An Australian Initiative - Indian execution : SEPC

PLAY FORWARD is an organization from Australia which through community programs use sport as an avenue to build confidence and self esteem among-st young Australians aged 8-13. They aim to impact disengaged and marginalized children, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, whose school completion rates are well below the completion rates for other students.Play Forward harnesses the power of sport as a vehicle for social change. 

OSCAR - Organization for Social Change, Awareness & Responsibility is an organization from Mumbai, India which aims at encouraging children to continue their education through the medium of sports. 

IU Cares from India tied up with the Australian project PLAY FORWARD and OSCAR and decided to carry out the campaign named as SEPC - Sports Equipment Procurement Campaign in India.

We started this project around the month of November. Initially this project gained wide interest among lot of teams who were willing to take it up. Whenever a lot many people take up something ultimately it ends up in no one doing it. The same happened with SEPC and the different sets of people who took up the project fell short of their commitment but IU Cares was hell-bent to make sure that this amazing campaign materialized into reality. Hence the team IU took the entire responsibility of making sure that the task of SEPC happened within 24 hours of time frame and we are glad to let the world know that we have achieved our target.

The target was taken precisely at 4pm on April 2nd, 2013 and right after that 5 dedicated volunteers from different parts of Bangalore were selected and were informed to contact 5 or more relatives, friends, classmates or strangers and collect at least one old sports equipment from them which they would otherwise throw away. Within just 4 hours of allotment of the task, the first volunteer by name Srinivas KN from National college reached with his sports items including cricket bat, stumps, jersey and shuttle badminton rackets. 

The next day on April 3rd, 2013, old toys and sports equipment from 4 more volunteers reached within 3pm and finally it was a quick grand successful campaign of SEPC. More than 50 sports articles were collected within a matter of 24 hours of time. 



IU Cares takes this opportunity to appreciate all the volunteers - Srinivas KN, Nivedita Raj, Aditya Kanbur, Rajath, Jayanth and Shylesh KS who made SEPC a successful campaign. All of these sports articles shall be distributed to under-privileged kids at the earliest.

You can look for more information on all these social projects on the following links;

http://www.resolutionproject.org/content/vanessa-picker
http://www.iucares.org/partner-projects.php
http://www.play-forward.org/#!about_us/csgz

IU Cares Report -15th Aug, 2012

An Unforgettable Independence day

Indian Independence day is a mark in the world history to resemble the significance of non-violence. We have been celebrating Independence day from a long time since our childhood. Hoisting flags, distributing sweets and chocolates, singing national anthems etc have been our natural process of celebrating our Independence day but today was the day when few youth of Bangalore decided to celebrate the same day in a different way. They decided to make a small mark of their own in the Indian history today. I am just so happy to share the experience of this exciting day with all my lovely readers.

Around 70+ youth gathered in the morning at 9:30 AM in S.R.N. Adarsh College. The Inspiration Unlimited team and it's founder  Er. Sujit Lalwani  arranged a series of events as part of their corporate social responsibility under the banner of "IUCares". 

All the students were segregated into 14 different teams. Each team had to chose a team name, team colour and team leader. Every team was sent to a task room where they were assigned different tasks that focused on creating a positive social impact. The tasks had to be completed in the next 3 hrs. Some of the tasks given were fund raising to buy meals, stationery, books, vicks, dental kits, soaps etc and donate them to the needy in different areas of Bangalore. Some had to visit old age homes, orphanages to celebrate Independence day with the people there, some had to collect statistics and data regarding the state of the areas in Bangalore. All the teams were really excited to work in the hot sun in a team of complete strangers and contribute something to the society on the ocassion of Independence day. 

Students learnt different lessons in due course of the journey. They understood the real situation of our country, felt really happy for celebrating this day in such a fantastic practical manner. After the activity, all the teams shared the photos and videos they had taken during the tasks and shared a presentation of their project with the best energetic feeling. They were present from morning 10 am till evening 7 pm to create a positive difference in the society.

Hats off to the management of S.R.N. Adarsh College for their commendable support to this special activity. May more students take part in such activity time and again. Let's not wait for independence day to create such positive impact on the society. 

IU-Cares welcomes each one of you to participate, learn and contribute. A brilliant salute to IU team as well which during this entire busy schedule created a website and started off with facebook pages for IUcares to promote all the noble activities. For more information visit www.iucares.org, www.twitter.com/iucares and www.facebook.com/iucares.

The last 5 !

