The Make A Difference Blog

This post is a week due and I’m posting it before Shahnaz decides to murder me.

The event was the All Volunteer Meet and the venue as is the case of any MAD event was our very own Rotary Bal-Bhavan. I was late but was relieved to see that everyone was waiting outside as Shahnaz and her minions (the HR team) wouldn’t let anyone into what was no less than any Arabian Sultan’s court. As soon as I walked in, I was given a badge shaped like Aladdin’s lamp and was shown the entrance which too was decorated very Arabic. Finally when the HR team was done with their work and had ensured perfection, we were allowed to enter.

It was clear that a lot of work had gone into the decoration as the place was covered with exotic silks from the middle-east’s finest silk shops (courtesy Riz’s mom) and lit with the most beautifully scented candles brought in from far for our meet. I cannot fail to mention here Shahnaz, dressed in the REDDEST (for lack of a better word) suit I have ever seen in my life.  We had been divided into animal groups written on the back of our badges and had to find the rest of our team, making noises of the animals we’d been allotted. Once all the barking mooing, hissing and cawing was done, we settled down to the ice-breaker.  The ice-breaker involved a lot of moving around what with the HR team wanting us to find people who fit descriptions we were given. Some of them weren’t even present at the meeting!! We spent a lot of time looking for someone with the last name Cherian but realized there was nobody that fit the category in the room. This proved to be a great exercise as a lot of volunteers were meeting each other for the first time and hence found it easier to interact and work together. Many interesting and creative ideas came up in the second task where we were asked to make logos for MAD.

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This was followed by a session where Jithin talked to all the volunteers. What he had to say didn’t go down well at first as it involved dividing MAD Cochin into two units. This was being done keeping in mind the over-worked core team and the difficulty of contacting volunteers. Even though dividing was something everyone was against initially, seeing the practicality of it, people began to come around and agreed that this would mean better administration and easier accessibility. A consensus was reached by the volunteers on dividing the city and thus MAD shows how democratic it is, once again. Whatever else Jithin said was overshadowed by this and honestly, I don’t remember. Sorry!!

Another activity succeeded Jithin’s talk where we were all divided into groups based on numbers written on our badges. Once the division was done and we were settled down, we were handed our tasks. This included representing MAD through different mediums. Our task was to represent MAD in Big Boss. Another team got MAD in a news channel and still another, MAD in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The fourth team had to enact MAD in a Bollywood movie and the fifth had to enact MAD in a horror movie. This activity saw some excellent performances by Sumesh, Soli, Xavier and Rocky!!

All good things must come to an end and just when we were getting warmed up, we came to the end of today’s event too. But before we ended, it was time for discussion and thus started an hour of discussing volunteers’ problems and solutions the others had to offer. This session covered everything from unruly children to the syllabus and issues of training and orientation. This also brought an end to my constant hoping that Shahnaz would break into song and dance keeping in tune with the theme of the day. But once again, hats off to the HR team for putting together an awesome meeting!!

Well, that covers most of what happened at the All Volunteer Meet of January 2010.

I’m ending this before Shahnaz sees RED and decides to end my life.

I could of course bore you with some clichéd quotation about teamwork and cohesion…I choose not to. I could tell you that we are a dedicated group of highly motivated individuals who are committed to the cause of the organization… I think that goes without saying.  I could use a popular (but not necessarily inspiring) analogy to compare the core team to a sports team or the human fist. Let’s not go there!

Having overcome all of the above tempting tactics to make this blog read funny and interesting, I present to you, without any frills or masala, a simple glimpse into the world of the MAD Delhi core team:

In no specific order of MADness:

Vaibhav Rastogi: Vaibhav handles Finance. And given that he has willingly surrendered to 3 years of dedication in the leading commerce college of the country, we don’t question!

He’s not all about debits and credits though. Vaibhav is passionate about sketching, drawing and painting. He loves taking photographs [maybe PR can outsource that to Finance now ]. He also enjoys movies and music (and at the risk of being murdered at the next monthly meeting, might I add, he’s an ARDENT ‘Facebook’er!!)

