
I was traumatised by the series of events that happened in Mumbai. After seeing it repeatedly on TV I was feeling that I have not done anything from my side. But participating in Walkathon gave me a sense of satisfaction of being able to pay my homage to the Martyrs and all those who laid down their lives to save our nation. Thanks to Walkathon. It was nice walking with the kids and I look forward to be a part of it every year.
View of Shiranagara Kitty, Kannada Actor, Inthi ninna prithiya , Janumatha gelluthi:
This is the second year I am coming here. I feel very happy to be a part of this event. And I enjoy every moment of it. I pray for the welfare of this children and I shall be a part of this every year.
iVolunteer new volunteer Amit Ranjan Sahu:
It was a great experience to be part of an event for a noble cause. For me, the most touching part was after the event got over. While we were returning back, we met a visually impaired person who had to go to Srinagara. Krishna held his hand and guided him from Kanteerava stadium to Corporation bus stop. That 1km walk really gave us an insight about how difficult life can be in such cases. The person is married, has a kid, works as a faculty in Samarthanam, earns 5000 bucks and when he is asked how is your work he says ' I am Enjoying '. I have asked this question to many of my friends in IT and have never got an enthusiastic reply like the one he gave me.
And the energy level of the group was mind blowing. Like Harsh said that the energy each person produces can light a whole city for 7 days.
Thanks for giving me a chance to be a part of this event.
iVolunteer star volunteer Ashalatha Shetty:
That was a wonderful Saturday... I reached the stadium at 1 with Chandra and Tarangini. I signed for the signature campaign then I collected the AB (additional benefits) for the 66 forms that I had sold (I was able to collect Rs 24,100 ;))
I guided some of the visually challenged students to have their lunch. Then we practised the song with Parthana. It was an apt song for the situation. Thanks to Prarthu for selecting such a good song for the occasion. I became very emotional singing that song(chorus)! A heartfelt salute to the HEROES of Mumbai attack! Then started the much awaited walkathon.. with the NCC cadets leading us we were all enjoying the walk .. J And the slogans were amazing! some of them even reminded me of independence day celebration J
The event ended with the superb performances by the Samarathanam Students. That was inspiring as we with all the abilities could not have performed so well. They truly celebrated their day by dancing singing and enjoying themselves :) Finally not to forget the interaction with Vivek (IBMR student) for snacks. J
It was a nice day altogether.. Thanks to Prarthu and all volunteers :)
iVolunteer volunteer Harsh Surana:
An event like that is usually associated with beliefs, determination and desire to bring about a change and that was clearly reflecting in the walkathon held last sunday.
One of things that I couldn’t help noticing was the enthusiasm in everyone. Everybody seemed so determined for the moment to see themselves promoting a cause. If we hold that sort of thought in our mind everyday, Imagine the kind of Magic we could create in this world.
The event can easily be reflected back as a successful one and would give the entire credit to Samarthanam to promote such a cause. I have always believed that there is a component of individual responsibility in individual success, but society had a responsibility to give people the tool as they need to succeed. I felt that event was a tool to succeed.
Hoping to see many more events in the future and being a part of it.
I congratulate Samarthanam & iVolunteer in their splendid efforts to have been able to successfully host this event and to have got many participants and future donors as well.
Thanks
iVolunteer volunteer Shilpa:
Thank you Prarthana. It was indeed a very good event. Hope to be a part of many more such events.
iVolunteer volunteer Hema Madhuri:
It was a very nice opportunity to be part of such an event. Wish to be part of many such events.
Last but not the least iVolunteer Bangalore centre head Ankur Pahariya:
Ever since my college days I had this desire of being a part of an event like a Marathon or a Walkathon , which for various reasons never got fulfilled. So when Walkathon 2008 hosted by Samarthanam Trust came along and iVolunteer got into a partnership with them I got that extra Byte of motivation(which was probably missing all along) to participate. Moreover it boded well for me that it was only a three-and-half kilometres walk as it not only gave me the confidence to complete it but also an opportunity to derive a sense of accomplishment from doing the same.:):):)While the build up to the Walkathon day was very exciting and involving for us as a partner Organisation( attracting registrations, devising strategies for a better reach out to potential participants etc etc ), the day itself left behind a lot of sweet memories which I will cherish and not forget for years to come. It all started at around 11:30 on 6th of December when we reached the venue (Kantereeva stadium teeming with constantly swelling scores of participants which in itself was awe-inspiring) and got involved in sorting out the finances with the assistance of a bunch of very interesting and dedicated iVolunteers. Having done that with a little bit of hiccups here and there but nonetheless successfully (in about two-and-half hours) we moved on to a very touching and emotional actitivty which involved lighting candles as a mark of respect for the people who died fighting valiantly in the recent terror attacks in Mumbai. This was preceded by a very mellifluous rendition of the song "Itni Shakti hamein dena daata....." again as a tribute to the fighters by Prarthana and Co and observance of a minute's silence by the entire House. While all the pre-walk activities with a few iVolunteers were very exciting the actual walk with them was nothing short of an all expenses-paid trip to Switzerland.:):). Throughout the walk we kept on raising slogans and singing songs at the top of our voice with an unmatchable and infectious level of enthusiasm. While a few slogans were patriotic in nature a few of them aimed at spreading awareness about iVolunteer.All these made up for something which couldn't have been more exciting and enjoyable. As everything was a "first" for me it gave me the feeling of a special pride and achievement at the same time. The walk lasted for about two-and half hours but its impressions I believe would last a million times longer.
Hope you all enjoyed reading and made up your mind to be part of many such events. Thanks again to everyone!!! Keep the great work going with full josh and energy…
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!” Ready for a rural assignment???
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 08 December 2008 02:32To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'kilikili_volunteers@googlegroups.com'Cc: 'mahantesh'; 'bineesh@samarthanam.org'; 'mamatha@samarthanam.org'Subject: Thank you very much -- Homage to the victims and Martyrs + Walkathon!!!
Hi there,
We all had a wonderful time at the Great Walkathon 2008, where we were at one end feeling happy for “Walking for a cause” and at other end felt proud to be “Indians” as we were walking with slogans like Jai Hind, Vande Mataram, Bharat mata ki jai and few national songs and of course felt proud to be a volunteer as were also walking with slogans like I Volunteer Do you… Yesss!!! iVolunteer Samarthanam rocks, Hip Hip Hurray!!! And so on and on for almost 3-4 kms. Before the start of Walkathon we did pay tribute, salute and homage to Martyrs and victims of terrorist attacks by a song and candle lighting and a minute silence for gratefulness of Martyrs. The few candles lighted were displaying “HEROES” Thanks to ideas of few volunteers to have put heroes and light the candles accordingly. And of course how could the event get over without the performance by Samarthanam students… They just rocked the floor.
Over all it was a great event and I thank each and every member who made this event a grand success by being part of it… Special thanks to our iVolunteer volunteers who were present for the event and were actively involved past few days to get people register and got around 250 registrations, were part of different committees wherever needed and ya were able to accompany me for devotional/national song at a short notice of 20 mins for paying homage and simply made the event a grand success by being part of it with full enthu. And ya special thanks to NCC cadets who came there at a very short notice from our end :)
Will soon share volunteer’s feedbacks and as of now cannot stop myself from sharing some memories captured, just enjoy viewing them at:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008#
The event proves that high number of volunteers always means more growth & prosperity!!! Feel proud to be a volunteer and change lives in some or other way!!!
Enjoy maadi!!! Thank you very much again to everyone!!!
P.S: Don’t miss future events, orientations, workshops and opportunities and ya to know more about upcoming volunteer requirement join our yahoo group
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!” To know more about upcoming volunteer requirement join our yahoo group
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
Hi there,
Mamatha, Program manager, Samarthanam too has uploaded snaps, so final updated Snaps links:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008#
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008AbhiSCamera#
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/mamatha.esteves/SamarthanamTheGreatWalkathon6Dec08#
Wishing you all a very happy weekend with some or other volunteering activity.
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!” Ready for a rural assignment???
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 12 December 2008 02:42To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'kilikili_volunteers@googlegroups.com'Cc: 'mahantesh'; 'bineesh@samarthanam.org'; 'mamatha@samarthanam.org'Subject: RE: Thank you very much -- Homage to the victims and Martyrs + Walkathon!!!
Hello all,
I know many of you are curious to see more snaps and read the feedbacks of people who volunteered and participated as well!!! So here you go:
Snaps links:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008AbhiSCamera#
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008AbhiSCamera#
Feedbacks:
Samarthanam Program manager – Mamatha
Dear Prarthana & all the iVolunteers
It was a great event, a huge success, a wonderful day and it was the most memorable Birthday Gift anyone could ask for J You guys were just amazing... I have no words to appreciate your hard work, involvement & support. Sam Family values your wholehearted contribution towards the Great Walkathon. Let’s Walk Again in 09.
A BIG THANK YOU J J J from all of us at Samarthanam.
Samarthanam Coordinator – Jatin
The Walk a thon was an unforgettable event, This successful event was a perfect amalgamation of the dreams of Mahantesh sir, vision of Vasanti mam, Swamy sir, Papanna sir and Ganesh Sir. Which was perfectly executed by all the volunteers and Samarthanam employees under the able leadership of Mamatha.
This walk a thon was truly a momentous day as it not just brought the focus back towards disability, but also contributed substantially for the cause of disability by boosting The National Accessibility Campaign’ to ensure that the problems pertaining to information and infrastructural accessibility, for the persons with disability are known to every one who participated in the event. I would like to thank the following people for making this signature campaign a grand success. Mahantesh Sir for having given us the permission for using this great platform to advocate this noble cause. A special thanks to Swamy sir and Ganesh sir for having guided us through this great Endeavour, thanks to Mamatha for having supported us to the fullest, a special thanks to Prarthana and her iVolunteer team for having gone to each and every individual and getting their signature to support the campaign.
I shall also take this opportunity to thank CIS and Nirmita Narasimhan on behalf of all the stake holders for having aggresively taken up the cause for making information more accessible to persons with disability and hope that they will be able to take this campaign to its logical conclusion.
iVolunteer star volunteer Rashmi K C:
AS USUAL!!!! , another SUCCSESSFUL event!!!!!!!!!
It was a wonderful & fantastic experience which is plugged to my memory album of volunteering.
Just cannot forget the slogans and songs during our walk. Felt good to meet new volunteers, new ideas ….etc
Paying Homage by candle lighting and silence as a mark of respect to the victims and martyrs of the terror attack.
Lastly not to forget the walkathon which gave sense of pride and satisfaction.
