A bunch of like-minded students are lending their time and energy for charity works along with their studies through Shikharangal, an association that functions for the welfare of those people who have been abandoned by their kin. Sibina M. K., a third year B.Pharm student hailing from Edappal in Malappuram, coordinates Shikharangal. Along with her, a set of vibrant students is giving new hopes to those who have lost the spark to live.
Shikharangal is a welfare association formed by a group of students from various places. They are working together for the empowerment and well-being of physically and mentally undervalued people.
Sibina put forward the idea of Shikharangal, inspired by her teacher. “I got this idea from my teacher. After a few discussions with my friends, we launched Shikharangal as a registered welfare organisation on April 3rd in Malappuram. Chiraku, a fundraising event, was one of our major programmes. It was a great success and made us more responsible. We have completed two programmes — donating food for an old age home and organising a medical and dental camp,” says Sibina.
The organisation was formed with seven members from various colleges. In no time, the number rose to 32 and Shikharangal has now more than 800 working volunteers.
“We all are aware of how people are complaining about the new generation’s behaviour, habits, thoughts, and activities. Society judges the new generation based on the actions of a few people. We just need to prove that all of us are not the same, and there are still love, care, affection, humanity, kindness, and good nature in some of us,” she added.
In the first phase of the organisation’s formation, the major obstacle was the lack of sponsors. But now, Shikharangal has many generous sponsors from Kerala and abroad. “Initially, we took money from our own pocket to conduct programmes and collected money from beaches and parks during holidays. We effectively used Sunday and second Saturday for fundraising. Now, we get donations from kind people,” she said.
After the programme named Chirak held on the Kozhikode beach, Shikharangal earned support in the form of love and donations. They are now planning their next programme named 'Homecare for Orphans', which is intended to provide special care and attention to orphans and children of helpless parents.