Vaibhav’s vision for MAD -2010:“Hope that MADNESS QUOTIENT of MAD increases, MAD family grows bigger and gives its 100 percent dedication and commitment, and MAD gets MADDER day by day”

Sonam Jain: Sonam handles Human Resources. Much of our phoenix-ish revival during the last year was due to her constant and dedicated efforts at increasing the volunteer base of MAD Delhi.

She is currently self-employed in the field of paper and printing, and knows the difference between wheat, beige, fawn and tan!??!! (For those of you who are as clueless as us, these are colours). Sonam also loves reading and travelling.

Sonam’s vision for MAD -2010: “I want to see MAD Delhi grow double in number with respect  to the kids we are teaching and to have more of dedicated volunteers …”

Samridhi Dasot: Is in charge of Corporate Relations and Fundraising. She is a marketing executive at a leading education services company and is pursuing a P.G. Diploma in Human Rights. Phew!! Now, before you think she’s a serious chick who rambles off human rights law at the drop of a hat, think again!

Samridhi has won awards for direction; script- writing and lights design in inter collegiate theatre festivals and is a state level swimming champion!! Maybe the next core team meeting can be about how many things people accomplish at once!!

Samridhi’s vision for MAD -2010: “At an overall level, MAD Delhi should really scale up in terms of centers and students this year. And from a fund-raising point of view, I look at making Delhi a self-sufficient city as far as the funds required for conducting classes and improving volunteer motivations is concerned as well as achieving its syllabus and other national level costs targets”.

Samarth Agarwal: Does not handle anything, err, specific ..Our very own President and micromanager, he’s in charge of the overall madness. He has been instrumental in making MAD what it is today and has stuck with the team through good times and bad.

Samarth is a self-admitted ‘boring’ financial professional with an active interest in theatre and ballroom dancing. Boring? Rite!! (Please check out his Facebook profile for some amazing dance videos)

Samarth’s vision for MAD -2010: “To make MAD the preferred class for every child we teach. To make MAD the preferred volunteer network for socially responsible youth”

Sakshi Bawa: Handles placements. Sakshi is a literature student, but is currently working with a law firm…She is also pursuing her M.A. English (Hons.) and Human Rights…She may seem confused now, but wait and watch …as she’s sure that one day she’ll MAKE A DIFFERENCE…

She reads, dreams and religiously Facebooks…Amen!!

Sakshi’s vision for MAD -2010: “As a volunteer in MAD I was teaching the kids to prepare them for the outside world but now as a Placement Head I will be working to get them the career opportunities that will help them gain some practical knowledge and  help them stand on their feet…”

Prakhar Agarwal:

Is in charge of  f.o.m. Again, no comments on B.Com Honours students handling funds. Leave it to the pros I say!!

Prakhar is into dramatics and debating and claims that it is impossible to beat him in sleeping! Any takers??

Prakhar’s vision for MAD -2010: “Make the city self sufficient in its fund requirements and raise our share of the money towards the Syllabus. Generate as many corporate leads as possible. Conduct 2 corporate presentations every month. Accommodate as many corporate volunteers as possible in our volunteer base so that we can tap on the contributions made by companies if their employees are working with a social cause”

Khushbu Sharma: Is the English Projects head. No wonder the portfolio went to her given that she’s one smart girl!! Not only is she studying Physics (!!!!!) but has also got scholarships for the highest marks in X , XII boards in the district and the central command of APS  respectively. If that was not enough, she has also received the science meritorious in her first year of college!! (Are you counting the number of exclamation marks??) AND to top it all, she claims that she’s NOT a bookworm. But of course.

Khushbu also likes reading novels, singing, hanging out with friends and watching ‘Uttarn’ with her MADD  friends Anisha & Madhur!

Khushbu’s vision for MAD 2010: “I see MAD as one of the most organized and professional volunteer networks with more centers in India. In the near future, we will have enough funds (a special thanks in advance to our VPs responsible ie  Samridhi and Prakhar ) to provide the syllabus  even  for those students who don’t know the alphabet and to  have our meetings in a room  and have some refreshments after them ( as we starve hehehha)”

Ayushi Chand: Handles the Resources portfolio. Given her Economics background, we are sure she will ensure the optimum utilization of scarce resources given the budget constraints (Yes, I remember some of my Eco).

