article by Charu & Anuj

"Social Work through Social Networking"

- Charu & Anuj

I remember when I was in school we used to get these stickers for Help Age which we had to sell, it was quite a task for me explaining to people what it was when I also had limited knowledge. There was no Internet where I could Google 'Help Age' and find all details. Times have changed. In this age of Twitter, Facebook, Orkut and other social networking sites, the world has become smaller and the interaction amongst people is at an all time high. The people have become so addicted to these networking sites that even the most mundane activities a person does finds its way to his status message. A person who is about to sleep puts in a status message “ZZZZZ….” Or “washing dishes….need help” are just a few examples. I always ask this question to myself if we can use these social networking sites to stay in touch with our long lost friends then we can look at a way where these sites can be used for noble causes too.

Before we start let's understand what is social media. Newspapers and TV reports are termed as media where we have only one way communication. Social media on the other hand is two-way communication like Facebook where you can post articles, photographs and people can give their views thus participating. PARTICIPATION is the key here - how we can use social media for creating awareness for various social causes.

Social Media has come across as a quick way to flag issues and a great way to disseminate information. Social workers and social work educators have been using electronic bulletin boards, e-mail and online forums to interact with one another and raise social consciousness for years. But the transition to social media, where users connect, create and share online content, has been much slower.

Young adults have been mastering these Web tools for awhile and still make up a large proportion of social media users. Interestingly this age group too forms a part of the most active class of people as far as social causes are concerned. They already know about Facebook, text messaging, iPhone apps, YouTube and so forth. So as younger people enter the social work field, there will naturally be more social workers using social media. These are the people who can spread the awareness of these causes to anyone they have been interacting with on these social networking sites.

Businesses, philanthropic groups and others are also capitalizing on social media. Some nonprofit groups, such as Charity: Water have been especially creative. The nonprofit organization, which brings clean and safe drinking water to developing nations, used Twitter last year to bring more than 200 international cities together to raise public awareness on the global water crisis. The one-day fundraiser or “Twestival” raised more than $250,000, enough to cover the cost of drilling wells to serve more than 17,000 people in Uganda, Ethiopia and India.

Globally, the Internet and social media are forcing a culture shift over how communication occurs, who participates and what information is spread. Facebook, Twitter and blogs can enable NGOs to receive more immediate feedback the causes at hand, explore others’ thoughts on these causes. With just a few mouse clicks, these NGOs can tap into the brainpower of people and experts without even meeting them.

So let us make the most of the powerful tool we have at dispense and help create a more meaningful world.

Second semester fee for Vikram*

The reciept of semster fee for Vikram*

He secured a 25% fee waiver from the university which was adjusted in this fee.

I wish him luck, and say thanks to you all for your help , support and contributions :-)

* name changed to protect the identity of student

article by Nikhil

"the art of giving"

- Nikhil Handu

Having made decent strides in financial independence riding on the back of a booming economy, most of us want to give back something to the society, with the only question left unanswered being HOW? This is an underlying change that I have observed between the present crop and citizens of India 10 years ago when giving back to the society carried the rather uncomfortable tag of ‘charity’ and was primarily the fiefdom of the rich and accomplished who could afford to ‘donate’. Herein lays the inherent difference. When your social duties get tags such as ‘charity’, ‘donation’ etc the whole purpose gets defeated. It becomes more of an ego massage than a humbling experience.

The correct manner to give back to the society, in my opinion, is to do your bit and simply move on… not wait for people to take note of your efforts and bask in the adulation that those people may shower for the noble step (not the person, mind it). This is the underlying philosophy of AKSH and something that made me want to be a part of this noble endeavor. Just the mere fact that my small efforts are going to benefit somebody in making a decent life for himself and hopefully his family is rewarding enough, if you ask me.

A group activity like the one AKSH undertakes is of manifold importance. It prevents people like me, who independently would probably not be in a position to support the education of a deserving student, from having an excuse to shirk from their social responsibilities. What AKSH does is collect the good intensions of many like minded people like me and accumulate it to translate into a life changing effect for a person who is the deserving candidate. What such an effort also does rather efficiently and effectively is that it helps weed out personal prejudices/ favorites. I must confess here that this fact did not come to mind till very recently when while interacting with a rather respectable person, in our efforts to mobilize support for our cause, I was conveyed that we must concentrate on a particular set of students and not another set that according to the person very adequately covered by other schemes of the government.

Apart from being appalled, I was singularly amazed at how deep prejudices run in a person that while fulfilling ones social responsibilities one is yet conscious of the fact as to who the final beneficiary is. Herein comes the crux of my present submission, please contribute and help deserving students because you want to help them and not because it is in vogue or because of personal preferences and prejudices. Let us not fall to the trap of putting identification marks on students other than their merit and acumen. I have turned a believer that AKSH and such like efforts can go a long way in rooting out extraneous factors from the noble cause of education.

