Not everyone goes that Everyone do not go the extra mile to make Making a real and meaningful difference in another person’s other’s life. does not happen to everyone. There are just a few some who take the initiative have dared to reach out to those in the dark to amazingly pull someone else’s hands to the light. This is exactly what the Friends Trust, Besant Nagar, has been doing. done. With a vision to have
To create a society free from poverty and discrimination, and a missionto impart education to the under privileged and to empower woman, empowerment, this organisation of 14 trustees and 50 members — who students from various engineering and arts and science colleges in the city — want to enforce change. The trust is based out of Besant Nagar.
Speaking about the trust, the chairman, U. Sandeep, said, “A group of friends thought of starting an organisation. The organisation was started when some of us where going down the East Coast Road. It was a sudden thought. We realised that the nation needs change and the best way of bringing of introducing change was by providing giving education.”
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“Most of the support for the organisation is from the RBI Staff Quarters, Besant Nagar. We collect old cloths clothes and give it to people who need them,” said articulated Bhavana, Organising Secretary, adding, Sandeep thanked Mr. “We are thankful to Rammohan and Ms. Usha, staff of who are working in the RBI, for their support.”
The trust’s members collect funds on a monthly basis. The trust establishment regularly works with many orphanages and old age homes along with conducting and conducts various programmes and activities in Life Help Centre, Neelangarai; the Cancer Institute, Adyar and Nesakkaram, Valluvarkottam. It provides They provide food, entertainment and gifts apart from finding out their needs and providing the same.
The trust also donated 20,000 Japanese Yen to the victims of the recent tsunami that hit Japan.
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“Last year, we helped two students who were studying in Nazareth College of Arts & Science, Avadi, to pay their fees,” the last year,” said a proud Sandeep. When asked about how they found these students, he said that they were friends of friends.
The emphasis now, is on collection of funds to serve more people. Asserting the need for more funds and sponsors, Sandeep said, “We want to sponsor students from engineering courses also but we don’t have the funds right now.”
Planning expansion
C. Ezhil Kumaran, Public relation officer of the trust, said, “To facilitate this, we have also opened an Electronic Clearing Service (ECS).” The trust has big plans ahead.
“We are planning to expand to the whole of Tamil Nadu and help the underprivileged children and women, but the logistics would have to be worked out,” expressed Bhavana.
Friends Trust the Trust can be reached at HH332, Reserve Bank Staff Quarters, Besant Nagar.
Ph: 97910 76818.
(Nivedita Varadarajan is a III year student of B.A. Journalism, MOP Vaishnav College for Women)