Apart from having received various awards for academic excellence, Ayushi has also actively participated in projects organized by MYTRI under the aegis of Rotary Club, Delhi. She has a special interest in the fine arts, calligraphy and singing.

Ayushi’s vision for MAD -2010: “I see MAD scaling new heights, moving towards its goal, catering to more shelter homes and many more kids. I wish that the MAD family grows bigger with many more motivated and dedicated young people, possessing the zeal and vigour to really Make a Difference to the society, joining MAD. I hope it gets all the success and wins loads of awards in the future. One year later, I aspire to see MAD spreading its MAD quotient amongst the youth united for the noble cause of educating the not-so-privileged blooming buds of our nation, and amongst the people, willing to be Friends-of-MAD, eager to contribute in whatever way they can.”

Anisha Verma: Handles Operations. That’s a lot of responsibility on her young shoulders, but for someone who has actually cracked into St. Stephen’s college, this should be a piece of cake!

Anisha likes working for the society, dancing and gardening. Of course, all of these pale in comparison with her passion of gossiping!! Another entrant to the TV serials camp, Anisha’s favourite hobby is watching serials on Colors

Anisha’s vision for MAD-2010: “I have been associated with MAD for about 8 months and the changes that I have noticed within a span of few months are commendable. I feel that within a year we will be able to make a difference in not just two shelter homes but many more. I can see that MAD will cover all the areas-North, South, East and West Delhi. As of now it is just in central Delhi. So I feel that lot is to be done and that’s why I am ready to make a difference”

Ajanta Dutta Roy: Handles Public Relations. She:

Has passed the required number of Economics papers in college. Learnt enough to pretend to be a disillusioned Economist. Is currently working for a professional services firm which she’s been planning to quit for the last 6 months.

Ajanta likes to procrastinate (will explain why later), eat momos and sleep, not necessarily in that order. If she ever gathers the will to overcome the inertia of rest, she also likes to critique movies, paint and strum her guitar tunelessly.

Vision for MAD -2010: “ I see MAD achieving both quantitative and functional scaling up through horizontal integration by expanding the number and diversity of the activities undertaken; and vertical integration by initiating activities that complement our original teaching program.

I also envision MAD strengthening its reach by tapping the public sector and international funding agencies like the UNESCO, building better media relations and making MAD a household name.

I think the biggest challenge that MAD faces currently is that of brand recall. Hence, I would like to make MAD a popular name at the national and international sphere.”

Prologue: This is my first ‘report’ blog. I have to be not lost with current emotion or the negative creep. Oh yea, and I’ll be updating this live

So here we are for the Choice is MAD camp, at the Choice School Campus in Cochin. I arrived here at sharp 8 in the morning and a really frantic Niki on the phone just waves a ‘Hi’. Hmmm, she is frantic ! The bus with the kids was stuck in traffic and it was slightly behind schedule. Nevertheless, the kids upon arrival were greeted by us volunteers with much fanfare. And we did hear “Sanjana miss!! and Hannah miss!!” in between. The kids were escorted by us for breakfast. In malayalam, the we had ‘villapam and ishtu’ which in English can be termed as Appam and Stew

As seen in the pic below we have Adeeba, Midhika, Aditi and the gentlewomen Miss Siddhartha and Miss ArjunaDavida hand-painting the certificates to be given at the end of the camp.

Sanjana, starting up with the icebreaker session. She used toffees to make up groups. And we played the Bus game

Shahnaz the king. She introduced the camp to the kids and is taking up a session on motivation and skill development. As you can see, she has put up a bright weird smile with nicely brushed gritted teeth.

