While even a decade earlier, people would think of charity only when they already had a proverbial foot in the grave, more and more people these days are doing their bit for the world while they are still in their 20s.
Thoughts of giving something back to the society are coming to people much earlier these days. While even a decade earlier, people would think of charity only when they already had a proverbial foot in the grave, more and more people these days are doing their bit for the world while they are still in their 20s.
Take for instance, 23-year-old documentary filmmaker Ashish Kumar, who volunteers to work with underprivileged kids.
“I come from a background where I’ve seen a lot of suffering since childhood. I wanted to do something worthwhile for those in need, so I started working for an organization where we visited villages to spread awareness about hygiene and education,” he says. Apart from his research work and filmmaking, Ashish also runs his own NGO, which creates awareness among AIDS patients and also focuses on tribal kids’ education. It is not just about helping the underprivileged. Recently, graduates from IIT-B pledged 1 percent of their salary to their alma mater. The movement was started when students realized how high the bank interest rates were for education loans. Through this move they hope to create a pool of resources that future IITians can make use of.
Saharssh Bubna, a software programmer with Oracle, too believes in doing his bit to give back to society. “I have signed up with an organization to annually sponsor education for two children. Apart from that, a group from our office adopts a different slum in the city where we go and donate things that kids there need. It could be anything from books, clothes to shoes. we even organize fun trips for underprivileged kids. For instance, a few weeks ago, we took children from an orphanage for abandoned girls to Ramoji Film City. It was great to see the smile on their faces,” says this 29-year-old.
