By Vaishnavi Srinivasan | Executive Director
“The power of giving is greater than the joy of receiving.”
India’s festival of giving is celebrated every year from Oct 2nd – Oct 8th by engaging citizens through acts of giving - money, time, resources and skills - spanning the corporate sectors, NGOs, the government, schools, colleges and the general public.
Our children from Bhumi’s after-school education programme at 25 urban slum communities decided to usher in the event with guidance from their tutors. 30 activities were conducted engaging over 1,500 people including children in acts of giving.
The communities engaged in a plethora of activities – including awareness drives on Cancer, child safety, honouring teachers, sewage and mortuary workers, food for the homeless, and cleaning the beach and the neighbourhoods.
Cancer awareness rallies were conducted by children with the use of placards to educate the communities on the hazardous consequences of smoking. A cancer therapist from a hospital also participated in the rally and spoke on cancer awareness and prevention.
The children were also thoughtful to honour the sewage and mortuary workers as part of Joy of giving week by appreciating them with sandal garland and a trophy for their service to the society that often common people look down upon. The sewage and mortuary workers experienced immense joy as they felt recognized for the first time for the work they do.
Few other activities conducted were Child safety awareness where the children showcased a skit and recited slogans to educate the community where 120 community members actively participated in the rally. Collection drives were carried out as part of the event where children collected 1 tomato and 1 onion per household which accumulated to almost 40 kgs and were distributed to the needy in the community.
Highlight of the Daan Utsav festival was our student Rahul (from the centre at Elephant Gate) disguised as Yama (God of death) to spread awareness on road safety. He caught those riding without a helmet at three traffic signals and distributed awareness pamphlets. For his effort Rahul received appreciation from the traffic policemen of C2 Police Station.
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