"We volunteers have the power to change the world and let’s change it the way we wish to see it”
I Volunteer Rocks …………………
iVolunteer star volunteer Archana V Kumar:
It was wonderful being a part of Walkathon. Not only enjoyed walking but also volunteering. I am also happy that ivolunteer contributed in many aspects for a good cause. I just wish that all the people who were a part of this and also the public who saw us walking for a purpose are now more sensitized towards the physically challenged. So I hope we have gone a little further in bringing awareness. And seeing the ivolunteer band, I few asked about what ivolunteer is about. And so we, the ivolunteer volunteers have also brought in some awareness about ivolunteer.
The stadium just looked so lively with all the little ones, the banners and the balloons. It was quite touching during the homage while they sang was song, then when each of us were lighting the candles, helping others to light it and then when we all made "heroes" with the candles. That was a great idea. Of course, the walk was exciting. Thanks to NCC people who carried the banner throughout the walk and also Prarthana for her all-time-high josh and encouragement and ideas...
Infact, when I was on my way, I met a visually challenged girl who has a sweet voice and had sung many songs during the Samarthanam cultural event at Yuvanika. She being a part of Samarthanam was so excited about Walkathon and started telling about her previous experiences at Walkathon 2006 and 2007 when I started talking to her. And when I met Mahanthesh Sir, he was so enthusiastic about the whole event and the arrangements.
So my experience as a whole was great. Hope we have achieved the purpose behind the event and also made an impact on a small portion of the society.
iVolunteer volunteer Krishna Tadepalli (Part 1)
Good morning rather good afternoon :) :P to everybody after a great event :)… It was great to see you all there.
Why can’t we have an iVolunteer song? When I was in 8th class, I attended a Republic Day Camp as an NCC cadet in Secunderabad. We used to sing NCC song (Hum sab Bharatiye Hain) with full enthu during dinner:). I still remember that josh we had when we sung itJ. Why can’t we write and sing an iVolunteer song??? (During such events???) New iVolunteerians can learn the song in the Orientation session. We can even sing this during our meetings (as an anthem) etc., :) If anyone sharpens his / her wits and pen down one song, I’m here to tune it :)
Not to forget our slogans… Our songs and all… One of the most memorable events in my life :) Hoping loads of similar such events in store, and awaiting iVolunteer song’s script for one for you guys :)
iVolunteer Star volunteer Krishna Tadepalli (Part 2J a brief descriptionJ)
Good morning to you all again. A page from my wonderful life – Walk-a-thon day.
Day started with a teek-teek teek-teek from my mobile @ 4.00 am. Thought to snooze the alarm, and saw “2 new messages”. Wondering where they’re from, I opened them and they read – “Get your id cards and be there by sharp eleven” and “Get candles as well…” timed 1:24 and 1:56 am respectively. Gosh!!!! Never seen a human being working round the day (literally) with same enthu – I thought. Did my daily rituals and started to kanteerava stadium by 1000am. Took some candles and called Amit on my way “Amit start hua ya nahee??” replied “starting in another 20 min yar!!!”
11:05 am reached entrance of kanteerava stadium… let me see how things are going on!!! To my astonishment none from iVol came… He he he I’m the first to reach :)… Everybody assembled and after good round of introductions – a slight confusion where to start. Rashmi and Prarthana started collecting iVol registration forms. Why can’t we have a small plan laid up? All the volunteers have the xlsheet. Why didn’t we ask all of them to bring a hard copy of it? Why to rework again? Let me mark this as learning and now do what ever possible from my side. Somebody came from Samarthanam and told they want some volunteers for Signature campaign. OK let me do that. All of us went inside discussing what to do to pay homage to the victims and Martyrs. Took some pix and started for signature campaign. After some time heard a voice “Krishna keep this money too with you – Make a wish foundation’s registrations” Its Rashmi’s. Again another voice “Krishna do u want to go to the care taking team? You need to help our spl guests in having their lunch” It’s Prarthana. Thought OK and headed there. It was wonderful handling different things simultaneously. Explaining the objective of the campaign to IBMR students and others – taking the volunteer’s work while they’re signing – helping our beloved guests. Oh man!! I can handle several things at a time!!
2:30 and all the iVols assembled at the registration desk. Again bit confusion. Where to give my reg forms?? OK let me write down the registered names of various NGOs. Same thought – Why rework?? Collected T-shirts, caps and headed towards the centre stage.
After practicing the song to be sung, we reached the sands. I took a small sand leveler, leveled the sand and started writing HEROES. iVol ppl put up the candles. On the stage – Sung the song and volunteers started lighting up the candles. I felt elated while singing the song. After a very very long time, I’m performing again on the stage. Good. After taking some pictures of our beautifully written HEROES and tri colored balloons, we opened our iVol banner and started forming line. Out of the blues, WE’RE SHOWING PATH TO OTHERS!!! Great. With slogans, patriotic songs, we completed the Walk-a-thon successfully. Another pix session. Oh God, am tired!! How can people like Prarthana and Ankur are still so much energetic? May be they’re blessed with eternal energy to show path for all the volunteers so that we can also be a part of the change!
Performances from our special abled guests started. AWESOME ones!!! Dance performance and singing!!!
Amit and I decided to start back to home and met a guy Vishwanath on our way. He was at the Samarthanam stall at the gate 4 of the stadium. He is visually impaired and work for Samarthanam as a COMPUTER FACULTY!!! He asked “Can you give me some water?” We went back to the centre court and searched for a glass of water in vain L What Can’t I give him a glass of water atleast? Looking around, I found an audience with a bottle of water. After having that, Vishwanath asked me “Can you do me a fovour? Can you please drop me at the bus stand? So that I can get a bus to Srinagar?” Good God why not!
This walk of 1 or 2 KM is the actual Walk-a-thon event of the day for me. We talked all about life, traffic, Samarthanam and on and on! When asked how your work is – he says ' I am enjoying it'. Oh man! How many of us think like that?? I wondered.
Guys bear with me for such a long mail!! :) It was a great event and just wanted to share my stream of thoughts there. I also have a madness to write long mails… Event is so joyful and wonderful! I cannot forget this!
Yesterday, I went to Samarthanam to dump some lesson recordings. I met Chandrasekhar – stall committee incharge, the one who danced and others. One great thing with them is. The moment they hear your voice they’ll wish a great moment and will ask “what can we do?” or “Have you come for something?” etc., They will respect other’s time and theirs. They will give importance to work. :)
Better I stop here!!!! Again don’t curse me for long mail… hehehehe
iVolunteer volunteer Jayasree Jayaprakash (who shares views of few dignitaries as wellJ):
It’s always been a great experience to be a part of Walkathon. This year also it was very wonderful to be a part of this event which has a very insightful concept behind it. The concept is to create a difference less society, breaking all the barriers that’s assumed to exist for the differently abled and show that this world is same for all!!
Here is view of Nagasekar, Kannada Actor and Director, Aramane:
I was traumatised by the series of events that happened in Mumbai. After seeing it repeatedly on TV I was feeling that I have not done anything from my side. But participating in Walkathon gave me a sense of satisfaction of being able to pay my homage to the Martyrs and all those who laid down their lives to save our nation. Thanks to Walkathon. It was nice walking with the kids and I look forward to be a part of it every year.
View of Shiranagara Kitty, Kannada Actor, Inthi ninna prithiya , Janumatha gelluthi:
This is the second year I am coming here. I feel very happy to be a part of this event. And I enjoy every moment of it. I pray for the welfare of this children and I shall be a part of this every year.
iVolunteer new volunteer Amit Ranjan Sahu:
It was a great experience to be part of an event for a noble cause. For me, the most touching part was after the event got over. While we were returning back, we met a visually impaired person who had to go to Srinagara. Krishna held his hand and guided him from Kanteerava stadium to Corporation bus stop. That 1km walk really gave us an insight about how difficult life can be in such cases. The person is married, has a kid, works as a faculty in Samarthanam, earns 5000 bucks and when he is asked how is your work he says ' I am Enjoying '. I have asked this question to many of my friends in IT and have never got an enthusiastic reply like the one he gave me.
And the energy level of the group was mind blowing. Like Harsh said that the energy each person produces can light a whole city for 7 days.
Thanks for giving me a chance to be a part of this event.
iVolunteer star volunteer Ashalatha Shetty:
That was a wonderful Saturday... I reached the stadium at 1 with Chandra and Tarangini. I signed for the signature campaign then I collected the AB (additional benefits) for the 66 forms that I had sold (I was able to collect Rs 24,100 ;))
I guided some of the visually challenged students to have their lunch. Then we practised the song with Parthana. It was an apt song for the situation. Thanks to Prarthu for selecting such a good song for the occasion. I became very emotional singing that song(chorus)! A heartfelt salute to the HEROES of Mumbai attack! Then started the much awaited walkathon.. with the NCC cadets leading us we were all enjoying the walk .. J And the slogans were amazing! some of them even reminded me of independence day celebration J
The event ended with the superb performances by the Samarathanam Students. That was inspiring as we with all the abilities could not have performed so well. They truly celebrated their day by dancing singing and enjoying themselves :) Finally not to forget the interaction with Vivek (IBMR student) for snacks. J
It was a nice day altogether.. Thanks to Prarthu and all volunteers :)
iVolunteer volunteer Harsh Surana:
An event like that is usually associated with beliefs, determination and desire to bring about a change and that was clearly reflecting in the walkathon held last sunday.
One of things that I couldn’t help noticing was the enthusiasm in everyone. Everybody seemed so determined for the moment to see themselves promoting a cause. If we hold that sort of thought in our mind everyday, Imagine the kind of Magic we could create in this world.
The event can easily be reflected back as a successful one and would give the entire credit to Samarthanam to promote such a cause. I have always believed that there is a component of individual responsibility in individual success, but society had a responsibility to give people the tool as they need to succeed. I felt that event was a tool to succeed.
Hoping to see many more events in the future and being a part of it.
I congratulate Samarthanam & iVolunteer in their splendid efforts to have been able to successfully host this event and to have got many participants and future donors as well.
Thanks
iVolunteer volunteer Shilpa:
Thank you Prarthana. It was indeed a very good event. Hope to be a part of many more such events.
iVolunteer volunteer Hema Madhuri:
It was a very nice opportunity to be part of such an event. Wish to be part of many such events.
