iVolunteer, Mumbai : Newsletter for October 2006

Dear Friend,

As an organisation that promotes volunteering, we repeatedly explain to people how volunteering benefits us in a more personal way. Not only do we feel a sense of achievement but also get the much needed break we deserve from our daily routine. Essentially, volunteering is a simple, easy and rewarding way to relax.

And if you don’t agree with us, at least hear out what Jonathan Clements, the personal finance columnist for The Wall Street Journal, has to say. In his 9 Tips for Investing in Happiness, one is “Volunteer: If you want to help yourself, try helping others -- by engaging in charitable activities.” So, just as you dwell upon your financial investments, think about your emotional investments and volunteer.

Volunteer Speak

"I was unsure about what to expect at Sneha Nilaya that afternoon. I was there because we wanted to make a difference. But, would we really make a difference? Would the children relate to us?" If these are your fears too, then fear no more as first time volunteer Christina Daniels from Bangalore found out.

"When I woke up that Sunday morning, I had a mixed feeling. I was supposed to get ready to visit an old-age home near Coles Park. For a very long time, almost 9 - 10 years, I wanted to visit one such home and listen to the problems faced by the people living there. If not solve, at-least make them feel that they are not alone in this world..." Has Vinay Venkataraman from Bangalore read your mind? Then, read his story on his visit to Jerome old age home.

NGO Speak

"We, at SICHREM, would like to extend our deepest gratitude for having given us the opportunity to have the session on human rights and also to display and sell our communicative materials at your office on 27th August.
We are really happy that we were able to reach out to the potential volunteer base of your organisation and that all the volunteers who participated in the session showed keen interest in knowing more about human rights. We hope that they enjoyed it and had an insight into the concept of it. They have evinced great interest in volunteering for the cause of human rights and SICHREM.
We once again thank you for your support and solidarity."
- A. Ananth, SICHREM, Bangalore

Volunteers in Action

Oracle’s volunteer employees had their first tryst with voluntarism with some attending a Train the Trainer workshop on AIDS awareness by Asha Foundation and 37 others setting out on a tree plantation drive at Vidyaniketan in rural Bangalore. If you or your colleagues would like to host a similar workshop in your office premises, call Prarthana on +91-80-25469242.

It’s back to school time for 10 Bangalore volunteers who are learning basic conversational Kannada from peer volunteers. Held at the iVolunteer office, the 5 classes are conducted for 2 hours a week, enabling volunteers like Reema Sardana to improve their linguistic skills and enrich their volunteer work.

iVolunteer Delhi’s corporate volunteering programme with Heidrick & Struggles resulted in 50 employees volunteering their time along with donating blood during a blood donation camp organised at their office premises in collaboration with the Rotary Blood Bank.

iVolunteer Bangalore organised 2 events for the employee volunteers of Logica CMG. The first involved a visit to Jerome old age home where the volunteers spent time with the old folks reading newspapers to them and lending an ear. The second event was a visit to Sneha Nilaya, a shelter home for girls. To find out more about these events, visit our Volunteer Speak section.

The Janaagraha orientation workshop on civic issues was well attended by iVolunteer Bangalore and its volunteers. The participants were informed about different civic problems, how to solve them, whom to contact in the Public Works Dept. and much more. If you would like to volunteer for such community initiatives, contact Prarthana on +91-80-25469242.

Initiatives@iVolunteer Delhi

Celebrate Diwali and Ramzan with a difference by participating in a mela for non-profit organisations, its beneficiaries and volunteers on 19th October at the Amphitheatre Indian Habitat Centre. This interactive platform will also showcase performances by the NGO children, participatory games and a rock band. The day is divided into 3:00 pm-6:00 pm (exhibition of NGO products and work) and 6:00 pm-8:00 pm (games and performances). Please confirm your participation in advance by contacting Jamal on +91-11-26217460.

iVolunteer Delhi organised a volunteer recruitment drive across a number of colleges last month. The setting: Delhi College of Arts, Delhi College of Economics, IIT Delhi, Jamia Milia Islamia University and Jamia Hamdard University. If you would like a similar drive to be organised in your college, contact Jamal on +91-11-26217460.

Have you visited Khan Market recently or the British Council for that matter? If you have, then you would have spotted iVolunteer posters at these locations. You too could be a part of this marketing initiative by helping us rope in more outlets and put up iVolunteer posters at important hotspots in the city. To get the collateral, contact Jamal on +91-11-26217460.

Salvage your old blankets and woolen clothes for those whose value it more than you. iVolunteer Delhi will be organising a collection drive for winter items to be passed on to shelter homes, street children and footpath dwellers through its partner NGO, Aman Biradari. So spring clean your cupboard but this time donate, don’t discard.

Coming soon

The iVolunteer website has gone in for a makeover. Our new avatar is almost ready so remember to constantly check our site because we’re promising a whole lot of goodies for volunteers and NGOs alike.

iVolunteer Bangalore is looking for more home makers and senior citizens to join its seasoned group of volunteers who share decades of experience and the spirit to bring light to the lives of others. So if you are a homemaker, retired person or a senior citizen, pick up the phone right away and call Prarthana on +91-80-25469242.

India Fellow promotional campaigns are being planned in Mumbai from November onwards. Anyone interested in helping us with the ground work, passing on college contacts and getting us permission for free stall space in the college premises or at college festivals can contact Divya or call +91-22-65828875.

iVolunteer Mumbai’s festive volunteering is back. 25 volunteers have already signed up to organise super fun Diwali parties for the children in 2 NGOs. Stay tuned for the next newsletter to get all the low down on the Diwali dhamaka.

Visit our website www.iVolunteer.org.in or reach us at:

Delhi: 011-55672160 - delhi@iVolunteer.org.in
Mumbai: 022-26105235 - mumbai@iVolunteer.org.in
Bangalore: 080-25469242 - bangalore@iVolunteer.org.in
Chennai: 044-52105447 - chennai@iVolunteer.org.in
Foreign Volunteers: contact - seema@iVolunteer.org.in
To volunteer overseas: contact - iVolunteer Overseas

For other cities or any other queries mail us at info@iVolunteer.org.in