Website Impact! Youth Groups Advise Migrant Parents on Safety and Guidelines of Covid-19, along with Goodies

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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Website Impact! NPO (Non-Profit Organization) ‘Spread A Smile’ from Bengaluru, and CAUSE-Mangaluru, in coordination with Mangalorean.com/Team Mangalorean Advise Migrant Parents and their Kids on Safety and Guidelines of Covid-19, along with Goodies

Mangaluru: Talk about the power of media, especially Electronic media where we highlight the civic issues and within few hours or few days the concerned authorities who can’t bear the criticism about their negligence, quickly get into action and rectify the civic issues. In the past Mangalorean.com has highlighted various civic issues through our website, and there has been a tremendous effect with most of the problems being fixed in no time, from rectifying dilapidated roads, open drainage, non-friendly footpaths, dog menace etc.

Following the article Unattended Migrant Workers Children Playing Under II- Padil Underpass in Total Risk of Their Lives published on 15 June, where Team Mangalorean had highlighted the safety of a dozen of unattended children of four migrant workers, who were running and playing under the yet to open Underpass-II, near Padil, Mangaluru, which puts their lives in risk since a bunch of vehicles taking a short cut, ply through this Underpass. And our report was successful, because the very next day, couple of NHAI officials had visited the spot, and had warned the children’s parents not to allow their children freely near the Underpass-II, which could hurt them when vehicles ply through it.

BEFORE WEBSITE IMPACT……

Also having read our report, ‘Spread a Smile’ is a non-profit organization, based in Bengaluru, which works for HIV affected kids, elderly persons, Covid-19 relief in Karnataka state, artwork in special homes, food, clothes and blanket distribution drives across Bengaluru city, contacted Team Mangalorean and wanted to do a small project, by contributing umbrellas, and Biscuits to these migrant kids, and also bring awareness on Safety and on effects of Coronavirus. Having already done two projects in association with Mangalorean.com, (HIV Affected Children at ‘Snehasadan’ in All Smiles Receiving Footwear from ‘Spread A Smile’- a NPO from Bluru) and (Ref: Bluru Youth of ‘Spread A Smile’-a NPO Put Miles of Smiles on Faces of Needy during Covid-19 Lockdown ), the NGO wanted to do one more project in co-ordination with Mangalorean.com and CAUSE- an NGO comprising of Youth, serving the community in need.

AFTER WEBSITE IMPACT……

The ‘Spread A Smile’ NPO works towards the development and happiness of the society, which also comprises of Youth employed in IT firms and other companies in Bengaluru, and ever since its inception, ‘Spread A Smile’ has celebrated birthdays of HIV kids at a children’s home, helping out at old-age homes with a purpose, and many other projects. Currently, with 75 + volunteers with similar mindsets of changing lives, the Team members have been spreading smiles through diverse events such as recreational activities, food, clothes and blanket distribution drives, the artwork of interest, education funds for the underprivileged and much more- and they all feel happy as to what they are doing for the less-privileged society.

On Saturday, 20 June, three founders of “Spread A Smile’, Dhanraj Kumar, and twin brothers, Gaurav and Gautham Bhagath, along with Team Mangalorean, and members from CAUSE, namely Suhan Alva, Mohammed Shawaz and Sankeen Pai, drove to meet the migrant families at Padil Underpass. The Children looking at the colourful umbrellas and packets of biscuits, sponsored by “Spread A Smile’, and Face Masks and Hangyo Chocolate Cone Ice Creams (Courtesy of Hangyo Ice Cream Co), were totally overwhelmed and anxiously waiting to receive the goodies.

Prior to handing over the umbrellas and rest of the goodies, Suhan Alva, an active Ex-Aloysian and one of the Founder’s of CAUSE, speaking in Hindi (since the migrant families were from Madhya Pradesh) briefed on awareness of Coronavirus, and urged them to wear face masks, and follow social distancing- and also advised the parents not to allow their children run around near the Underpass-II, which children could run over speeding vehicles. And the adult migrant men and women assured us that they will follow the advice given by us. Following the briefing, face masks, umbrellas, biscuit packets and Cone Ice creams were distributed to them, by both the NGO members.

The kind and generous gesture shown by these two groups did put miles of smiles, especially on the children, while they were enjoying their ice cream cones, under the colourful umbrellas, and did make a difference in the lives of these migrant families. It’s nice to note that both the groups have created a compassionate heart among these youngsters, and they have become conscious about the downtrodden- and that are doing yeomen service to the community with its members as Good Samaritans. It’s not just the indigent of society-it is the youth too who have been strengthened in carrying out philanthropic work with no complaints or hesitations. And they do it for love!

In conclusion, according to Mathew 25:35-36, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, ….”, we should know that giving is something done voluntarily. Giving should not be done under compulsion, coercion, duress, or conviction. There are some exceptions, of course. When you do give, you are to give what you have chosen in your heart. Those who take pity on those less fortunate than us are true neighbours and caregivers. And that’s exactly what these youngsters did, showing their love towards the low-wage working families, and of course, making a difference. And Team Mangalorean and Mangalorean.com feel proud to be associated with such young groups, who are serving the society, through various community-oriented projects.

I end this column with thought-provoking words of Saint Mother Teresa:

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. At the end of life, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in. I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things. A life not lived for others is not a life. Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

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