I still remember when one of our members suggested in Jan 2009 to take out 25 kids between 7-13 years from an orphanage on a 1-day trek to Nagala - food and transportation fully sponsored by the participating members. It was a wonderful experience for both participants and kids to spent a full day together playing in the clear streams in beautiful natural surroundings. Since then CTC has completed 22 social treks with less privileged kids from various homes in and around Chennai including orphans, HIV infected kids, run-a-way from home, poor kids, destitute women from Banyan, etc. We organize a social trek at least every 3-4 weeks. ST/23 is coming up on Nov 14th with the kids of the Arumbugal Alayam home near Chrompet. An invite will follow soon....
Some time ago we also initiated a new social initiative - the "social visit" where a group of members basically visits a home inside or nearby the city for a few hours, shares lunch or dinner with the kids (sponsored by volunteers) and spent time/play with the kids. This is easier to organize then a social trek (within city limits, less time/logistics required) for both volunteers and kids. So far we have completed 2 social visits, including last Monday when one of our members celebrated her birthday in the Prema Vasam home near Porur sponsoring dinner for the kids. Both volunteers and kids spent a wonderful evening together - the birthday girl said it was the best birthday of her life..... Anyone of our members interested to celebrate his or her upcoming birthday in a home with the kids sponsoring lunch or dinner please let us know.
Members willing to spent a special Diwali this year - sharing lunch or dinner, gifting a new dress to one of the many less privileged kids in the various homes please do step forward. Thilak will be sending an invite to the group requesting members to celebrate Diwali in one of the homes. Sponsoring food, donating a new dress and spending time with some of the kids means more then anything else for these kids - the feeling that their not alone in this world. And I can personally assure you that it will be a Diwali which you will never forget. Please consider warming a lonely heart this year rather then spending Diwali with the usual closed group of friends or relatives...
Recently we also initiated a collection drive of unused or old clothes, toys and items to which more then 80 of our members responded positively. Although the collection is still going on, we already collected a large amount of items which we will segregate this weekend and distribute to the appropriate homes. Many of u will put a smile on the face of many less privileged hearts this Diwali.... Sincere thanks for your donations. We will keep you updated on the number of items collected and gifted to each home after we consolidate the same.
Finally, more then the discovering new trails, more then exposing people to nature, more then enjoying ourselves.... I would be happier to see even more social initiatives happening within CTC. Suggestions, ideas from any of our members are appreciated in how our huge (8500+ now and growing) member base with unlimited energy and passion can contribute to any social causes or initiatives out there are much appreciated. At the same time we need active volunteers who wish to be involved in the organization and coordination of these events.
Stay tuned....
Social Trek/7
Social Visit/1 - SIP Home
Social Visit/2 - birthday at Prema Vasam
New dress gifted to SIP kids with money collected during earlier social treks
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