Last but not the least iVolunteer Bangalore centre head Ankur Pahariya:
Ever since my college days I had this desire of being a part of an event like a Marathon or a Walkathon , which for various reasons never got fulfilled. So when Walkathon 2008 hosted by Samarthanam Trust came along and iVolunteer got into a partnership with them I got that extra Byte of motivation(which was probably missing all along) to participate. Moreover it boded well for me that it was only a three-and-half kilometres walk as it not only gave me the confidence to complete it but also an opportunity to derive a sense of accomplishment from doing the same.:):):)While the build up to the Walkathon day was very exciting and involving for us as a partner Organisation( attracting registrations, devising strategies for a better reach out to potential participants etc etc ), the day itself left behind a lot of sweet memories which I will cherish and not forget for years to come. It all started at around 11:30 on 6th of December when we reached the venue (Kantereeva stadium teeming with constantly swelling scores of participants which in itself was awe-inspiring) and got involved in sorting out the finances with the assistance of a bunch of very interesting and dedicated iVolunteers. Having done that with a little bit of hiccups here and there but nonetheless successfully (in about two-and-half hours) we moved on to a very touching and emotional actitivty which involved lighting candles as a mark of respect for the people who died fighting valiantly in the recent terror attacks in Mumbai. This was preceded by a very mellifluous rendition of the song "Itni Shakti hamein dena daata....." again as a tribute to the fighters by Prarthana and Co and observance of a minute's silence by the entire House. While all the pre-walk activities with a few iVolunteers were very exciting the actual walk with them was nothing short of an all expenses-paid trip to Switzerland.:):). Throughout the walk we kept on raising slogans and singing songs at the top of our voice with an unmatchable and infectious level of enthusiasm. While a few slogans were patriotic in nature a few of them aimed at spreading awareness about iVolunteer.All these made up for something which couldn't have been more exciting and enjoyable. As everything was a "first" for me it gave me the feeling of a special pride and achievement at the same time. The walk lasted for about two-and half hours but its impressions I believe would last a million times longer.
Hope you all enjoyed reading and made up your mind to be part of many such events. Thanks again to everyone!!! Keep the great work going with full josh and energy…
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!” Ready for a rural assignment???
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 08 December 2008 02:32To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'kilikili_volunteers@googlegroups.com'Cc: 'mahantesh'; 'bineesh@samarthanam.org'; 'mamatha@samarthanam.org'Subject: Thank you very much -- Homage to the victims and Martyrs + Walkathon!!!
Hi there,
We all had a wonderful time at the Great Walkathon 2008, where we were at one end feeling happy for “Walking for a cause” and at other end felt proud to be “Indians” as we were walking with slogans like Jai Hind, Vande Mataram, Bharat mata ki jai and few national songs and of course felt proud to be a volunteer as were also walking with slogans like I Volunteer Do you… Yesss!!! iVolunteer Samarthanam rocks, Hip Hip Hurray!!! And so on and on for almost 3-4 kms. Before the start of Walkathon we did pay tribute, salute and homage to Martyrs and victims of terrorist attacks by a song and candle lighting and a minute silence for gratefulness of Martyrs. The few candles lighted were displaying “HEROES” Thanks to ideas of few volunteers to have put heroes and light the candles accordingly. And of course how could the event get over without the performance by Samarthanam students… They just rocked the floor.
Over all it was a great event and I thank each and every member who made this event a grand success by being part of it… Special thanks to our iVolunteer volunteers who were present for the event and were actively involved past few days to get people register and got around 250 registrations, were part of different committees wherever needed and ya were able to accompany me for devotional/national song at a short notice of 20 mins for paying homage and simply made the event a grand success by being part of it with full enthu. And ya special thanks to NCC cadets who came there at a very short notice from our end :)
Will soon share volunteer’s feedbacks and as of now cannot stop myself from sharing some memories captured, just enjoy viewing them at:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerSamarthanamWalkathon2008#
The event proves that high number of volunteers always means more growth & prosperity!!! Feel proud to be a volunteer and change lives in some or other way!!!
Enjoy maadi!!! Thank you very much again to everyone!!!
P.S: Don’t miss future events, orientations, workshops and opportunities and ya to know more about upcoming volunteer requirement join our yahoo group
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!” To know more about upcoming volunteer requirement join our yahoo group
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
Successful Women's day + Holi + Eid Special Event with Women in distress...
Hi there!!!!
We had a great and very different event last Saturday with 70 women and girls from Government Reception Center for Women and Children, which is an observation home for girls. Each one had a sad story of her own with cases like victims of all sorts of abuses, sold by their own family members, and most, serious victims of carnal instincts of some animals in the form of human beings around. Some of them haven't even come out of the shock and not socializing at all. Out of 70 girls/women we saw almost 30 of them had been in a shock state and around 10 of them had become mentally challenged to a greater extent. Some of them wake up in the middle of the night and start crying. Next day I visited the centre I saw a girl who had hit her head against the wall badly in shock state. And their families also don’t accept them after all these things. But the caretakers at this home are very good and kind to them and encourage and motivate them a lot. I am glad that although for a very short span of 3 hours we did bring some smile and change to everyone’s face in form of games, performance by way of skits, songs, dance, In Situation game (thanks to Rashmi) where every one got involved in actingJ. This was a perfect example where each volunteer utilised his/her skill and talent so well. Thank you very much for bringing smiles in a stressful life of girls… At the end of event many girls came to me and requested to come there regularly and help them come back to main stream… If someone wants to utilise their special skills like painting, singing, dancing, street plays etc over here you can come ahead and contact us…
This being an event with Government and involves destitute and girls in distress, the pictures/memories captured will be shared with volunteers who were part of event only. Request all not to miss future events and opportunities.
Few volunteer’s feedbacks:
Rashmi K.C, iVolunteer star Volunteer
It was a nice spending time with these girls, it was great and a wonderful experience. Just cant forget the amazing performance by the girls… And of course the performance by the volunteers..Karthik, Ravi, Ashok, ....etc. We had a good time by forgetting our personal and professional life for some time...at times these things are required to enjoy ourselves and also bring happiness in others life which gives us a kind of self satisfaction.
Thanks again for all the volunteers for making this a successful event.
Chandraprabha Sortur, iVolunteer star Volunteer
The event was too good. Personally I enjoyed meeting such talented children and women out there. They are very friendly. Idly vada game, drama by volunteers, singing and dancing by children was too good :). I also enjoyed playing the drama in group.All those who were there in my team were brilliant. They gave wonderful ideas to enact the drama. If they get good opportunity in future I am sure ,definitely they will rock. I would like to thank iVolunteer for arranging such a wonderful event. Hope all the children and women present there felt very happy. Prarthu, keep up the good work dear.Enjoy maadi.. :)
Ashalata R Shetty, iVolunteer star Volunteer
It was a god event..most of them enjoyed it but some of them still looked depressed..I Feel they need more of such events to keep themselves in good spirits. On the whole it was a cool event. Thanks Prarthana, for organizing this wonderful event. Along with the residents there, we (volunteers) also enjoyed a lot. Looking for more of such events.
Vijayanand Nagaraj, iVolunteer star Volunteer
Had a gr8 time @ Government reception centre, this time the event had new kinds of games which were good to see (not the same old Idle-Vada, ire in the mountain stuff).
I guess the girls also enjoyed most of the games. We could have done a something to involve all the girls (the back benchers especially)
I was glad to meet many new volunteers and was amazed by their special entertaining skills – like Ravi’s Comic clasical sangeet, Ashok and karthik’s skit, Vishnuvardhan’s dance….
Thanks to Srikanth for making the snacks arrangements in a short notice.
It was a great stress relief for me and I hope it brought a few smiles in those girls life.
Ravi Krishna, iVolunteer Volunteer
The program was indeed very good. Thanks to all.
Ashok V, iVolunteer Volunteer:
It was a moving experience to spend quality time with the girls at the govt protection centre. With minimal information about the place I was shocked to know that the center took care of girls with a sordid past and provide rehabilitation through regular counselling, teaching and vocational training. They also drive their effort in locating the parents of these children and unite them post counselling(of their parents as well). The involvement of volunteers is paramount in such an effort. The ice breakers, the tableaus, the play, songs by ravi, dance and song performances by the girls brought about a light atmosphere and added a smile on everyone's faces. What those girls need is to value their existence and have confidence in their talents and effort. They need to believe that there will be good times in their lives where they will come out in flying colours in whatever they pursue. As volunteers, we need to do more to achieve the same.
Karthik Kumar, iVolunteer Volunteer:
It was a fantastic and ammmmaaazing experience spending time with these girls today.i enjoyed it to the fullest.
All the volunteers did a great job by actively participating and making this event a memorable one. We could see the happiness on every girl's face and could easily say that our presence there actually made a difference. I was amazed by the enthusiasm & talent that these girls possessed.
All the activities were fun filled. Ravi did a great job(please teach me classical music sometime ).Thanks Ashok, for doing a great job in that small play(believe me we planned everything in about an hour and didn't rehearse---sorry if it didn't come out tat well ) .
Anyway it was a great event and thanks again and keep up the good work.
P.S : nanna hesaru Ramesha alla, nanna hesaru Karthik
Gagandeep and Gurprit, iVolunteer Volunteer:
We really enjoyed being part of this event. Thanks a lot and keep us informed of any future events.
Thanks and get set for future events!!! Enjoy volunteering because your skills can change lives.
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change liveswww.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 11 March 2009 16:19Subject: FW: Women's day + Holi + Eid Special Event with Women in distress...
FYI, Thanks
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 11 March 2009 12:39To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr'; 'kilikili_volunteers@googlegroups.com'; 'ivolunteer-asha@googlegroups.com'Subject: Women's day + Holi + Eid Special Event with Women in distress...
Helloooo Everyone,
First of all Happy belated Women’s day (A Day that is meant to appreciate those who have the biggest but quietest influence in our lives), Happy Holi (http://youthunite.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/celebrate-tilak-holi-save-water/) (http://www.123greetings.com/events/holi/happy/holi36.html) and Eid Mubarak (http://www.123greetings.com/events/eid_ul_fitr/eid_mubarak/mubarak38.html)!!!
Tired of Hectic days or Busy schedule? Why not spend two hours to be yourself and just enjoyyyyy and bring happiness and add some colours to someone life???? Here is a chance that you are getting to make your Saturday’s 2 hours memorable to you and to someone who’s always under stress?
YES! YES! YES!
WOW!!! Here is a very special event planned by iVolunteer just for you and to appreciate Women for being supportive, on Saturday morning (14th March 2009 from 10am to 12.30 pm) at the Government Reception Center for Women and Children, which is an observation home for girls (under 18). There are around 70+ of them right now. Each one has a sad story of her own. There are cases like victims of all sorts of abuses, sold by their own family members, and most, serious victims of carnal instincts of some animals in the form of human beings around us. Some of them haven't even come out of the shock and not socializing at all. It seems some wake up in the middle of the night and start crying. And their families also don’t accept them after all these things. But the caretakers at this home are very good and kind to them and encourage and motivate them a lot. We feel tired, depressed and confused just by little petty problems in our life and sometimes with no problems in life; imagine what a phase they might be undergoing???
Venue:
Government Reception centre for women and children
Near Kidwai Hospital
Dairy Circle
Bangalore
Landmark : Kidwai and Nimhans Hospital, Dairy Circle. This is at end of a road that goes in between Kidwai and Nimhans Hospital. You will find a blue board on main road, with many names, one of it being Balakara Balamandir and Government Reception centre for women and children.
