Making a difference in a child’s life can be as easy as pie. At Bake Out, a unique baking workshop organised by Make a Difference (MAD), participants can learn exotic new recipes from executive chefs at The Park.
The workshop, to be held on February 28, will be about giving people the opportunity to involve themselves in an exciting activity while contributing to a worthy cause. It will include an interaction with the chefs, high tea, and goodie bags at the end of the session.
Veena Balakrishnan, marketing fellow at MAD, says that this is the third year the event is taking place in Chennai. The national platform supports at-risk kids by educating and mentoring them; proceeds from the event will go towards the various projects run by MAD.
Explaining the term ‘children at risk’, Veena says, “Usually children have two caregivers; we work with rescued children in shelters and orphanages who have only one or no caregiver. We can spend time with them, but we cannot be with them throughout their lives. Education will make them self-sufficient and it is a sustainable thing we can provide them with.”
Their projects include Ed Support, which provides after-school support for English, Math and Science; Volunteer, which provides mentors so children can make informed career decisions and Propel, which helps children to build a career path that is in sync with their interests.
The Chennai chapter was started three years ago; city-wide, there are about 200 volunteers who work with children from three different organisations: Good Life in Tambaram, Children’s Home India in Injambakkam and Don Bosco in Kilpauk. Bharath Bhaskaran, city team lead, says, “The first two are orphanages and shelters where we teach on weekends. The third one is a place for young adults from 15 to 20 years of age where we teach them Communicative English.”
The most immediate need is for the Propel project, says Bharath. “The kids in class XI and XII need crucial support. We have had some great success stories with our children now studying in mainstream engineering colleges. Direct interventions and one-on-one sessions with our volunteers really help them. A lot of the money raised through this event will impact such children directly; it will go towards directing the children into education rather than losing them to workplaces.”
The Bake Out promises to be a fun event and the team is looking forward to having a good crowd. “We have limited seats however, so it would be best to book right away,” says Bharath.
The cost per head is Rs. 2,000; if a group of three or more register, there is a discounted fee of Rs. 1,800. Register on >bookmyshow.com or call 88705 14317.
