Reaching Out

Hello Sulekhites,

As some of you are aware, this blog is dedicated for the initiatives to call for noble minds who can contribute to help people who are not in the limelight of any NGO's. For this month, we have the following requests.

1) This is for a 7 year old boy from Coimbatore who is suffering from bone marrow cancer. The total money needed for the treatment is INR 6lakhs. The boys parents are unable to bear the cost of the treatment and have requested for help.

2) The second case comes from a lady who is deaf and dumb. Her only support is her husband but he has been diagnosed with a heart condition and needs to undergo an open heart surgery. The total cost for this treatment is IRN 70000/- . The family is very poor and cannot afford this money. They have requested for help.

If you need more information on any of the cases, please let me know. I’d be glad to provide all the documentation. We will be closing the collections by 23rd of April. If there are any other causes that come in between, I will keep you all updated on those too.

If you are interested in any type, please log your comments with contact information or contact me at helpindia2007@yahoo.com

Highlight Noble Organizations - Habitat for Humanity India

As some of you are aware, I introduced an initiative 2 weeks ago tried to form a team of ambassadors to help to tiny knots to form to involve folks which are interested in helping others in the Sulekha community. I have got some good responses but still hunting for more people who like to help in the sulekha community to share the needs of others.

Today, I am starting another initiative to Highlight some non profit organization who dedicate themselves for the noble cause to benefit our communities growth.

First one which came to mind is, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY is a global, not-for-profit christian organization seeking to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world. Founded in 1976, Habitat works through volunteer labour and donations of money and materials, to build simple and decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Houses thus built are ‘sold’ to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans.

The homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments (mortgage length varies from five to 10 years) are used to build still more Habitat houses. Habitat has built over 200,000 houses across the globe, providing more than a million people in nearly 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Habitat is a worldwide, grass-roots movement. It operates through more than 2,100 active affiliates in 100 countries.

In India, more than 60 per cent of the country's estimated 180 million dwellings are temporary or in a dilapidated condition. Burgeoning population means India needs some 2.5 million new homes each year, just to keep pace. Currently, there is a shortfall is more than 41 million homes. That, homelessness is an acute problem needs no emphasis.

Habitat for Humanity began working in 1983 in Khammam, Andhra Pradesh. Since then, it has built over 10,000 houses and provided shelter to over 100,000 people. Today, it has emerged as one of Habitat's largest country programmes anywhere in the world. With offices in Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi and Mumbai, and affiliates working in the south, east and west, Habitat for Humanity India Trust is intensifying its work. New partnerships are being formed with corporate supporters

Habitat India Highlights

• A pilot project with Hindalco Industries, part of the giant Aditya Birla Group, built 24 homes in 2003-2004. Up to 300 more families could be assisted in the next three years.
  
  


• In October 2004, HFH Cuttack, in collaboration with the New Stewart School campus chapter, organized the "Across the Border Build" program. Young people from affiliates in India worked alongside youngsters from Bangladesh.
  
  


• Students from the American School of Bombay, American Embassy School, New Delhi, and Kodaikanal International school participate in builds each year.
  
  


• Partnerships with dozens of churches at the affiliate level are involved in “Building on Faith” events each year.
  
  


• Affiliates in Bangalore and Kanyakumari have each built 1,000 homes.
  
  


• Special resources centers are planned for Bangalore and New Delhi to share expertise in house design and construction as well as fund-raising, and volunteer and project management, with partner organizations and volunteers.

You involve yourself with noble cause by helping them in lots of different ways if they is a project near you..

Please visit them at http://www.habitatforhumanityindia.org/ for more details..

What is wrong here !? Are we all ridiculous?

I am totally frustrated(I don't want to say the f word) and taken back by the no response, no nonsense act of the bloggers on my post about some humanity initiatives which care for others.

Whats is wrong here? am I in the wrong place to talk about this thing or am I doing something wrong here asking people to join hands to help each other. Are the people here don't want to think about helping others. am I in the Animal planet or alien land to not to talk about caring people.

Check out my first blog,
http://houstonvijai.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/03/sulekhites-are-you-ready-to-gamble-lets-make-a-difference.htm

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I thought its a nice idea to raise some funds to help needy people and at the same time have fun in the cricket crazy season. I didn't even get a comment, NADA, zippo, none. Atleast an encouraging word to say " good thinking, nice thought". In tamil, they say "thatti kodu karathuku kuda yarrukum mansu varala"(nobody came forward atleast pat the back and encourage ideas) Aren't we lagging the appreciative mode for this kind of initiatives.. I guess, a big YES for that question right..

