A group of 25 engineering students from Hyderabad established an NGO titled ‘Helping Hands Forever’ four years ago and have been running it successfully by conducting special programmes for children at orphanages and for veterans at the homes for the aged. Besides spending a major portion of their pocket money on running the organisation, the youngsters are also conducting fund-raising programmes at various shopping malls.
Skill development for orphans and expansion of the organisation are the two different tasks being undertaken by the members.
“We are impressed with the way Parivartana, a home for orphans, is being run in Kakinada with financial support from the government and non-government organisations and have decided to spend some time with the children here,” A.N.V. Nirmala, founder president of the Helping Hands Forever, has told The Hindu .
In a bid to expand their activities from Hyderabad to different cities of the two Telugu States, a group of 10 members from the organisation visited the city on a four-day trip and spent their time with the children at the Parivartana and the Praja Vidyalayam.
“I have been working with the NGOs from my school days. During my engineering, I have established this organisation along with my friend K. Sruthi, who is our secretary now,” says Ms. Nirmala, who is aiming at a career in engineering after finishing her graduation and is also keen on continuing her association with the organisation.
“If there is support from local students, we are ready to expand our vistas to different cities. We are not encouraging any other sources of funding except contributions from the members and money being generated from fund-raising events,” explains Ms. Nirmala.