Come let us spend some time with these women and entertain them with some games and snacks.
Plan as of now:
Ice Breaker – Fun filled 1 or 2 mins energisers
In situation - Give them a situation and they have to enact and the audience have to guess it
Anthakshari - We all know!!
Performance by the girls - Dance, singing, mimicry...etc
Performance by volunteers – If anyone wants toJ
We will also be distributing snacks. Looking for sponsor for snacks (Rs 1000 for snacks - for 75 -80 girls)…
More ideas welcome!!!!!
Please confirm your presence. If you are a good performer or you are good at doing energisers or games why not use your skills here and make someone who is always in stress smile for a while…
Thanks and hoping for good participation as always. Enjoy maadi, once again Eid Mubarak ho and happy and safe holi (don’t waste waterJ)
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
We had a great and very different event last Saturday with 70 women and girls from Government Reception Center for Women and Children, which is an observation home for girls. Each one had a sad story of her own with cases like victims of all sorts of abuses, sold by their own family members, and most, serious victims of carnal instincts of some animals in the form of human beings around. Some of them haven't even come out of the shock and not socializing at all. Out of 70 girls/women we saw almost 30 of them had been in a shock state and around 10 of them had become mentally challenged to a greater extent. Some of them wake up in the middle of the night and start crying. Next day I visited the centre I saw a girl who had hit her head against the wall badly in shock state. And their families also don’t accept them after all these things. But the caretakers at this home are very good and kind to them and encourage and motivate them a lot. I am glad that although for a very short span of 3 hours we did bring some smile and change to everyone’s face in form of games, performance by way of skits, songs, dance, In Situation game (thanks to Rashmi) where every one got involved in actingJ. This was a perfect example where each volunteer utilised his/her skill and talent so well. Thank you very much for bringing smiles in a stressful life of girls… At the end of event many girls came to me and requested to come there regularly and help them come back to main stream… If someone wants to utilise their special skills like painting, singing, dancing, street plays etc over here you can come ahead and contact us…
This being an event with Government and involves destitute and girls in distress, the pictures/memories captured will be shared with volunteers who were part of event only. Request all not to miss future events and opportunities.
Few volunteer’s feedbacks:
Rashmi K.C, iVolunteer star Volunteer
It was a nice spending time with these girls, it was great and a wonderful experience. Just cant forget the amazing performance by the girls… And of course the performance by the volunteers..Karthik, Ravi, Ashok, ....etc. We had a good time by forgetting our personal and professional life for some time...at times these things are required to enjoy ourselves and also bring happiness in others life which gives us a kind of self satisfaction.
Thanks again for all the volunteers for making this a successful event.
Chandraprabha Sortur, iVolunteer star Volunteer
The event was too good. Personally I enjoyed meeting such talented children and women out there. They are very friendly. Idly vada game, drama by volunteers, singing and dancing by children was too good :). I also enjoyed playing the drama in group.All those who were there in my team were brilliant. They gave wonderful ideas to enact the drama. If they get good opportunity in future I am sure ,definitely they will rock. I would like to thank iVolunteer for arranging such a wonderful event. Hope all the children and women present there felt very happy. Prarthu, keep up the good work dear.Enjoy maadi.. :)
Ashalata R Shetty, iVolunteer star Volunteer
It was a god event..most of them enjoyed it but some of them still looked depressed..I Feel they need more of such events to keep themselves in good spirits. On the whole it was a cool event. Thanks Prarthana, for organizing this wonderful event. Along with the residents there, we (volunteers) also enjoyed a lot. Looking for more of such events.
Vijayanand Nagaraj, iVolunteer star Volunteer
Had a gr8 time @ Government reception centre, this time the event had new kinds of games which were good to see (not the same old Idle-Vada, ire in the mountain stuff).
I guess the girls also enjoyed most of the games. We could have done a something to involve all the girls (the back benchers especially)
I was glad to meet many new volunteers and was amazed by their special entertaining skills – like Ravi’s Comic clasical sangeet, Ashok and karthik’s skit, Vishnuvardhan’s dance….
Thanks to Srikanth for making the snacks arrangements in a short notice.
It was a great stress relief for me and I hope it brought a few smiles in those girls life.
Ravi Krishna, iVolunteer Volunteer
The program was indeed very good. Thanks to all.
Ashok V, iVolunteer Volunteer:
It was a moving experience to spend quality time with the girls at the govt protection centre. With minimal information about the place I was shocked to know that the center took care of girls with a sordid past and provide rehabilitation through regular counselling, teaching and vocational training. They also drive their effort in locating the parents of these children and unite them post counselling(of their parents as well). The involvement of volunteers is paramount in such an effort. The ice breakers, the tableaus, the play, songs by ravi, dance and song performances by the girls brought about a light atmosphere and added a smile on everyone's faces. What those girls need is to value their existence and have confidence in their talents and effort. They need to believe that there will be good times in their lives where they will come out in flying colours in whatever they pursue. As volunteers, we need to do more to achieve the same.
Karthik Kumar, iVolunteer Volunteer:
It was a fantastic and ammmmaaazing experience spending time with these girls today.i enjoyed it to the fullest.
All the volunteers did a great job by actively participating and making this event a memorable one. We could see the happiness on every girl's face and could easily say that our presence there actually made a difference. I was amazed by the enthusiasm & talent that these girls possessed.
All the activities were fun filled. Ravi did a great job(please teach me classical music sometime ).Thanks Ashok, for doing a great job in that small play(believe me we planned everything in about an hour and didn't rehearse---sorry if it didn't come out tat well ) .
Anyway it was a great event and thanks again and keep up the good work.
P.S : nanna hesaru Ramesha alla, nanna hesaru Karthik
Gagandeep and Gurprit, iVolunteer Volunteer:
We really enjoyed being part of this event. Thanks a lot and keep us informed of any future events.
Thanks and get set for future events!!! Enjoy volunteering because your skills can change lives.
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change liveswww.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 11 March 2009 16:19Subject: FW: Women's day + Holi + Eid Special Event with Women in distress...
FYI, Thanks
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 11 March 2009 12:39To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'vconnect-blr'; 'kilikili_volunteers@googlegroups.com'; 'ivolunteer-asha@googlegroups.com'Subject: Women's day + Holi + Eid Special Event with Women in distress...
Helloooo Everyone,
First of all Happy belated Women’s day (A Day that is meant to appreciate those who have the biggest but quietest influence in our lives), Happy Holi (http://youthunite.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/celebrate-tilak-holi-save-water/) (http://www.123greetings.com/events/holi/happy/holi36.html) and Eid Mubarak (http://www.123greetings.com/events/eid_ul_fitr/eid_mubarak/mubarak38.html)!!!
Tired of Hectic days or Busy schedule? Why not spend two hours to be yourself and just enjoyyyyy and bring happiness and add some colours to someone life???? Here is a chance that you are getting to make your Saturday’s 2 hours memorable to you and to someone who’s always under stress?
YES! YES! YES!
WOW!!! Here is a very special event planned by iVolunteer just for you and to appreciate Women for being supportive, on Saturday morning (14th March 2009 from 10am to 12.30 pm) at the Government Reception Center for Women and Children, which is an observation home for girls (under 18). There are around 70+ of them right now. Each one has a sad story of her own. There are cases like victims of all sorts of abuses, sold by their own family members, and most, serious victims of carnal instincts of some animals in the form of human beings around us. Some of them haven't even come out of the shock and not socializing at all. It seems some wake up in the middle of the night and start crying. And their families also don’t accept them after all these things. But the caretakers at this home are very good and kind to them and encourage and motivate them a lot. We feel tired, depressed and confused just by little petty problems in our life and sometimes with no problems in life; imagine what a phase they might be undergoing???
Venue:
Government Reception centre for women and children
Near Kidwai Hospital
Dairy Circle
Bangalore
Landmark : Kidwai and Nimhans Hospital, Dairy Circle. This is at end of a road that goes in between Kidwai and Nimhans Hospital. You will find a blue board on main road, with many names, one of it being Balakara Balamandir and Government Reception centre for women and children.
Come let us spend some time with these women and entertain them with some games and snacks.
Plan as of now:
Ice Breaker – Fun filled 1 or 2 mins energisers
In situation - Give them a situation and they have to enact and the audience have to guess it
Anthakshari - We all know!!
Performance by the girls - Dance, singing, mimicry...etc
Performance by volunteers – If anyone wants toJ
We will also be distributing snacks. Looking for sponsor for snacks (Rs 1000 for snacks - for 75 -80 girls)…
More ideas welcome!!!!!
Please confirm your presence. If you are a good performer or you are good at doing energisers or games why not use your skills here and make someone who is always in stress smile for a while…
Thanks and hoping for good participation as always. Enjoy maadi, once again Eid Mubarak ho and happy and safe holi (don’t waste waterJ)
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Urban Volunteering vs. Rural Volunteering - My experience!!!
Hi there!!!
iVolunteer in partnership with VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) had organised a Study tour for 6 Srilankan participants (from NGO’s working in areas of disabilities) on National Volunteering/Community volunteering followed by a Volunteer management workshop which was open for all and we had around 25 participants for the same. I got a wonderful opportunity to lead this project. I had a great knowledgable learning through this. Thought to share my experience with you all…
After the project got decided I gave a previsit to APD’s rural NGO in Kamathampalli in Chintamani taluk (Kolar) I was amazed by the wonderful work that is being done in rural India. Past 2 and half years I have been working closely on urban projects and this was my first Rural project.
Just to brief about place we visited in rural area:
Rural APD supports 5000 disabled people from 250 villages with 42 staff members and support from peer groups and parents of special children, through seven programmes viz.:
People organisation group/Advocacy programme
CBR – Community based rehabilitation
ICDS – Deaf Education
Motivation – Spinal Cord injury + Wheel chair project (tie up with a Srilankan NGO named Motivation)
Training and Employment – Career guidance and placement
Mental Health
Fund raising
We started our study tour by visiting an Urban NGO (Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled) where we got to know in brief about the organisation and various volunteering opportunities. This was follwed by the rural visit where we visited organisations, did school visits, home visits and also attended meetings. There is soooo much of work being done at both places, so much of difference between how we work here in cities and over there in rural India. They have specific dates fixed for specific meetings (like parents meeting, TDF- Taluk Disability Federation meeting etc etc) every month and they follow it up every month without any change in plan. We got a chance to be part of few of them as the dates coincided with our visit there. Got a chance to see how they are trying to bring awareness amongst the general public by doing home to home visit and follow ups. Also trying to resolve the problems of ground level by having Panachayat meeting then TDF meetings and if nt resoved at this stage having DDF ( District Disability Federation meeting) by actually inviting the concerned Government officials for their meetings. They work towards resolving problems as a group, Eg.: there was a case where the disabled gets Rs 125 as PF every month but the post man used to give them in hand Rs 100/- only reason being balance he needs for his travel. After discussing the same in meetings they approached the post master where again the problem wasn’t taken care of. Imagine 5,000 disabled in a village going through this problem, finally they put an article in paper and brought awareness to others as well and today everything is working well with actual money in their handJ Other case where a a disabled student wasn’t getting admission in college because he couldn’t climb the starecases and his class was on first floor. Finally after follow up and with frequent requests to principal, today he is pursuing his further studies, with class being shifted to ground floor.
