A summer of helpin’ out!

With the ongoing summer break, while many students are off on exotic vacations with family or are busy building their resumes by interning with top city companies, there are a few who are taking time out to work for the underprivileged.

Dozens of students from the city are volunteering at Teach for Change, an education initiative supported by Deccan Chronicle. Currently being trained to take formal classes once the summer break is over, students say there is no better way they could have spent their time.

A second-year student of St Francis, Niva Cherukuri, says, “I got to know about Teach for Change through DC articles. I had been looking to take part in some kind of social work and this fit the bill perfectly. We will be trained on how to deal with the children, how to be patient etc. I’m a little nervous but I’m really looking forward to meeting the kids.” And like her, others are little nervous too.

“I have observed how my teachers teach us and I’m going to use the experience. I’m also looking forward to teaching them in a fun way, by playing games. I feel very responsible for the kids too,” says Malvika Gupta, student, Villa Marie Degree College.

Keeping in mind that they are responsible for these kids, another volunteer Sravani Tummala, a student of VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology says, “We have been given textbooks and we will be trained shortly. In other NGOs you don’t get to personally make a difference, but here you stand in front of a class and create a change.”

And it’s this change that’s driving many. Neha Jain, who’s from the city and is currently studying in St Xavier’s, Mumbai, is spending her summer vacation by volunteering at the Good Samaritans NGO, which rehabilitates the abandoned elderly. She, along with her friends from the city Akshita Maripeddi, Kunal Pandey and Srikar, are creating profiles for all those who have been rescued by the NGO. This time has been life changing for her.

“Each time we speak with the abandoned elderly people, we realise the importance of spending time with our parents. Even though they have been rescued from the roads, all they want is to spend time with their children. Their stories have created a huge impact,” says Neha. The importance of volunteering comes in here — these students don’t care about what it adds to their resume but how much will it influence them.