Hyderabad :

We don’t often pay attention to things we have already used. Take newspapers for instance, once we have read them, they bear no value to us any longer. As a result, newspapers are used for multifarious purposes – they are found in wardrobes, kitchen sinks, bathrooms, tea stalls and are used to clean up dirt or dropped food. However, Joy of Sharing Society, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in the city has taken an initiative to collect old newspapers to raise funds for orphan children. “Instead of money, we have decided to take old newspapers from the people and use those funds to help children by buying them food, clothes, etc. Normally, most people just throw away newspapers or use them for various purposes. But by donating their old newspapers, they will be making a huge difference,” says Raghuvir Reddy, founder of the organisation.

Started in 2013, Joy of sharing society was founded by a group of individuals – Ramakrishna,Hariom Pandey, Roy Debashis, Pavan Yadav, Pramod and Praveen — who have the passion and determination to serve the society. Their active members include students, working professionals and senior citizens. Speaking on behalf of the organisation, Raghuvir says, “There are so many NGOs today that we dint want to be like just another organisation. We want to teach people compassion and would like to create a new generation, where people know the importance of sharing.”

Though they indulge in several charitable activities, their main focus is on helping orphan children. “90 per cent of our work revolves around helping orphan children. We work together with other NGOs to make sure the orphans feel loved and valued. It’s important for them to receive love and support, or they will rebel. Lack of love can make misdirect them,” he explains.

Joy of Sharing Society, which has over 60 volunteers from across the country conducts several events on a regular basis. “It was important for us to not be just another NGO so we decided to help out other existing NGOs and work towards a common cause. For instance, last year we decided to collect old clothes from people and then we gave those clothes to an NGO which specialises in recycling clothes. Later, we gave new clothes to the children,” Reddy informs.

In the past, they have conducted several initiative, including blanket donation to homeless people and blood donation camps for Thalassemia kids, apart from celebrating festivals with the children and taking them on tours. “Children suffering from Thalassemia require blood every three weeks. When we found out that there are several children who suffer from the disease, we conducted several blood donation camps to help them out. Apart from that, our intention is to make them feel special and loved so we share happy occasions with them like Diwali, etc,” explains Reddy.

Next on their agenda is to celebrate Independence day with the orphan kids for which they are organising scrap collection drive in order to raise funds. “We will sell all the old newspapers to raise funds to celebrate Independence Day and other events with the children. On August 15, we will be conducting a food donation camp for orphan kids. We have also planned to take them on an trip in September,” he informs.

Reddy, who has been involved in charity work for several years, feels youngsters must be encouraged to work towards the society. “Our commitment towards the children is permanent. Whenever we go to see them, their faces light up and they’re bursting with happiness. Nothing can replace that feeling – that motivates us to work harder for their cause,” shares Reddy. “We want to work with anyone possible and with other NGOs – together we can make a difference,” he adds on philosophical note.

If you want to participate in this donation drive and would like to donate old newspapers, you can send an email to joyofsharing.kids@gmail.com.

You can also visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ JoyofSharing.Kids

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Suhas Yellapantula / August 12th, 2014

When Elca met Anjali at a charity event in Hyderabad two years ago, both realised this was the start of something big. Today, the two women are heading an organised movement for gender equality, sexual liberty and against domestic violence in Andhra Pradesh.

“I was looking for opportunities to partner with someone to work in the areas of empowering women. I shared ideas about My Choices and my local know-how, and things started falling into place beautifully. Our goals were the same and we had a straightforward approach to work, which has brought us a long way,” says Anjali Rudraraju, who co-founded My Choices with Elca Groble.

My Choices is an NGO based out of Hyderabad and Warangal that seeks to end violence against women.

Anjali believes that “women can be catalysts and agents of social change.” My Choices aims to reduce domestic violence in India through thousands of recruits called PeaceMakers who are trained in family and marriage counselling and all aspects of the Domestic Violence Act.

“We train local women to support victims of abuse through counselling, rights education and legal aid. We currently have around 80 PeaceMakers working in their communities,” says Anjali, 33, a banker from the US who left her job to return to India to work in this field.

“Local women enroll in the PeaceMaker programme after undergoing an initial screening process. Our PeaceMakers go through a four-week basic training, followed by an eight-week internship where they actively work on domestic violence cases in their own communities,” she explains.

Elca, 44, moved to India from South Africa in 2011 with her husband, Roger, and three children— Gabrielle, Joshua, and Zoe.

“I have a CFA and MBA, and years of experience working in banking and microfinance. It was my initial plan to stay on this trajectory while I branched out towards women’s empowerment in India. I thought I would work in microfinance, but as I listened to women—friends, community leaders, NGO workers—I heard one pervasive and desperate request: Everyone wanted a solution to the violence happening inside homes,” she says.

“Every woman it seemed needed or knew someone who needed help dealing with domestic violence. Although I hadn’t planned on venturing to end domestic violence in India, it became my goal, and the reason for My Choices. The broader goals of impacting other violence against women and girls, child marriage, human trafficking etc. developed later,” says Elca.

In India, over 50 per cent of men and women agree that a man hitting his wife is a justifiable expression of masculinity, the two women point out.

“We believe that this must be addressed in a multifaceted way. The rule of law must be firmly behind the woman, and fortunately India has comparatively progressive laws for the protection of women, but change must start at a more grass-root level; in our homes and schools,” says Anjali.

And Anjali has some startling facts to share. “In Andhra Pradesh, domestic violence is increasing by about 10 per cent every year according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Most countries have gone through periods where violence rises dangerously before it falls, but India is showing a pace that is both terrifying and perplexing,” reveals Anjali, who also runs an organic farm in Hyderabad.

Talking about the biggest challenges that women face today, Anjali says, “It is official, you know, that India is the worst place in the world for a baby girl to be born.

There is a unique acceptance of the use of violence against women, she says. “This is cause for fear in women,” Anjali says. “Fear can hold us back from doing anything. If men on the streets don’t frighten you, Indian politicians and policemen making statements like ‘If you can’t prevent rape, enjoy it’ do,” she points out, referring to the controversial comment allegedly made by the Central Bureau of Investigation chief Ranjit Sinha last year.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by Swathi Sharma / August 03rd, 2014