I was surprised to notice the way people Volunteer here and there is totally different, here we come out of our own willingness to bring a change without any expectations in return like eg. Providing reader’s service to visually challenged in our free time, but there we see parents of affected children coming ahead to volunteer, because they have seen the change in their child. Villagers feel good about the work but when it comes to volunteering you see only the relatives and family of beneficiaries and no one else. Training is given on severe disabilities, physiotheraphy, awareness building etc to all parents and also beneficiaries who in turn they go and volunteer. Simple little techniques on how to best utilise the available resources and make a 100% disabled child to reduce his/her disability is what I have actually observed there. Eg.: You may see how this fully challenged girl is now able to walk using the simple bamboo and wooden pillars:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268404435483777714
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268404460122284050
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268404912652809938
I have seen how well inclusiveness has been working there. During home visits, volunteers bring awareness on inclusiveness and making special kids join the government school.
Check these examples of physically challenged, visually impaired and hearing impaired child being part of schools:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268401779128188274
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268402730168302674
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268401075720137842
And along with this child other kids learn basic sign language to communicate with him. They are given sign language class once in a week on every Friday.
Lots to share, lots of things going on, lots is being done, lots can be done… Even we can go there from cities for atleast few days and train them in spoken English and awareness building, because an outsider coming from urban area will have more impact, so my mail has also given you a volunteering opportunityJ At iVolunteer we have rural project called iVolunteer India Fellow Professional, if you are willing to be part of it by using your qualifications and skills you may email to professional@ivolunteer.in. I here by conclude my email with the wonderful snaps links which you may enjoy viewing:
Pre visit:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/RuralAPD#
Study tour:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#
Volunteer management workshop:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/InternationalVolunteerManagementWorkshop#
Special Thanks to VSO for partnering with us for this project and to each and every staff member of Association of people with disability (APD) and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled for making this study tour a suceess full of learning and fun for everyone.
Thanks and enjoy maadi!!!
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
iVolunteer in partnership with VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) had organised a Study tour for 6 Srilankan participants (from NGO’s working in areas of disabilities) on National Volunteering/Community volunteering followed by a Volunteer management workshop which was open for all and we had around 25 participants for the same. I got a wonderful opportunity to lead this project. I had a great knowledgable learning through this. Thought to share my experience with you all…
After the project got decided I gave a previsit to APD’s rural NGO in Kamathampalli in Chintamani taluk (Kolar) I was amazed by the wonderful work that is being done in rural India. Past 2 and half years I have been working closely on urban projects and this was my first Rural project.
Just to brief about place we visited in rural area:
Rural APD supports 5000 disabled people from 250 villages with 42 staff members and support from peer groups and parents of special children, through seven programmes viz.:
People organisation group/Advocacy programme
CBR – Community based rehabilitation
ICDS – Deaf Education
Motivation – Spinal Cord injury + Wheel chair project (tie up with a Srilankan NGO named Motivation)
Training and Employment – Career guidance and placement
Mental Health
Fund raising
We started our study tour by visiting an Urban NGO (Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled) where we got to know in brief about the organisation and various volunteering opportunities. This was follwed by the rural visit where we visited organisations, did school visits, home visits and also attended meetings. There is soooo much of work being done at both places, so much of difference between how we work here in cities and over there in rural India. They have specific dates fixed for specific meetings (like parents meeting, TDF- Taluk Disability Federation meeting etc etc) every month and they follow it up every month without any change in plan. We got a chance to be part of few of them as the dates coincided with our visit there. Got a chance to see how they are trying to bring awareness amongst the general public by doing home to home visit and follow ups. Also trying to resolve the problems of ground level by having Panachayat meeting then TDF meetings and if nt resoved at this stage having DDF ( District Disability Federation meeting) by actually inviting the concerned Government officials for their meetings. They work towards resolving problems as a group, Eg.: there was a case where the disabled gets Rs 125 as PF every month but the post man used to give them in hand Rs 100/- only reason being balance he needs for his travel. After discussing the same in meetings they approached the post master where again the problem wasn’t taken care of. Imagine 5,000 disabled in a village going through this problem, finally they put an article in paper and brought awareness to others as well and today everything is working well with actual money in their handJ Other case where a a disabled student wasn’t getting admission in college because he couldn’t climb the starecases and his class was on first floor. Finally after follow up and with frequent requests to principal, today he is pursuing his further studies, with class being shifted to ground floor.
I was surprised to notice the way people Volunteer here and there is totally different, here we come out of our own willingness to bring a change without any expectations in return like eg. Providing reader’s service to visually challenged in our free time, but there we see parents of affected children coming ahead to volunteer, because they have seen the change in their child. Villagers feel good about the work but when it comes to volunteering you see only the relatives and family of beneficiaries and no one else. Training is given on severe disabilities, physiotheraphy, awareness building etc to all parents and also beneficiaries who in turn they go and volunteer. Simple little techniques on how to best utilise the available resources and make a 100% disabled child to reduce his/her disability is what I have actually observed there. Eg.: You may see how this fully challenged girl is now able to walk using the simple bamboo and wooden pillars:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268404435483777714
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268404460122284050
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268404912652809938
I have seen how well inclusiveness has been working there. During home visits, volunteers bring awareness on inclusiveness and making special kids join the government school.
Check these examples of physically challenged, visually impaired and hearing impaired child being part of schools:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268401779128188274
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268402730168302674
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#5268401075720137842
And along with this child other kids learn basic sign language to communicate with him. They are given sign language class once in a week on every Friday.
Lots to share, lots of things going on, lots is being done, lots can be done… Even we can go there from cities for atleast few days and train them in spoken English and awareness building, because an outsider coming from urban area will have more impact, so my mail has also given you a volunteering opportunityJ At iVolunteer we have rural project called iVolunteer India Fellow Professional, if you are willing to be part of it by using your qualifications and skills you may email to professional@ivolunteer.in. I here by conclude my email with the wonderful snaps links which you may enjoy viewing:
Pre visit:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/RuralAPD#
Study tour:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/IVolunteerVSOStudyTourRuralvisit#
Volunteer management workshop:
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/InternationalVolunteerManagementWorkshop#
Special Thanks to VSO for partnering with us for this project and to each and every staff member of Association of people with disability (APD) and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled for making this study tour a suceess full of learning and fun for everyone.
Thanks and enjoy maadi!!!
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer -- Your skills can change lives.www.iVolunteer.in
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
No. 384, 6th Cross, 18th ‘E’ Main,
6th Block, Koramangala,
Bangalore - 560 095
Tel: +91-080-41466568
Cell: +91-99803 50180
A super cool unique hatke event where beneficiaries were befactors!!!!
Hi there,
Curious to read feedbacks and see more snaps of the event where beneficiaries did super cool volunteering???? Check this out, please request you to take sometime out and read it!!! It really moved me when I read all the feedbacks, especially when I read how the event has inspired the Special volunteers. Their thoughts on event has inspired me to do more such events in coming future. I really am feeling great to have coordinated this hatke event with everyone’s support. Thank you all, keep rocking the voluntary world guys.
Snaps links:
http://picasaweb.google.com/qhayyum99/Omashram (as shared by volunteer Abdul Qhayyum)
http://picasaweb.google.com/qhayyum99/HolyFamilyHomeForTheAged (snaps of last event at Holy Home for aged)
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/ASuperCoolUniqueHatkeEvent# (updated from volunteer Sunaina’s camera tooJ)
http://picasaweb.google.com/ivolunteerbangalore (past event snaps)
Feedbacks time:
Organisation’s feedback:
Anuradha, Head Mistress, APD school:
It was wonderful experience for our trainees. Trainees were jumping with joy because they volunteered! Thanks a lot to all the volunteers for making this as memorable event
Geeta Shankar, Managing Trustee, Om Ashram:
Thank you very much for organising such a lovely event at Omashram. The staff and residents were extremely touched by the interaction of the students of APD and all the visitors present there.
I would also like to congratulate the team of volunteers who have taken so much pain to coordinate and make the event enjoyable and successful. We wish to have many more gatherings like this!!!!!!!! Where the residents of Omashram are made to feel happy and are convinced that there are many more persons like them who are happy and can spread happiness around themselves in spite of any disabilities whatsoever!!!!!!!!! It was a magical event.. Changed the faces of one and all.... Thanks to the entire team of iVolunteer... Omashram had a great day, in fact almost, a day filled with variety entertainment!!!!!!!!! Blessings from all the elders at Omashram to all of you. God bless you.
Ankur, iVolunteer, Volunteer Relationship Executive
"Well it doesn't really happen too often. How many times does a person in need of assistance himself extends his hand to help out others? None that I can recall. This fantastic, bright and immensely innovative idea of letting a bunch of hearing impaired Diploma students (from APD) spend quality time with the elderly inmates of OM Ashram was boiling over in our very own Prarthana's mind since a long time. And when it actually took shape on 4th October it turned out to be something which went way beyond our expectations in terms of the happiness and satisfaction that it evidently provided to the participants.
It has left an indelible impression on my mind also and I shall always cherish it as my first tryst with something so unique.
Kudos to Prarthana for the idea!!!!!"
Abhijit, Asst. Director, Institutional Development, APD,
I believe it was a really touching and memorable exposure. You are enjoying what you are doing. That gives energy. Great!!!
Volunteer’s feedback:
Abdul Qhayyum, iVolunteer Volunteer:
It was great experience at Om ashram with APD students, People with out speech have so much to tell and they could tell it with there actions. Felt very happy and Enjoyed those small skits which were done with such perfection, it was an amazing experience. This event could be considered as among best events of the year. This was a great start for this month, hope many more events to follow..
Sunaina, iVolunteer Volunteer:
Super Hatke Sunday:
Event: iVolunteers along with special volunteers (hearing impaired children) spent a few hours at Om ashram - an old age home...
Saturday October 4th 2008 was really special. I was really anxious and excited at the same time to take part in this event. It was a nice long ride to Om ashram, though I did go in circles before I actually found the place. All the volunteers reached at the same time. We were all asked to assemble in the hall and the deaf children were made to sit down... The children were so happy. There was so much joy on all their faces. Looking at them, one can never tell that they are deaf.