Teams 1 to 10 have had the best day of their lives and shared their fabulous experiences with all their friends. The next 5 teams have more interesting stories to add on.

Team 11 was assigned with the task of providing the stationery for children to help in their education by raising funds for the same. Team The Ultimate Warriors took up this challenge and went around to collect a total Rs.1166 and bought 50 books, 50 pencils and 50 scales which were donated to the school going children. Children were more excited to receive these than chocolates or sweets which symbolizes the hunger for knowledge in our upcoming generations than for food.

Team 12, named Nano was assigned with the task of raising funds to collect Vicks Vaporub and donate it to people to provide them medication during cold. The adventurous team was intercepted by police due to certain doubts which they gracefully cleared and went all out to collect a total of Rs.675 and bought 65 vicks boxes and donated them among the needy. This would serve them during cold for atleast next one year. This was the mega impact that this team had created.

Team 13 was assigned with the task of cleaning up litter in the surrounding localities and spreading the message of clean environment among the people.Team        Blue Sea very enthusiastically took up this challenge and went around cleaning the surrounding areas and also cleaned garbage in 6 areas. They even met the member of BBMP and got a promise from him that garbage covers will be provided free of cost wherever required and garbage cans would be kept in every nook and corner.

Team 14 was assigned with the task of conducting a survey in and around Chamrajpet and preparing a report for the same. Team Gladiators graciously took up the task and went around talking to people to know their problems and the reasons for the same. By the end of three hours they were ready with a statistical report of the problems in the areas and pictures which were displayed to all based on which the BBMP officials would be intimated and the process of clearing up all the mess would be undertaken.

Team 15 was a special batch of young children who were still in their upper-primary school. These kids also didn't stop their age from performing stupendous work by distributing chocolates, sweets, books, pencils and other stationery items to the underprivileged children in their locality under the guidance of Chaya madam who is the HOD of MBA department at S.R.N.Adarsh College. These small children learned the feeling of sharing in this activity and also the social responsibility.  

If you’re thinking that it all ends here, we promise you friends that this is not even the beginning. IUCares has just taken a small step towards a giant vision of bringing about a massive positive change in this world. Watch out this space for more such episodes of inspiration and its effects.

For more information and to participate with IUCares visit www.iucares.org and be connected with us on www.facebook.com/IUCares and www.twitter.com/IUCares

And there were more tasks!!!

Are you all set to know the further set of fantastic tasks and the experiences of the awakened Indians on our Independence Day. If you are ready we have the next set to inspire and inform you even more.

Team 6  was assigned with the task of visiting orphanages and spending 3 hours of precious time with the children and people there. We would like to say that they invested three special hours of their life to learn the lifestyle of people at orphanages. Also team Helping Hands shared the happiness of the independence with people in the orphanages. They transferred the feeling of family among the people. In due course they even learnt the mistake of today’s youth who put their parents into old age homes and pledged along with all others that they wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.

Team 7 was assigned with the task of collecting bed-sheets and pillows from different homes and donating them to the needy. Team Sparklers was all set to carry out this adventurous task and they really had to go to each and every house in the surroundings asking for bed-sheets. Some of the residents were even ready to donate clothes. This team collected a total of 15 bed-sheets and donated them to the poor and made sure that their further nights would be warm enough protected from the cold of night.

Team 8 was assigned with the task of collecting books from different localities and donating them to government schools. Team White Field had to go around roads of Bangalore from one house to another to collect books. They were even offered with breakfast in some of the houses as a symbol of support to their work. Finally this team had collected a total of 191 books which were donated to government school to serve the underprivileged students who would come to the school. They spread the message of education to the masses through this noble act.

Team 9 was assigned with the task of collecting home prepared food from different houses and donating them to the needy in hospitals and other places. Team Swadesh went all out for this noble cause of filling hunger struck stomachs and collected 2 boxes of puliyogare, 3 packets of bread, 30 bananas and one box of sweets which they distributes as 35 meals to different people in hospitals and thus were responsible for killing the hunger of these people. Everyone of us work for our food which is the most basic necessity. This team provided the same for those who were in need of it.

Team 10 was assigned with the task of spreading the message of reducing the usage of plastics to promote the mission of greener earth by using old newspapers made into bags instead of plastic covers. Team Fantastic Five went around the city to collect a total of 5 kg of old newspapers and made a total of 200 newspaper bags out of them. They were even supported by rickshaw drivers in this act. They distributed these bags to the stores around and also passed on the message of using less plastics and to keep our environment clean and healthy.

