While all of us can’t be philanthropists because of our limited resources, we can still make someone smile by doing our small bit. Priyanka Singh & Dev Goswami nudge you to go ahead and do a little good...
Every day we see how the world is becoming less and less habitable. Whether it is a 72-year-old man abandoned by his family and left on a lonely, unknown street or a five-year-old girl who is ideally supposed to play with balloons but is instead selling them. While we cannot change the entire world overnight or all on our own, what we can do is change a single human being’s circumstances. Whether it is donating money, helping out NGOs or helping someone in need by just making a phone call to the right helping centre — your seemingly slight contribution will make a massive difference when the dots join. We tell you about charitable initiatives across the city, NGOs you can help and how to take your first small step towards ‘giving’.
EVENTS
From sales to events and collections, there’s a lot happening over the next two weeks where you can do your bit towards a good cause:
Helping Hand: Helping Hand is an initiative by Madhavi Goenka which aims to raise funds to help accommodate children who come to the city for cancer treatment. Many of these children often have to leave the city because they can’t find affordable housing for the duration of their stay. This initiative provides such children with free stay, so that they can continue their treatment. This coming Monday, Helping Hand is organising a shopping event which includes brands such as Palak Seth (Jadau Jewelry Designer), Advika Design Studio (personalised stationery and gift items), Kunal Tanna (men’s designer; worked with Manish Malhotra), Saroj Rateria (fine silver for home) and Ammetrine (designer wear from Hyderabad) to help raise funds this.
When October 6, from 10.30am to 7pm
Where The Mexican Room, Trident Hotel
Contact 9594970535
NGO fest at High Street Phoenix: This is one event that everyone must seriously consider attending. In association with the Joy of Giving week, High Street Phoenix is hosting Maadhyam, an interactive NGO festival that will help you connect with various corporate organisations as well as NGOs. The festival will also see a few musicians and stand-up comics perform to promote various causes.
When October 7 and 8
Where The Courtyard, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel
Montblanc Signature for Good collection: Early this year, Montblanc launched its Signature for Good collection which supports the UNICEF education program across the world. The funds generated from the collection will be used for building and maintaining schools for underprivileged children in Africa, Asia and South America. The unique brick design of the pens, key chains, cuff links and bangles symoblise the effort by the company to build a better future for underprivileged children around the world. This range is in the stores up to March 2014.
Where Montblanc boutiques across the city
Thrift Shop by Back Alley: After a collection drive that resulted in clothes, merchandise and décor from brands such as River Island, Karen Millen, French Connection, Armani Exchange and Roberto Cavalli, Back Alley is presenting its Thrift Shop where you shop and also contribute to a good cause. The Thrift Shop has been organised in association with four NGOs — Kinnari Foundation, Atma Vallabh, St. Mathews School and Sparsh. The collected funds will be donated to these NGOs.
When October 5 & 6
Where Kinnari Cultural Centre, Opposite Umar Park, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Next To Tata Garden, Breach Candy, Cumballa Hill
Bake sale by The Bake Collective: Ketto is the brainchild of actor Kunal Kapoor and Varun Seth and they have spent the last two years building an online network that aims to revolutionise the landscape of philanthropy in India. Ketto is supporting an upcoming event that will be held in coordination with The Bake Collective, an informal group of bakers, chocolatiers and volunteers. The Bake Sale will take place on October 12 & 13 at Phoenix Mills and you can also donate through online crowd funding on their website. The event will support Project Anando, which aims to take education to over 9,000 children in the rural parts of Maharashtra. What’s more is that if you’re an avid baker and would like to contribute, you can become a part of The Bake Collective by signing up on their website.
When October 12 & 13
Where Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel
Contact www.ketto.org
Araaish by Save the Children: Save the Children is celebrating its silver jubilee by organising Araaish: A Day of Festive Shopping. Araaish will showcase festive collections by leading brands and will also retail a range of handcrafted products that have been made my adolescent girls and young women who are a part of the Women’s Institute for Social Education. The funds generated from the sale will be given to Save the Children India’s Special Care Centre that ensures nutritious meals, school uniforms, an easy commute and extra-curricular activities for hearing-impaired and differently-abled children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
When October 8
Where Blue Sea, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan Road, Worli Sea Face, Near National Association For Blinds, Worli
Contact 24903333
NGOS WE LOVE
Mumbai has many NGOs that aim to improve various sectors of society. You can volunteer with most of them and make a donation as well. Here’s a list of them:
WORKING AGAINST CORRUPTION
AGNI Mumbai (Action for Good Governance & Networking in India):
It focuses on the interaction between citizens and the local governing body. The organisation is represented at ward levels in 14 wards of the municipality of Mumbai. It deals with citizen problems, issues related to good governance and networking between citizen groups.
When 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Where Seva Niketan, Sir JJ Road, Byculla
Contact 23018542, 23020825
India Centre For Human Rights & Law: It provides legal aid to various distressed groups who cannot afford legal backing.
When 9.30am to 6 pm on Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3pm on Saturdays
Where Motiwala Mansion, Masjid Bunder, 56 Dontad Street, Daambar Galli, Chinch Bandar
Contact 23435058
WORKING FOR DISABILITY RELATED ISSUES
NASEOH (National Society for Equal Opportunities for the Handicapped): This NGO provides vocational training, placement, heath, aid, counselling, creating awareness for the handicapped.
