“Instead of giving fish to someone, teach them fishing”, noted Monika Gupta whom I recently interviewed. Well yes, education provokes our sleeping minds to wake up and expand to every dimension. And to teach is to learn twice. Recently we came across one such organization, Young Association; who aims to uplift the education status of the underprivileged kids and one of its enthusiastic members, Monika, who has been a part of Young Association for the last 2.5 years; shared with us the elaborate picture of the organization which is worth appreciable.
Young Association is registered as a Profitable Organization by the name of Sai Keshri Manik Institute of Education Service. They are a group of college students from around 14-15 different colleges who basically empower the kids of Orphanages, slums, Government schools by teaching them on weekends. YA is not an NGO as it is neither funded by Government nor by any other organization.
Monika got inspired from her friends during her first year in Shaheed Rajguru College, Delhi University, where she is pursuing B.tech Electronics and is presently in the final year, to join the association and work wholeheartedly for the overall betterment of the kids. She throws some light about the idol who took the initiative to start the institute.
Mr. Ayush Keshri was obtaining his Bachelor of Arts (B.A. Hons.) in Journalism from Delhi University when he saw through, the difficult conditions of our Nation which were mostly due to the lack of education. He did a thorough research and concluded that Education is the only weapon which can curb all the problems. He started the organization on 11th September 2010. “Mr. Ayush’s idea was widespread in different colleges of DU, and in different universities of Delhi and spread its branches in five different states of India including UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Bihar”, said Monika proudly. She also added, “As we all members are mostly college students, we cannot help the underprivileged kids financially but knowledge is the best donation we can donate in our life.”
“Mr. Ayush’s idea was widespread in different colleges of DU, and in different universities of Delhi and spread its branches in five different states of India including UP, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Bihar”, said Monika proudly. She also added, “As we all members are mostly college students, we cannot help the underprivileged kids financially but knowledge is the best donation we can donate in our life.”
When asked about the objectives of the association, Monika noted down the one and only, motive that drives YA towards the goals is “Act for Change”. All the four main parts of YA i.e. Events Department, Orphanage Teaching Department, School Teaching Department and Slum Teaching Department, work with the motive of not only educating the kids but also exploring the hidden gem in them by organizing various events to provide them a stage to perform. Internship programs, seminars, sports day, eye check-up camps are also organized for the benefit of kids.
When it comes to raising funds for the organization, the college students sell copies, registers, earrings by putting up stalls at various college fests by buying these items from wholesale market at low cost. “Our college is very supportive as they give us permission to interact with other students, to motivate them and encourage them to volunteer for the noble cause”, said Monika.
With such a patient, dedicated and hardworking founder, Mr. Keshri; who not only treats each member of YA as a family but also helps them out with their problems, the team of YA definitely stands out from the rest. They select the volunteers by studying their profile and calling them for an interview and strictly believe in working at ground level and not looking for any earnings for themselves through this organization. Around 3000 volunteers have been a part of YA till now and there are around 30-35 active members in YA. Recently they organized a Christmas event at one of the Govt. Schools and at their Haryana Centre too along with working in 2 orphanages and 2 slums of Delhi.
The Core Members:
Ms. Pooja Mishra
Mr. Abhishek Kumar
Ms. Monika Gupta
Ms. Versha Khuttel
Ms. Richa Tripathi
Ms. Deepanshi Kacharia
Monika will definitely remain a part of YA in future along with planning to pursue M.tech. The love from the kids will keep motivating her to work for them. She firmly believes that if we wish to see the society to change, we have to start working for it right away. And we pretty much agree with her on this point as it is rightly said, “A man’s true wealth is the good he does in this world”.
We the team of NewsAurChai wish the Young Association all the best for their wonderful initiative towards the society and hope they take the organization to real heights.
Check out their website here.
Visit their Facebook page here.
YouTube Channel– www.youtube.com/AyushKeshri
Office Address: J-49, Second Floor, Laxminagar, New Delhi-110092