The cause of educating the future generation is indeed a pious one. This must not be polluted by personal likes and dislikes and must be a practical and without prejudice or passion for a particular set of students. Education has been likened to the spread of light by many wise men – this light does not choose and reach a selected few but bathes everyone without discrimination on basis of caste / creed / color / religion / community (and god-knows-what else).

I have but one thing to share with my fellow travelers on this path ...

We pray to God of wealth and success to remove darkness from our life by way of enlightening the knowledge

Hum toh nikley they akele log judtey gaye aur kafila ban gaya ; So friends lets carry on with this beautiful journey.

Vikram* scholarship update

There is a family-income based scholarship in Punjabi University. This is designed to ease the financial burden for students from marginal income families.

Vikram* has secured a 1/4 fee waiver for the first semester. This waiver will be adjusted by University in his next semester fees. Our fee commitment for the next semester reduces by around INR 12,000 !! !!

For AKSH, it helps to utilize these savings for more kids in the next academic year.

* name changed to protect the identity of student

power of 500 !!

I am reading "Maximum City" by Suketu Mehta. Taking note from one of his observation - for the past few weeks i have started to observe the power of 500 !!

Our lifestyle is such that 500 is the currency of usual expenditures - be it food, movies, clothes, diesel !! everything adds up in multiples of 500 !! !! i was amazed to realize that on monthly basis; i spend 4 multiples of 500 on diesel - wow !! It was a revelation - how 500 has become so inconsequential to my life .. i hardly think twice before i spend my next 500 INR note.

Just ONE multiple of this 500 goes every month to AKSH. All my friends have joined in with similar intent. All of us contribute ONE multiple of 500 every month. The cumulative result brightens life of one kid (today) ; many many more tomorrow. The change which AKSH will bring to these kids is sustainable and will benefit their next generation as well. All this with just contribution of 500 !!

Every time I observe the multiples of 500 that I am so used to spend now ; i realize how a very small portion of my regular expenses provides an excellent opportunity to bright kids - so that they can write their own script of achievements. A drop in the ocean. THINK.

AKSH website

First version of AKSH website is prepared !!

Check out the link .. http://www.wix.com/aksh_initiative/aksh2

examination fee for Vikram*

Vikram* has deposited the examination fee for first semester exams. Attached below is the receipt.

* name changed to protect the identity of student

AKSH monthly newsletter

A monthly newsletter to describe ongoing activities and our community member views has been started from this month. The link to this newsletter is available on the right side frame. ===>>

Link to September edition.

Please feel free to circulate the link to the newsletter among your friends.

Talk on career opportunities in commerce stream

We are planning a talk on career opportunities in commerce stream for students studying in SDSE school, Patiala.

Anybody willing to volunteer with content development or talk/presentation in Patiala - please get in touch with me

mentor program for X+1 & X+2 students

A mentor program is planned for kids studying under scholarship in SDSE school in Patiala.

These kids have very less awareness for the kind of career opportunities available these days. If we can help them with some imagination - i am sure there are more opportunities to aim for other than simple engineering or medical stream.

The idea of this program is to create a group of volunteers who can mentor a kid from 11th class onwards. The purpose is to build a bond with the kid, so that over the period of time - the kid is able to discuss his/her interests , studies , difficulties etc etc. Ideally, the link should continue through the graduation studies as well. Think of it like the kid is your younger brother or sister - whom you would like to nurture through these formative years of his/her life.

What is required from a volunteer ?

Typically, to build a contact - through regular phone calls (say, once a month or twice a month) or as and when required. If you feel the kid needs some kind of help then we can share this concern among us and try to work out some solution for the kid.

Let me know, if you are interested to volunteer. It does not require any travel or change of routine for you - but a regular and sincere talk on phone with a kid.

I would love to have two volunteers for every kid ...

Vikram* admission update

In the latest list from Punjabi University, Vikram* has secured an upgrade to Computer Sciences branch.

He starts his studies this week , will keep you posted on his experiences :)

* name changed to protect the identity of student

Uttrakhand open university 6-month skill development program

This course at Uttrakhand open university is a six-month skill development program developed in collaboration with Tata Motors. The course is specifically for local kids from Uttrakhand state. It involves 2 month theory classes , followed by 4 month training project at Tata Motors plant, Pantnagar. As per my understanding, all good performers will be recruited by Tata Motors as trainees.

The eligibility for the course is :

1. Minimum 10th class education

2. Age between 18yrs to 25yrs

The fee for this course is 6000 INR , which includes the course material and training uniform.