There are days when a simple smile can amaze you. A simple hug can rejuvenate every cell of your body. Such days make you think. They make you think things which though very important but are always forgotten. These days get permanently sketched in your memory.
I am a nineteen year old average guy completing his graduation. For last sixteen years, I haven’t changed my profession. I have been a student all these years, and I will be in the same field for next two years. Like every guy on the planet I love checking out girls, hanging out with friends, enjoy playing sports and simply love my bike rides. Basically, to sum it all up, I love spending my parents’ money. Being a teenager, I feel, it’s my responsibility to do so. I never cared for anyone except my friends and family. But one day, everything changed.
A friend of mine used to go to a school to spend some time with kids over there. Stupid! Mere wastage of time was my initial reactions! She asked me to accompany her not once but many times. I always turned down her offer. I knew I was going to get bored to death in the school. I had the worst impression of the place in my head.
One day I lost a simple bet with her. Result- I visited the school next time she went there. I was wrong! Hell, I was! I thought it was going to be the worst experience ever! I even carried my i-pod as a source of entertainment. But the gadget remained untouched.
As soon as we entered the class, all the kids came and encircled us. Everyone was busy updating us with whatever new happened in his or her life. Their innocence touched me. Deeply. They all love us, especially my friend, who had till now a kid on her lap and another on her shoulder. She then introduced me to them. I was bombarded with questions like-‘What you do?’ ‘Where do you stay?’etc. every kid meant every word he asked. It wasn’t like a mere formality we go through on meeting a new person. Then they all showed us the new dance they had learned. It was the best dance I had ever seen till date!
We stayed there for an hour and then we decided to leave. We had no other option left actually, their English class was about to begin and we didn’t want to disturb it. I just couldn’t take my eyes of them! It was the first time I handled little kids and the experience made me more than happy. I just couldn’t take my eyes off them! They were simply adorable! I waited outside the class door for five minutes after their class began. What I saw was shocking!
There were just 3 books in a class of 20 students, yet all of them were happy with whatever they had. The teacher inside was younger than me. I raised my doubt about the books and teacher to my friend. Her reply was the most unexpected one!
The kids inside, were from various backgrounds. Some of them were wards of sex workers; some were orphans, while some were abandoned street kids. The teacher was a volunteer from an organization named ‘Make a Difference’. The organization was popularly called as ‘MAD’.
The reality killed me. It ashamed me. I initially felt sorry for kids, but my view changed immediately. They were no different from what I am. In fact most of them were far more talented and far more intelligent than me. All they needed was a fair chance!
It’s a very fast world we live in! a train never waits for a late passenger. It doesn’t care if passenger didn’t have the knowledge of departure time. The train leaves when its suppose to leave. No one can make it wait, but we can always inform the passenger. Thus providing him a fair chance to board the train. I decided to act.
It was then I decided to join mad. I wanted to make a difference. I felt every kid deserves a fair chance. An opportunity to showcase his or her talent. I wanted to provide them with one. No one can change the world on his own. If millions worship a piece of stone, it becomes god. It doesn’t matter if you believe god’s existence in that stone or not. One can spend his entire life opposing the fact. In the end two or may be even three people may join him. But if he decides to join the millions, and spreads god’s message- love and humanity, not one but hundreds will join him. By joining MAD I feel I joined a religion.
It’s a place where every kid is god. And every kid is special. We care for them. Nurture them. We teach them everything we have learned. All for one solitaire goal- when the kid walks out as an adult in the real world, he must get an equal opportunity as I do. Past is something we cannot change. But by doing what’s right in present, we can certainly hope for a better future. Hope this note inspires others to do what is supposed to be done.
You don’t need to be a volunteer to help these kids. A tiny amount out of your pocket money can buy someone a book. You can donate your unused clothes and can create some one’s new wardrobe. The joy you will get by doing so, is something, which no words can describe. All I can say is- its something out of this world!

Volunteers, FoM’s, Donors and well wishers!!!

MAD Cochin is conducting another camp for 5th, 6th, 7th standard kids from St. Mary’s and Crescent at the Choice School, Thripunithura on 23rd and 24th January. Volunteers is interested in attending the camp can contact Niki by sunday evening.

With regard to the same, there will be a meeting on 18th,ie, this monday at Niki’s residence- House no: 30, 3rd cross road Girinagar, Opposite Bfit Gym and Behind Radio Mango ( nearest bus stop – Kadavanthra).

Stay tuned for the full report from the camp. For all you tweeps, I’ll be tweeting live from the venue.

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Lets have another vyb