The tasks just get exciting more and more. Watch out for the final five teams and their fantastic tasks and impacts in our next blog!

The Task!

We are damn sure that each one of you wanted to know the variety of the tasks that the teams had taken up on the occasion of our Independence day. We will let you know each of the tasks and also the exciting journey of each of the teams in pursuing these tasks in the limited time of 180 minutes. We were more than sure that the impact this activity would create on the society would be a remembrance to recollect throughout the lives of these young Indians. The tasks assigned and performed were as follows;

Team 1 was assigned with the task of going to different houses, collect the old unused toys and distribute them among the underprivileged children. Team Classic went out on this task speaking to different residents and collecting toys one after the other. After their persistent efforts they were able to collect twelve toys. Along with these they collected bands and balloons and donated them to those children who couldn’t afford these. Team Classic were so happy seeing the happiness on the face of the kids who were presented these gifts and also learnt the satisfaction of gifting the ungifted ones.

Team 2 was assigned with the task of raising funds and buying soaps out of the funds raised so that they can be distributed among the people living in unclean places such as slums and spread awareness about cleanliness. Team Five Fingers went around  under the hot sun to different stores to collect money. They even approached doctors but were disappointed to not get any help from them. Still they didn’t give up but took it as a challenge to continue the task and finally collected Rs.620 and bought 25 soaps and 5 handwash and distributed among 10 houses and also made them aware of being healthy and clean. 

Team 3  was assigned with the task of raising funds and distributing umbrellas to the needy. In this cold weather when rains are so unpredictable this task had charged up team The Swords so much that in their rapid pace of interacting with different people, they were able to collect a massive amount Rs.1300 and buy 35 umbrellas out of it. They went around to find the needy and donated these umbrellas thus covering them with a shield during rains. The ones who received these were filled with gratitude towards these bright citizens of India.

Team 4 was assigned with the task of raising funds to buy footwear and to distribute them among those who couldn’t even afford a pair of footwear. Only when you walk barefooted do you understand the value of footwear. Can you just imagine one day in your past where you have had contact with mother earth? Probably its difficult to recollect as we are so used to using footwear. This was the same comfort that the team Sunrise wanted to provide to those who were devoid of it. With their passionate spirit they were able to raise of a fund of more than Rs.750 and donate 25 new footwear to the poor. Along with this they were able to collect old unused footwear and distribute them also.

Team 5 was assigned with the task of raising funds to collect dental kits and distribute among the poor to spread awareness about dental cleanliness and healthy way of life. This team Indian Fighters was charged up thoroughly well and a result of their immense energy they were able to collect a humungous amount of Rs.3052 and buy 110 tooth brushes and tooth pastes. Not just that, they even collected slippers, milk, chocolates and soaps from different houses and donated all these to the needy. They even celebrated a birthday of one of the kids in the slum on our independence day which was a special highlight.

We are very sure that you are really anxious to know what the other teams did and their learning. Watch out for more in the next blog!

The Exciting Tasks that made our Independence day even more Exciting!

Task 1: Collect working toys from people, find out an orphanage and donate it.

Task 2: Hygiene Wing – Fund Raising - Find out a slum in Bangalore, use the funds, buy soaps n distribute in that slum and promote cleanliness campaign.

Task 3: Fund raising – Find a slum, buy umbrellas and donate there.

Task 4: Fund Raising – Go around Bangalore, choose any area, go to showrooms etc, raise enough funds and buy footwear, find a slum, donate.

Task 5: Dental Wing – Make people independent of germs, donate dental kits.

Task 6: Find an old age home and perform any activity.

Task 7: Collect old bed sheets, pillow and donate them to slums

Task 8: Collect as many old books as possible, find out a govt school / orphanage and donate.

Task 9: Fund Raising for meals collection and donation.

Task 10: Go to any residence, collect as many newspapers as you can, make small bags. Give it to shops . Have the number of bags count and promote the message - “We’re here to tell you – reduce plastics.”

Task 11: Collect funds to buy Vicks vaporub and donate to the needy people in slums

Task 12: Fund raising – Buy notebooks and pens, gift this set to as many people as you can and donate it to slum children and in orphanage

Task 13: You have to go to a particular area of Bangalore and clean up the litter in that area as much as possible. Whoever comes ask them also to participate.

Task 14: Choose one area of Bangalore, identify the number of stray dogs, find out the lack of things in that area and get statistics.