We know that mid day meals is the prime reason why many daily wage labourers send their children to school. But do we know that many schools don't have enough number of plates to serve those meals? Added to that, these students don't have the luxury of owning school bags, notebooks and pens. The Hyderabad chapter of Youth For Seva (YFS) group has committed itself to donating school kits to 10,000 children this year.
The Youth For Seva School Kit Drive began in Bangalore in 2007 and in Hyderabad in 2010. “In 2010, we distributed 2000 kits and in 2011, we increased it to 3000. This June, we want to reach out to 10,000 children,” says Swathi, project manager. A typical kit comprises a school bag, five long notebooks, two pens, a geometry box (crayons for primary school children), 20 labels and a steel plate for mid day meals. “This is a small step, but we believe that such measures will motivate children not to drop out of schools for lack of resources. The kits will be distributed in June in schools that we have identified in rural and urban areas,” informs project manager Sesha Aditya.
Swathi and Sesha Aditya are among the eight full-time volunteers, in the age group of 20 to 30, working with YFS. Both quit their lucrative jobs to be part of this movement. “I was working with a real estate firm but wanted to do something meaningful. I quit my job and then told my parents. It's been a year, they've understood how passionate I am about volunteering work,” smiles Aditya. He, like his colleagues at YFS, has channelised his energy towards working in areas of education, health, environment and helping the visually challenged.
The organisation has around 3500 people on its mailing list, of which around 350 volunteers from the IT industry actively pitch in each weekend. College students and homemakers also volunteer on weekends. “Some of them teach in government schools. The method of teaching is lively and interactive and supplements classroom learning. Experimental science kits and mathematics kits with colourful theorems are made use of,” explains Aditya. In the same schools, YFS conducts health camps and involves students in environment issues. “Last year, students in 35 schools were taught to make clay Ganeshas,” adds Swathi.
As of now, YFS is trying to pool in funds from corporates and individuals for the school kits. “One kit costs Rs. 300 and every bit counts,” says Aditya.
For details, log on to youthforseva.org, email yfshyd@youthforseva.org or call Aditya at 9885198292.
