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Under privileged children to be dropped to school by MAD volunteers
Make a Difference (MAD), in its 7 years of existence has carved out a niche as a youth oriented NGO. They are focussing mainly on 4 homeless shelters where they interact, teach and work with children to ensure they get age appropriate care.
The Thiruvananthapuram chapter of MAD (Make a Difference) has come a long way in 7 years since the NGO began functioning. Over the months the NGO has come to work closely with 4 prominent shelter homes from the city – Sree Chitra Home, Pazhavangadi; Hindu Mahila Mandiram, Poojappura; LMS Girls' Orphanage, Palayam; and Sacred Heart’s Convent for Girls, Nalanchira.
As children prepare to start going to school in the new academic year, the youth driven organization is going to do something truly heart warming for the children from these shelter homes. With an aim to bring a sense of belonging to these children, MAD volunteers will drop them off at their respective schools. This is to ensure that children do not feel left out as other children are generally accompanied by their parents.
Apart from rendering this considerate act, MAD will also provide stationary items like notebooks, pencils and pens to the kids. According to Gokul, a MAD volunteer, the Trivandrum chapter named as 'triMADrum' currently has 150 volunteers. "Of the 150 volunteers, 50-60 volunteers will be assigned to drop the children off at schools on the day of reopening".
Capitalising on the mass reach of radio, the NGO roped in an FM station to mobilise donations from the public in the form of stationary materials or money. Currently, 'triMADrum' is focussing on helping the less fortunate kids to get quality education. Plans are also afoot to organize a leisure trip, 'Dream Camp', in association with 'Kanthari', another NGO, in the coming months.
'MAD beat', the anniversary event of the organization, provides a public platform to these children under the Trivandrum chapter to participate in cultural events. It is likely to be held in July this year. "Children from Sree Chitra Home and other shelters will get the opportunity to participate in this event which is organized by the central body of the organization," Gokul said.
MAD started operations in Thiruvananthapuram in 2009, with 30 volunteers and activities centred on 3 shelter homes. Founded in Kochi in 2006, the organization's goal is to bring equality in the society through quality education. They interact, teach and work with children on a continuous basis to ensure that they get the care they require during childhood.