The event started off with each one of us introducing ourselves. The children were the ones to begin, they used the sign language to spell out their names. And apart from their real names they had a sign name which I thought was pretty cool. Then it was our turn to introduce ourselves. The children were really creative to help us come up with our sign names. Prarthana introduced Geetha(trustee of Om Ashram) and the other members of the old age home. Thus everyone had two names by the end of the day - a real name and a sign name...
After a round of introduction, we set out in groups of three to explore the ashram. There are 3 rooms in the ashram with 3 oldies in each room. Something about old people makes me sad. I have seen both my grandfathers die in front of my eyes and every time I look at any oldie sick it reminds me of that moment. So I normally try to stay away from old people. But the children were so excited to see them and they did everything that they could to bring a smile on their faces. I could see all the oldies smile with genuine happiness. Some of them sat next to the oldies and tried to talk to them in their own sweet way. One of the children massaged an old sick lady and she smiled. That smile lit up everyone’s face. And another lady living in the ashram moved with her hands because her waist down has no feeling. She crawled towards the hall and sat in one corner. Geetha told me her story and asked me to go talk to her. I was a little hesitant, but I mustered courage and walked towards her. I just spoke 2 sentences and that made her smile. I felt great at that moment. 2 simple sentences of mine can bring so much happiness in ones life. WOW.
We brought a few oldies to the living room and all the children presented a few skits for us. They were so excited to perform for all of us. They are super talented I must say. We also had a magic show organized for the kids. Few of us blew balloons and the entire hall was bustling with so much energy and colour. We also learnt a new way to clap. (Lift your hands and move your fingers in a bye-bye wave motion) There were loads of cheers and claps. Every single soul in that room was happy...Of course there was food: samosa's, sweets, biscuits and juice. yummy for the tummy... We all ate away happily...
Last but not the least - Photo session... A truly unforgettable experience...
I would like to thank Prarthana for organizing this wonderful special event. As I said before you are truly an angel ever-smiling....
Stay that way and would love to be a part of many more events to come... Thank you Geetha - you are an angel tooo...
One last thing I would like to add - Imagine spending one day without any sound. Most of us can’t sleep if the fan is off. We are so used to sound of the fan. Ha!!! These children live everyday without sound. But they are always smiling and looking at them makes you smile. There's more to life than what you see... Stay happy and Keep smiling ;)
And if you thought you can’t make a difference, think again... If one smile can bring happiness to an old woman whom I have never met, I am sure you can do more... So spread the joy and smile away....
Abhiranjan Sethi, iVolunteer Volunteer:
Since I was volunteering for the first time, I was a bit skeptical and nervous on what to do. However the enthusiasm of the special children, inspired me a lot. I am much more confident and enthusiastic now to work for the needy.
It also opened my eyes to the multifaceted abilities of the special children. Although they may look to have some form of deficiency, but I felt they are much more talented then many able bodied people.
Reshma, iVolunteer Volunteer:
It was my pleasure that I was able to attend the event and share my joy with all. It was really a superb event. Let God bless us all for making more events like this andfor overall social development of the country.
Archana V Kumar, iVolunteer Star Volunteer:
It was a great event with APD students at Omashram. It was an innovative concept that worked well. I visit Omashram every week and this time it was much more fun and learning with so many volunteers with lots of activities, watching dramas, magic shows and interactions with APD students.
When we all were watching the drama and magic show, it looked like a whole big family sitting together and having fun, just like it happens at home. I met Geetha Shankar for the first time. I was amazed to see her get along so well with everyone around her, her passion for a cause and the way she enjoys doing things at Omashram. I was also happy to see the founder of Omashram. The article from the blog that was circulated was great and very informative.
I also loved interacting with the APD students when I was trying to explain to them about a few inmates of Omashram. And I thank Anupama for helping me communicate with everyone. And when I introduced them to Sethamma and when she sang, all were amazed to hear her song. When I introduced a few of them from APD to Telugu speaking inmates, they started conversations with them. And when I asked the inmates, they said they felt homely interacting with them in Telugu. The students from APD have really made a difference to many inmates. When I started telling them about one of the inmates who was not being taken care of and rejected by the son and her health problems, I could understand the expressions of APD students and I also saw them discussing with each other, the problems the elderly face. Seeing so many students, one of the inmates started remembering her family, her childhood days and started crying. However she became ok when a few of us consoled her, told her that all the ones present there were her kids after which she got ready for a photo of hers with a smile.
I also appreciate the volunteers from APD for all the good work and for making the environment at Omashram so lively. And also for representing my name in a unique way. Prarthana, you too did a good job through all those interpretation, trying to fill up the communication gap.
It was great to see how different organizations working for different causes but with a common idea to serve humanity, like Omashram and APD in this case, can support each other and synergize.
Asha, iVolunteer Star Volunteer:
It was a very different and an amazing event with elderly and special students of APD in Omashram on Saturday. I had been to many one time events but this one was very unique as the volunteers who joined were very special. We spent 4-5 hrs of quality time out there interacting with both the special groups. It was a great moment to see the special students perform for the elderly people (of course for volunteers as well) At the end of the event both the students and the elderly were happy to have done something different. and I must thank the students of APD for teaching me alphabets in sign language ;) I was trying to communicate with them in their language :))) I thank Prarthana for arranging such a special event and also Geetha for her support. Looking forward to be part of more of such events... Thanks to all the volunteers who made special by their presence.
Chandraprabha, iVolunteer Star Volunteer:
I really felt very happy. That was a great and different event where special children took part as volunteers. Even though they are special from all of us they took the responsibility of coming to Old age home and making the event special. This is the best example for " Communication is not a barrier for social service”, where they proved that language is not important instead the willingness to serve our society is important.
In this event we not only enjoyed but learnt the sign language. :) Each moment was filled with enjoyment starting from introduction till magic show, giving particular sign to each person.. I got FAIR as my sign from Fathima:) She was so cute.
All those students performed really well in front of so many people this shows they are brave and intelligent. All grandmas and grandpas felt very happy when we told them that special students have come to meet them...
Thanks to iVolunteer and special thanks to you and Geeta Shankar for organising this special event. I truly enjoyed the event . Would like to be a part of such event in future too...
Finally here is what everyone including all our volunteers who were part of event are willing to read. Yes our Special Volunteers (the beneficiaries turning to be benefactors) feedbacks (as shared by them with Anuradha):
v It was a wonder full experience where we were volunteering!
v We always receive volunteering services from others this is the first time we were serving for others which was a unique experience for us
v It was heart touching moment for us when they were sharing their problems we realized most of the children left their parents because of some misunderstanding & difference in their living style which we should not do with our parents
v When we do lots of mistakes in our young age our parents will excuse us & help us to correct ourselves. But when we grown up, we forget all this & we don’t have courtesy to forget some mistake done by our parents how can we be so selfish? It was really painful for us to know how children ignore their parents. This visit has brought consciousness within ourselves that we should take care of our parents.
v We did some cultural activities which brought smile on their face; looking at them we too were very happy
v We spent time with them & we pressed their legs which made them to relax .We realized how happy we will be if we spent even little time with them how qualitative time it will become, we never knew volunteering will bring so much happiness to us.
v We would like to thank all the team members of I-Volunteer for arranging this visit.
v We were surprised to see that one granny at the age of 99 can speak well & sing with so much happiness. This has given lot of inspiration to us that despite of having disability if we wish we can achieve what we wish to be.
v When we were talking with them we realized how painful it is for the parents to live without their children .After this visit I decided that I will never do like this to my parents & I will also advice to my friends .I will never ever leave my parents alone .
v It has given immense happiness to do this kind of work .I will try to visit again & do some service here.
v We waste so much time just like that, looking at this experience I felt instead of wasting time we can do much qualitative work.
So!!! Nothing else to speak, we just wish and pray that everyone uses their skills for good cause and be the change because???? “Your skills can change lives”!!!
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer, India Web: www.ivolunteer.in
“Your skills can change lives.”
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 05 October 2008 17:02To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'vConnect-Blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'ivolunteer-asha@googlegroups.com'; 'kilikili_volunteers@googlegroups.com'; 'ivolunteerteam@yahoogroups.com'; 'invites@yahoogroups.com'Cc: 'apdblr@dataone.in'; 'abhijit'; 'anuradha bai'; 'Sravanthi Dasari'; 'Babu'; 'prema'; 'thomas v'; 'Geetha Shankar'; 'mohanpai@hotmail.com'; 'mohanpai1938@gmail.com'; 'moonshekar123@indiatimes.com'Subject: Thank you very much - A super cool unique hatke event where beneficiaries were befactors!!!!
Hi there,
Thanks a lotttt to each and every one for making this event veryyyyyyy special and memorable for everyone!!! This was the first time where beneficiaries were benefactors and we made an effort to ask the Special Students pursuing diploma at APD to act as volunteers… I am glad that every student present there performed his/her role perfectly. Right from meeting elderly to bringing smiles to everyone’s face to sharing their skills by performing skits and ek min acts to making few elderlies feel relaxed by pressing there hands and legs for few mins to being a good audience for the special magic show to giving each and everyone present there a sign nameJ… Can never forget the smile of granny who was stable and wasn’t able to move when few girls pressed her hands and legs!!! This was most unforgettable event and I’ll always cherish the memories throughout my lifetime… One thought that caught my mind was when one of the Hearing Impaired Student commented saying, “You should encourage the hearing impaired to volunteer and let us know how we can volunteer, this is the first time we saw an old age home and volunteered, all thanks to you all for taking that first step of inviting us” My heartfelt thanks to these “Special Volunteers who made everyone’s day special”
As always each and every volunteer present made the event a success by their presence, help and interactive participation all throughout… Was very worried about how everything will go, but you all did it, right from picking up our special volunteers to interacting through out to blowing balloons to being a good audience to spending time with all to bringing smiles to dropping them back safely. I must thank a lot to all 4 volunteers who began their day by picking up the students and to my surprises all those who were involved in this volunteer work had come from very far off places and must have araam se driven more than 50 kms yesterday… Also very special thanks to “Satish – The Magician” who did magical miracles and we all kept wondering what’s happening and how did he do it!!!! Right from rope magic to news paper magic to the cards magic to to to……. Thanks much to Chandrashekar who coordinated for the magic show. Also thank you sooo much to our little 6 year old volunteer Harshith and 3 year old little Rukku and the staff members of Om Ashram to have helped us in coordinating the event and staff members of APD to have helped us as well!!!!
Thank you everyone again and again… Lots more to do, so be charged up for future events!!!!
I am sure you all are eagerly waiting to read feedbacks of volunteers, especially special ones and also to see snaps!!! Plzz wait maadi for feedbacks!!! But few snaps can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/ASuperCoolUniqueHatkeEvent# To add I am also glad to share that we have done soooo many events here in Bangalore that our album space is over and I had to create a new id J You may view past event snaps at http://picasaweb.google.com/ivolunteerbangalore
You will be able to see more snaps taken by other volunteers and feedbacks sometime soon in next week!!!!
