’Tis the season to give

With the trumpet beckoning for two major holiday festivities upon us, it’s not a strange sight to see market queues increasing and the wallet space receding. While it’s an unspoken norm to exchange gifts during Christmas and New Year’s, it’s never a guarantee that those holiday packages will drill the season’s spirit right into you.

If this is the tune you are singing to right now, why not do something different and feel good about it too?

Give for Chennai
For the humans: All hell broke loose for Nachiket Devakonda, who couldn’t get in touch with his brother in Chennai. “He called me up a few days later to let me know he is fine,” says Nachiket, who along with his friends Vishal Kadiala, Parvati, Rahul Paul and Sadiya Khamu, was then driven to help others. “We have already sent two shipments to Chennai, where an NGO called Agni has been taking them in,” he says.

Even though they have no dearth of supply, what they urgently need is transport. “The supply can easily fill up two to three trucks, but right now we are stuck as we have no means of transport,” says Nachiket, who hopes to send out the shipment by Tuesday.
Contact Nachiket: 9963125131

For the animals: Collaborating to help the wounded and abandoned animals in Chennai are Nithya Meni, Anoop Pamu, Rahul, Lohita and Nachiket. “We don’t even know each other that well; but we are working together because we love animals,” says Nithya Meni.

The group is coordinating with People for Cattle in India and Chennai Rescue Team to ensure their supply reaches the right people. “But it has been a challenge to collect funds for animals. People, whom we usually approach, inquire why we are not collecting funds for humans instead,” says Nithya.
Contact Anoop Pamu: 7799002111

Give to the nature
For nature: Few days ago, Rini Anweshi and her friends were busy collecting supplies for the Chennai flood victims, which they did in partnership with WeCare and Goonj NGO. And with that taken care of, Rini, founder of Nature Restoration Centre and her team are working on the major environmental-related activities organised for this month. “There is a plantation drive at Ibrahimpatnam on December 19 and a day before Christmas, we will be distributing food among the homeless. Then there is a nature camp being organised on December 28. We will be conducting sessions with children at Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park,” she says. “We don’t need money but we urgently need volunteers,” says Rini.
Contact Rini: 9642828840

Give your time
If working with children is your calling, then Youngistaan Foundation has just the right project for you — Bright Spark, where people can volunteer during the weekends to teach underprivileged children.
Contact Youngistaan Foundation: 9885342224.

The Teach For Change initiative is active in 100 government high schools in Hyderabad. If you too would like to be part of them, then log on to www.teachforchange.in.