When 9am to 6pm, from Monday to Friday
Where Postal Colony Road, Near Maa Hospital, Chembur
Contact 25220224/25
The National Association of Disabled’s Enterprises (NADE): It’s a training centre and workshop for blind, deaf, mentally and orthopedically handicapped people. It also helps them find employment.
When 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday
Where Kannamwar Nagar Municipal Marathi School No 1, GF, Kannamwar Nagar I, Vikhroli (E)
Contact 25779600, 25779671
The Nina Foundation: This is a support group for paraplegics which offers counselling, medical aid, education and employment support for them.
When 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday
Where 240/11, Shankar Sadan, FF, Sion (E)
Contact 24071952, 24094319, 9820026495
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Awaaz: They deal with awareness of environmental problems, education with regards to pollution prevention and protection of the environment.
When By appointment
Where 75, New Silver Home, New Kantwadi Road, Bandra (W)
Contact 9821520805
The Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CERE): They provide awareness, education and training on all environment issues, water management and resource management.
When 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Where JS Municipal School, Room No 78, TF, Nana Chowk
Contact 23811581-82
WORKING TO HELP CHILDREN
Childline India Foundation: They deal with emergency services such as medical, shelter, protection, missing children, counselling, and rehabilitation for children from 0-18 years. This helpline links the children to the suitable support organisation.
When 24 hours helpline – 1098
Where Nana Chowk Municipal School, 2nd Floor, Frere Bridge – Low Level, Nana Chowk, Near Grant Road Station
Contact 23841098, 23881098
The Akanksha Foundation: They provide education for underprivileged children at their informal educational centres. They also help with placement of the children after they complete the basic education required (till they reach 18 years of age).
When 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday
Where Voltas House ‘C’, TB Kadam Marg, Chinchpokli
Contact 23700253, 23729880
My Helping Hand: Works for underprivileged children and families and provides them with education, employment and basic requisites of life. They also provide girls free training in beauty and hair services.
Where 601, A wing Noorie Apartment, Shalimar Bakery Lane, Yaari Road, Versova, Andheri (W)
Contact 9920439145
WORKING TO HELP SENIOR CITIZENS
Dignity Foundation: They help the elderly with counselling, legal help, police help, and also provide them with social support.
When 10am to 6.15pm, Monday to Saturday
Where BMC School building, Topiwala Lane
Contact 23841845, 23898079
Elderline: It’s a toll-free helpline for the senior citizens provided by the Mumbai Police.
Contact 1090
Helpage India: They primarily work for the aged and elderly. Their services include medical aid, rehabilitation, old age homes, day cares and counselling.
When 9.30am to 5.30pm
Where No. 34-A/44, Guruchhaya, Manish Nagar, Andheri (West)
Contact 26370740, 26370754
WORKING TO HELP WOMEN
Akshara: They help with empowerment of women, strive toward equal rights for women, gender inequality, support and training.
When 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday
Where 501 Neelambari, 11, Road No 86, Off Gokhale Road, Dadar (W)
Contact 24309676, 24316082
Oasis: They are into anti human trafficking (prevention, protection and rehabilitation), community development, education and training for women and children in distress and health and rehabilitative care.
When Flexible, Monday to Friday
Where Unit 2 Building 1, Marol Udyog Premises Co-operative Society Ltd, Steel Made Industrial Estate, Marol Maroshi Road, Marol, Andheri (E)
Contact 40485400
MAJLIS: They provide legal aid to women regarding marital problems, sexual harassment and other women related issues.
When 10.30am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday
Where A 2/4, Golden Valley, Kalina-Kurla Road, Kalina
Contact 26661252, 26662394
NGOS WORKING FOR SEXUALITY RELATED ISSUES
The Humsafar Trust: They are one of the largest and most active NGOs that promote LGBT rights. They deal with counselling, health care and legal advice.
When 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday
Where Old BMC building, FF, Besides Shree Chakra Restaurant, Above Vakola PO, Nehru Road, Vakola, Santacruz (E)
Contact 26650547, 26673800
Samabhavana Society: They are a support group for sexual minorities, counselling, health care, legal aid.
Contact 3080592, 23080593 Toll-free: 1800222199
START SMALL...
- Call your helpers, house help. Not a maid or servant.
- Keep a small bag and put some money inside it each day. At the end of the month, whatever the amount, donate it.
- Don’t give money to the beggars. Buy them food instead.
- If you have the resources, help your house help’s children to study.
JOY OF GIVING
The Joy of Giving Week is India’s ‘festival of giving’. Launched in 2009, the festival is celebrated every year, in the week including Gandhi Jayanti, that is, from October 2 to 8, and brings together Indians from all walks of life, to celebrate ‘giving’ by doing an event of your own or participating in one — it could be as simple as a family taking out your house help’s children for an ice-cream party, or as large as Gift Compassion that had 10,000+ school children across India making and exchanging gifts with their peers from different socio-economic backgrounds. These events are organised by individuals, social groups, schools, colleges, NGOs, corporates, media houses and others. To know more about these events, log on to www.joyofgivingweek.org