Thank you very much, take care, enjoy maadi and make an effort to change lives by using your skills!!!
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer, India Web: www.ivolunteer.in
“Your skills can change lives.”
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 01 October 2008 02:04To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'vConnect-Blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'ivolunteer-asha@googlegroups.com'; 'vConnect-Blr@yahoogroups.com'Cc: 'apdblr@dataone.in'; 'abhijit'; 'anuradha bai'; 'Sravanthi Dasari'; 'Babu'; 'prema'; 'thomas v'; 'Geetha Shankar'; 'mohanpai@hotmail.com'; 'mohanpai1938@gmail.com'Subject: A super cool unique hatke event awaits you this Saturday morning!!!
Hi there,
Gooooood Morning!!!!
Want to be part of a super cool unique hatke event? Want to be part of an event where beneficiaries will act as volunteers???? Surprised???
Yes !!! you read it right, yesterday’s beneficiaries will be today’s volunteers!!! J
Here is an unique event planned this Saturday for a group of our very special volunteers who are Diploma Students (who are hearing impaired) of APD (The Association Of People With Disability) and have shown their willingness to spend time at a Old Age Care with the elderly inmates… So here we go…. No. of students will be announced shortly… But as of now the plan is – Diploma Students + 1 or 2 faculty member and few volunteers accompanying them will leave APD by sharp 8 AM and reach Ayyappa Temple in Vijaya Bank Colony by 9.15 am max… OM Ashram, an old age care with 2 units consisting of 25 members is walking distance from there. So all will walk together to Om Ashram and spend time with elderly there for around 2 hours atleast!!!
This will be the first time these very special volunteers will visit an Old Age Home… Make their experience memorable by your presence and innovative ideas…
You have 2 days in hand, so come out with some hatke ideas on how to make this event a super success… Also confirm your presence at both places or atleast at 1 place i.e. Old age care where you’ll meet everyone. There is no availibility of organisation bus on 4th, so the students will be coming by BMTC public transport… If few 4 wheeler volunteers wanna plan up on the mode of transport and assit the students reaching to Old age home, you are most welcomeJ
Awaiting gooooood responses!!! Letzzz enjoyyyyy maadi and rock maadi the event!!! Get set goooo!!!!!
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer, India Web: www.ivolunteer.in
“Your skills can change lives.”
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
Curious to read feedbacks and see more snaps of the event where beneficiaries did super cool volunteering???? Check this out, please request you to take sometime out and read it!!! It really moved me when I read all the feedbacks, especially when I read how the event has inspired the Special volunteers. Their thoughts on event has inspired me to do more such events in coming future. I really am feeling great to have coordinated this hatke event with everyone’s support. Thank you all, keep rocking the voluntary world guys.
Snaps links:
http://picasaweb.google.com/qhayyum99/Omashram (as shared by volunteer Abdul Qhayyum)
http://picasaweb.google.com/qhayyum99/HolyFamilyHomeForTheAged (snaps of last event at Holy Home for aged)
http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/ASuperCoolUniqueHatkeEvent# (updated from volunteer Sunaina’s camera tooJ)
http://picasaweb.google.com/ivolunteerbangalore (past event snaps)
Feedbacks time:
Organisation’s feedback:
Anuradha, Head Mistress, APD school:
It was wonderful experience for our trainees. Trainees were jumping with joy because they volunteered! Thanks a lot to all the volunteers for making this as memorable event
Geeta Shankar, Managing Trustee, Om Ashram:
Thank you very much for organising such a lovely event at Omashram. The staff and residents were extremely touched by the interaction of the students of APD and all the visitors present there.
I would also like to congratulate the team of volunteers who have taken so much pain to coordinate and make the event enjoyable and successful. We wish to have many more gatherings like this!!!!!!!! Where the residents of Omashram are made to feel happy and are convinced that there are many more persons like them who are happy and can spread happiness around themselves in spite of any disabilities whatsoever!!!!!!!!! It was a magical event.. Changed the faces of one and all.... Thanks to the entire team of iVolunteer... Omashram had a great day, in fact almost, a day filled with variety entertainment!!!!!!!!! Blessings from all the elders at Omashram to all of you. God bless you.
Ankur, iVolunteer, Volunteer Relationship Executive
"Well it doesn't really happen too often. How many times does a person in need of assistance himself extends his hand to help out others? None that I can recall. This fantastic, bright and immensely innovative idea of letting a bunch of hearing impaired Diploma students (from APD) spend quality time with the elderly inmates of OM Ashram was boiling over in our very own Prarthana's mind since a long time. And when it actually took shape on 4th October it turned out to be something which went way beyond our expectations in terms of the happiness and satisfaction that it evidently provided to the participants.
It has left an indelible impression on my mind also and I shall always cherish it as my first tryst with something so unique.
Kudos to Prarthana for the idea!!!!!"
Abhijit, Asst. Director, Institutional Development, APD,
I believe it was a really touching and memorable exposure. You are enjoying what you are doing. That gives energy. Great!!!
Volunteer’s feedback:
Abdul Qhayyum, iVolunteer Volunteer:
It was great experience at Om ashram with APD students, People with out speech have so much to tell and they could tell it with there actions. Felt very happy and Enjoyed those small skits which were done with such perfection, it was an amazing experience. This event could be considered as among best events of the year. This was a great start for this month, hope many more events to follow..
Sunaina, iVolunteer Volunteer:
Super Hatke Sunday:
Event: iVolunteers along with special volunteers (hearing impaired children) spent a few hours at Om ashram - an old age home...
Saturday October 4th 2008 was really special. I was really anxious and excited at the same time to take part in this event. It was a nice long ride to Om ashram, though I did go in circles before I actually found the place. All the volunteers reached at the same time. We were all asked to assemble in the hall and the deaf children were made to sit down... The children were so happy. There was so much joy on all their faces. Looking at them, one can never tell that they are deaf.
The event started off with each one of us introducing ourselves. The children were the ones to begin, they used the sign language to spell out their names. And apart from their real names they had a sign name which I thought was pretty cool. Then it was our turn to introduce ourselves. The children were really creative to help us come up with our sign names. Prarthana introduced Geetha(trustee of Om Ashram) and the other members of the old age home. Thus everyone had two names by the end of the day - a real name and a sign name...
After a round of introduction, we set out in groups of three to explore the ashram. There are 3 rooms in the ashram with 3 oldies in each room. Something about old people makes me sad. I have seen both my grandfathers die in front of my eyes and every time I look at any oldie sick it reminds me of that moment. So I normally try to stay away from old people. But the children were so excited to see them and they did everything that they could to bring a smile on their faces. I could see all the oldies smile with genuine happiness. Some of them sat next to the oldies and tried to talk to them in their own sweet way. One of the children massaged an old sick lady and she smiled. That smile lit up everyone’s face. And another lady living in the ashram moved with her hands because her waist down has no feeling. She crawled towards the hall and sat in one corner. Geetha told me her story and asked me to go talk to her. I was a little hesitant, but I mustered courage and walked towards her. I just spoke 2 sentences and that made her smile. I felt great at that moment. 2 simple sentences of mine can bring so much happiness in ones life. WOW.
We brought a few oldies to the living room and all the children presented a few skits for us. They were so excited to perform for all of us. They are super talented I must say. We also had a magic show organized for the kids. Few of us blew balloons and the entire hall was bustling with so much energy and colour. We also learnt a new way to clap. (Lift your hands and move your fingers in a bye-bye wave motion) There were loads of cheers and claps. Every single soul in that room was happy...Of course there was food: samosa's, sweets, biscuits and juice. yummy for the tummy... We all ate away happily...
Last but not the least - Photo session... A truly unforgettable experience...
I would like to thank Prarthana for organizing this wonderful special event. As I said before you are truly an angel ever-smiling....
Stay that way and would love to be a part of many more events to come... Thank you Geetha - you are an angel tooo...
One last thing I would like to add - Imagine spending one day without any sound. Most of us can’t sleep if the fan is off. We are so used to sound of the fan. Ha!!! These children live everyday without sound. But they are always smiling and looking at them makes you smile. There's more to life than what you see... Stay happy and Keep smiling ;)
And if you thought you can’t make a difference, think again... If one smile can bring happiness to an old woman whom I have never met, I am sure you can do more... So spread the joy and smile away....
Abhiranjan Sethi, iVolunteer Volunteer:
Since I was volunteering for the first time, I was a bit skeptical and nervous on what to do. However the enthusiasm of the special children, inspired me a lot. I am much more confident and enthusiastic now to work for the needy.
It also opened my eyes to the multifaceted abilities of the special children. Although they may look to have some form of deficiency, but I felt they are much more talented then many able bodied people.
Reshma, iVolunteer Volunteer:
It was my pleasure that I was able to attend the event and share my joy with all. It was really a superb event. Let God bless us all for making more events like this andfor overall social development of the country.
Archana V Kumar, iVolunteer Star Volunteer:
It was a great event with APD students at Omashram. It was an innovative concept that worked well. I visit Omashram every week and this time it was much more fun and learning with so many volunteers with lots of activities, watching dramas, magic shows and interactions with APD students.
When we all were watching the drama and magic show, it looked like a whole big family sitting together and having fun, just like it happens at home. I met Geetha Shankar for the first time. I was amazed to see her get along so well with everyone around her, her passion for a cause and the way she enjoys doing things at Omashram. I was also happy to see the founder of Omashram. The article from the blog that was circulated was great and very informative.
I also loved interacting with the APD students when I was trying to explain to them about a few inmates of Omashram. And I thank Anupama for helping me communicate with everyone. And when I introduced them to Sethamma and when she sang, all were amazed to hear her song. When I introduced a few of them from APD to Telugu speaking inmates, they started conversations with them. And when I asked the inmates, they said they felt homely interacting with them in Telugu. The students from APD have really made a difference to many inmates. When I started telling them about one of the inmates who was not being taken care of and rejected by the son and her health problems, I could understand the expressions of APD students and I also saw them discussing with each other, the problems the elderly face. Seeing so many students, one of the inmates started remembering her family, her childhood days and started crying. However she became ok when a few of us consoled her, told her that all the ones present there were her kids after which she got ready for a photo of hers with a smile.
I also appreciate the volunteers from APD for all the good work and for making the environment at Omashram so lively. And also for representing my name in a unique way. Prarthana, you too did a good job through all those interpretation, trying to fill up the communication gap.
It was great to see how different organizations working for different causes but with a common idea to serve humanity, like Omashram and APD in this case, can support each other and synergize.