There are 60 seats for this course, which are filled on first-come-first-serve basis. Last date for registration is 31st July.

If you know of some kid who can benefit from this course, please circulate this information.

Infosys supported NGO

If you come across bright students coming from poor financial background who have finished their 10th standard and scored more than 80%, please ask them to contact NGO-Prerana (supported by Infosys foundation). NGO conducts a written test and those who clear the test will be eligible for financial help for their further studies. Please ask students to contact people mentioned below to get the form:

580, Shubhakar, 44th cross, 1st A main road, Jayanagar, 7th block, Bangalore.

Contact numbers:

1. Ms. Saraswati - 99009 06338

2. Mr. Shivkumar - 99866 30301

Allotment letter for Vikram* admission

This is the letter from Punjabi University to confirm the admission

* name changed to protect the identity of student

Progress report & Accounts report

please follow the progress & accounts report at these link:

1. http://tinyurl.com/aksh-progress-report

2. http://tinyurl.com/aksh-accounts-report

Please provide your viewpoints,

thanks

First semester fee for Vikram*

The first semester fee for Vikram* is on its way to the college :)

I am sure, Vikram* is going to make an excellent career and life for himself,

I wish him luck , and say thanks to you all for your help , support and contribution :)

* name changed to protect the identity of student

Vikram* admission status

The first list of Punjabi University is online, and Vikram* has secured admission in Mechanical branch.

What i understand - there will be some upgrades in the next list, based on how many students opt not to pay the fee. It is very much possible Vikram* might get an upgrade to Computer Sciences branch.

We have to deposit the fee next week,

Thanks a lot guys for your help, support and contributions,

* name changed to protect the identity of student

Engineering qualification exam results declared

Guys,

Few days back, engineering qualification exam results were declared. Based on these exams, engineering colleges admit students to their courses.

Vikram* secured 975 rank in Punjab CET and 1500 rank in AIEEE (Punjab list)

Based on these marks , he is going to try for Punjabi University or Thapar University.

Right now, he is filling up counselling forms - will keep you posted on the admission news :)

* name changed to protect the identity of student

first post

Friends,

I want to share with you a thought which has motivated me and few friends to work on the topic of child education.

There is no need to go into the details or numbers , we all are aware about the skewed income in our country. Every year I hear my own engineering college increasing its fee many times. Sometimes, I wonder if I was required to pay today's fee structure - how feasible was it for my parents to fund my education !!

I strongly believe , education is the only way to help somebody make a sustainable future. If the person is able to graduate in a stream of his choice - for sure he can provide for himself and his family and ensure his kids will have better oppurtunities to choose from. It is most unfair , to miss out on such oppurtunities because of lack of money to fund the college fees.

All of us are truly blessed to be earning very good amounts of money on a regular basis. We fail to appreciate this - but when you observe how people with irregular source of income have to live their life - a realization of being lucky sets in. It did to me. It is also an oppurtunity for us to help students .. who are equally intelligent , equally capable to realize their own dreams.

Few friends discussed about this - and over a period of time , we are now in a position to better articulate our views on this topic. The fee structure for professional courses in India is such , that among ourselves I feel no-one can completely fund the 3 year or 4 year course. We plan to create a community where all of us contribute small amounts of money - which makes it comfortable for all of us - but collectively the money adds up to make for the fee for students who cannot afford to pay their fee.

The purpose to develop this as a community is to avoid any exclusivity. We are not looking for friends who can contribute 1,00,000 or similar amounts !! It would be easier to get few such "high worth" people and get the work done. But we feel - that is not a sustainable model. Instead, we wish many people to join us - with any amounts of contribution which they feel comfortable with. It is similar to how drops of water add up to make an ocean. Our collective contribution is worth much more than sum of our individual efforts. For example, to pledge 500/1000 rupees every month is not very difficult for most us. We spend this much money for a movie or dinner. But when added up , this is sufficient to provide an oppurtunity to change life for one student.

I know 1961-batch Thapar senior, who runs a school scholarship program. One of the students has got very good results in his engineering entrance examination. I am confident he will secure admission from a reputed college. There is no way his parents can pay for the fee. We made a deal with him - he is to get the marks enough to secure an admission , and we will secure the fee from him. He has done his part, and it is time for us to do ours. For this , I request your contribution.

On my part, I assure you complete transperancy. I will share with you the fee reciepts and student progress at regular intervals.

I am writing to you , with confidence that you will think about it this point.

If you wish to be part - please call me / email me

Always, your suggestions , experiences are most welcome. Do provide your viewpoint,

I am not very good with words, so if you wish to know more details - please call me.