Asha, iVolunteer Star Volunteer:
It was a very different and an amazing event with elderly and special students of APD in Omashram on Saturday. I had been to many one time events but this one was very unique as the volunteers who joined were very special. We spent 4-5 hrs of quality time out there interacting with both the special groups. It was a great moment to see the special students perform for the elderly people (of course for volunteers as well) At the end of the event both the students and the elderly were happy to have done something different. and I must thank the students of APD for teaching me alphabets in sign language ;) I was trying to communicate with them in their language :))) I thank Prarthana for arranging such a special event and also Geetha for her support. Looking forward to be part of more of such events... Thanks to all the volunteers who made special by their presence.
Chandraprabha, iVolunteer Star Volunteer:
I really felt very happy. That was a great and different event where special children took part as volunteers. Even though they are special from all of us they took the responsibility of coming to Old age home and making the event special. This is the best example for " Communication is not a barrier for social service”, where they proved that language is not important instead the willingness to serve our society is important.
In this event we not only enjoyed but learnt the sign language. :) Each moment was filled with enjoyment starting from introduction till magic show, giving particular sign to each person.. I got FAIR as my sign from Fathima:) She was so cute.
All those students performed really well in front of so many people this shows they are brave and intelligent. All grandmas and grandpas felt very happy when we told them that special students have come to meet them...
Thanks to iVolunteer and special thanks to you and Geeta Shankar for organising this special event. I truly enjoyed the event . Would like to be a part of such event in future too...
Finally here is what everyone including all our volunteers who were part of event are willing to read. Yes our Special Volunteers (the beneficiaries turning to be benefactors) feedbacks (as shared by them with Anuradha):
v It was a wonder full experience where we were volunteering!
v We always receive volunteering services from others this is the first time we were serving for others which was a unique experience for us
v It was heart touching moment for us when they were sharing their problems we realized most of the children left their parents because of some misunderstanding & difference in their living style which we should not do with our parents
v When we do lots of mistakes in our young age our parents will excuse us & help us to correct ourselves. But when we grown up, we forget all this & we don’t have courtesy to forget some mistake done by our parents how can we be so selfish? It was really painful for us to know how children ignore their parents. This visit has brought consciousness within ourselves that we should take care of our parents.
v We did some cultural activities which brought smile on their face; looking at them we too were very happy
v We spent time with them & we pressed their legs which made them to relax .We realized how happy we will be if we spent even little time with them how qualitative time it will become, we never knew volunteering will bring so much happiness to us.
v We would like to thank all the team members of I-Volunteer for arranging this visit.
v We were surprised to see that one granny at the age of 99 can speak well & sing with so much happiness. This has given lot of inspiration to us that despite of having disability if we wish we can achieve what we wish to be.
v When we were talking with them we realized how painful it is for the parents to live without their children .After this visit I decided that I will never do like this to my parents & I will also advice to my friends .I will never ever leave my parents alone .
v It has given immense happiness to do this kind of work .I will try to visit again & do some service here.
v We waste so much time just like that, looking at this experience I felt instead of wasting time we can do much qualitative work.
So!!! Nothing else to speak, we just wish and pray that everyone uses their skills for good cause and be the change because???? “Your skills can change lives”!!!
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer, India Web: www.ivolunteer.in
“Your skills can change lives.”
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 05 October 2008 17:02To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'vConnect-Blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'ivolunteer-asha@googlegroups.com'; 'kilikili_volunteers@googlegroups.com'; 'ivolunteerteam@yahoogroups.com'; 'invites@yahoogroups.com'Cc: 'apdblr@dataone.in'; 'abhijit'; 'anuradha bai'; 'Sravanthi Dasari'; 'Babu'; 'prema'; 'thomas v'; 'Geetha Shankar'; 'mohanpai@hotmail.com'; 'mohanpai1938@gmail.com'; 'moonshekar123@indiatimes.com'Subject: Thank you very much - A super cool unique hatke event where beneficiaries were befactors!!!!
Hi there,
Thanks a lotttt to each and every one for making this event veryyyyyyy special and memorable for everyone!!! This was the first time where beneficiaries were benefactors and we made an effort to ask the Special Students pursuing diploma at APD to act as volunteers… I am glad that every student present there performed his/her role perfectly. Right from meeting elderly to bringing smiles to everyone’s face to sharing their skills by performing skits and ek min acts to making few elderlies feel relaxed by pressing there hands and legs for few mins to being a good audience for the special magic show to giving each and everyone present there a sign nameJ… Can never forget the smile of granny who was stable and wasn’t able to move when few girls pressed her hands and legs!!! This was most unforgettable event and I’ll always cherish the memories throughout my lifetime… One thought that caught my mind was when one of the Hearing Impaired Student commented saying, “You should encourage the hearing impaired to volunteer and let us know how we can volunteer, this is the first time we saw an old age home and volunteered, all thanks to you all for taking that first step of inviting us” My heartfelt thanks to these “Special Volunteers who made everyone’s day special”
As always each and every volunteer present made the event a success by their presence, help and interactive participation all throughout… Was very worried about how everything will go, but you all did it, right from picking up our special volunteers to interacting through out to blowing balloons to being a good audience to spending time with all to bringing smiles to dropping them back safely. I must thank a lot to all 4 volunteers who began their day by picking up the students and to my surprises all those who were involved in this volunteer work had come from very far off places and must have araam se driven more than 50 kms yesterday… Also very special thanks to “Satish – The Magician” who did magical miracles and we all kept wondering what’s happening and how did he do it!!!! Right from rope magic to news paper magic to the cards magic to to to……. Thanks much to Chandrashekar who coordinated for the magic show. Also thank you sooo much to our little 6 year old volunteer Harshith and 3 year old little Rukku and the staff members of Om Ashram to have helped us in coordinating the event and staff members of APD to have helped us as well!!!!
Thank you everyone again and again… Lots more to do, so be charged up for future events!!!!
I am sure you all are eagerly waiting to read feedbacks of volunteers, especially special ones and also to see snaps!!! Plzz wait maadi for feedbacks!!! But few snaps can be viewed at http://picasaweb.google.co.in/ivolunteer.bengaluru/ASuperCoolUniqueHatkeEvent# To add I am also glad to share that we have done soooo many events here in Bangalore that our album space is over and I had to create a new id J You may view past event snaps at http://picasaweb.google.com/ivolunteerbangalore
You will be able to see more snaps taken by other volunteers and feedbacks sometime soon in next week!!!!
Thank you very much, take care, enjoy maadi and make an effort to change lives by using your skills!!!
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer, India Web: www.ivolunteer.in
“Your skills can change lives.”
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
From: Prarthana Unkalkar [mailto:prarthana@ivolunteer.in] Sent: 01 October 2008 02:04To: 'ivolunteer-blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'iva-all@yahoogroups.com'; 'vConnect-Blr@yahoogroups.com'; 'ivolunteer-asha@googlegroups.com'; 'vConnect-Blr@yahoogroups.com'Cc: 'apdblr@dataone.in'; 'abhijit'; 'anuradha bai'; 'Sravanthi Dasari'; 'Babu'; 'prema'; 'thomas v'; 'Geetha Shankar'; 'mohanpai@hotmail.com'; 'mohanpai1938@gmail.com'Subject: A super cool unique hatke event awaits you this Saturday morning!!!
Hi there,
Gooooood Morning!!!!
Want to be part of a super cool unique hatke event? Want to be part of an event where beneficiaries will act as volunteers???? Surprised???
Yes !!! you read it right, yesterday’s beneficiaries will be today’s volunteers!!! J
Here is an unique event planned this Saturday for a group of our very special volunteers who are Diploma Students (who are hearing impaired) of APD (The Association Of People With Disability) and have shown their willingness to spend time at a Old Age Care with the elderly inmates… So here we go…. No. of students will be announced shortly… But as of now the plan is – Diploma Students + 1 or 2 faculty member and few volunteers accompanying them will leave APD by sharp 8 AM and reach Ayyappa Temple in Vijaya Bank Colony by 9.15 am max… OM Ashram, an old age care with 2 units consisting of 25 members is walking distance from there. So all will walk together to Om Ashram and spend time with elderly there for around 2 hours atleast!!!
This will be the first time these very special volunteers will visit an Old Age Home… Make their experience memorable by your presence and innovative ideas…
You have 2 days in hand, so come out with some hatke ideas on how to make this event a super success… Also confirm your presence at both places or atleast at 1 place i.e. Old age care where you’ll meet everyone. There is no availibility of organisation bus on 4th, so the students will be coming by BMTC public transport… If few 4 wheeler volunteers wanna plan up on the mode of transport and assit the students reaching to Old age home, you are most welcomeJ
Awaiting gooooood responses!!! Letzzz enjoyyyyy maadi and rock maadi the event!!! Get set goooo!!!!!
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - iVolunteer Centres
iVolunteer, India Web: www.ivolunteer.in
“Your skills can change lives.”
“We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!”
Monday, May 5, 2008
My New cycle!!! Hero Razorback F1 series... Why bother? Just Cycle...
After reading the below inspiring article which contains many benefits of cycling alongside doing something about climate change, which is very provoking , I went ahead today and bought a cycle:) Went to the cycle shop with our active volunteer Mayank, who helped me select a good one and came riding back home riding 8-10 kms comfortably. Can't believe I did it after so many years of gap:) Have decided to use it at least for to and fro to my office:) Just thought to share this wonderful article with you all. It's a maroonish red colour Hero Razorback F1 series cycle :)
I am very happy and now I can proudly say that I am contributing at least a bit in reducing pollution in my city (though my contribution is just peanut compared to what is required:)):)
Thanks and have a wonderful day!!! Happy volunteering.
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - National Volunteering
iVolunteer, India Web: http://www.ivolunteer.in/
"Believe in yourself and your ability to be successful."
"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!"
From: Mayank Rungta <mr.mynk@gmail.com>Date: Mon, May 5, 2008 at 12:19 AMSubject: FW: Why bother? Just Cycle...
Hi,Nice article on the climate change and one possible solution...http://ngopost.org/story.php?title=Why_bother_Just_cycle----1
Have a wonderful week ahead,Mynk
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H G Wells
I am very happy and now I can proudly say that I am contributing at least a bit in reducing pollution in my city (though my contribution is just peanut compared to what is required:)):)
Thanks and have a wonderful day!!! Happy volunteering.
Best Regards, Prarthana Prarthana UnkalkarHead - National Volunteering
iVolunteer, India Web: http://www.ivolunteer.in/
"Believe in yourself and your ability to be successful."
"We need a massive number of volunteers to change the fortune of our country!"
From: Mayank Rungta <mr.mynk@gmail.com>Date: Mon, May 5, 2008 at 12:19 AMSubject: FW: Why bother? Just Cycle...
Hi,Nice article on the climate change and one possible solution...http://ngopost.org/story.php?title=Why_bother_Just_cycle----1
Have a wonderful week ahead,Mynk
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H G Wells
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