I thought may be that is my bad and a big failure. I will take that. Whats wrong with this one ?

http://houstonvijai.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/03/helping-hands-call-for-ambassadors-please-read.htm

I feel its a nice concept to get involved to help people easily thru this media. You guys, tell me what the heck is wrong in this one? I am not asking for money or your property to be donated. I am just asking to help your neighbor or somebody who needs help when you spend time in blogging or reading the blogs in sulekha r other place. We can make a difference as a privileged individual who has internet access and has media to connect people.

I really couldn't understand the vibe of the people who comes to blog or discuss. Whats wrong with these ideas? I really need an answer to make this work for all of us. This includes the Sulekha editors or blog team too. I been watching the featured blogs. The editor is really hearty enough to feature the below blogs,

>> Talking about idiot media and patriotism which doesn't really go together

http://my-utterances.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/03/which-is-your-favourite-patriotic-film.htm

>> Shows pictures of galaxy and other planets. We don't care about people in this planet..

http://spk100.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/03/top-10-hubble-photos.htm

>> Talks about sambar. yeah, which is really important for our life right..
http://arunmallu.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/03/whose-sambar-is-it-any-way.htm

>> Still talking about the 11 waste men who spoiled our dreams of winning world cup..

http://ratandatta.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/03/indian-cricket-at-a-cross-road.htm

This is just to name a few.(Bloggers, don't take me wrong. I didn't mean to hurt by pointing your blog. I am trying to comment on overall perspective. Please don't take it personal) Editor didn't even bothered to check out my blogs and atleast feature one to get more exposure. I even contacted them directly calling the member dept to give more exposure. Nothing happened..

Being totally honest, I didn't do all this post to get more comments and increase my rank. I am planning to create a new login as soon people start recognizing and wanting to participate.

I am just trying to get something new started to make a difference in this community. I know its always tough to start something new because people don't believe in it. We have a long history to support that fact. But I thought people come are educated and who can think openly. I guess I am wrong.

Are we just come here to pass time talking about same old, same old sambar(food), to waste time on the spoiled egg(cricket), discuss about the relationships jokes, thrilling stories and so forth. I guess so, I can proved it already.

What are we gaining by doing that? I know we are reaching and touch different people via blogs and forums. But is it really making anything difference in people life. I don't think so.. Again, its nada, zippo, a big ZERO.

Can you tell me or point me one good thing you did or got out of this blog and discussion forums? I don't think you find anything.

I can only name a few people like supriyad - women equality, JFWillams - care for old age who are trying to move this media to divert people attention on things they believe. They can only able to atleast get attention because they are under 250 bloggers.

Can we think about a good thing which we can do and accomplish to touch others life? As Indians are we lagging this nature of helping and caring for others? Where is tradition vanished? If only emergency or urgency happens like big earthquake or sunami, we open ourselves to do things nobody can imagine. But why do we close doors after that on the ordinary times?

I might need help tomorow or you might need help a month later which can be any kind of help. People need help everyday not only at disaster period. We can go running around at last minute.

Why can't do something now and make difference in people life by caring for others? I know we always have that Indian mentality, why do I have to care for others. Nobody care for me. There is government, NGO's and so forth to do this kinda of things. Aren't we ashammed of saying that ? How long we can keep saying the samething. Think about it..

I am not going to give up. I am going to keep trying which is my attitude unless I succeed. So don't think you can escape.

I know Sulekha editor is not going to feature this blog but I hope whoever read this, just put a comment (atleast now) to tell me whats wrong with all this initiative..

I thought of spitting it out because I really needed an answer..Hope I didn't hurt anybody in this process.. I just want to turn your attention to start something different..

"If there is a WILL, there is always a WAY"

HELPING ANGELS- Call for Ambassdors - Please read...

Krishna says, the ignorant work for their own profit, Arjuna; the wise work for the welfare of the world, without thought to themselves. By abstaining from work you will confuse the ignorant, who are engrossed in their actions. Perform all work carefully, guided by compassion.

Bhagavad Gita 3.10-26

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Christianity. Galatians 6.2

Rendering help to another is the function of all human beings.
Jainism. Tattvarthasutra 5.21

All men are responsible for one another.
Judaism. Talmud, Sanhedrin 27b

The best of men are those who are useful to others.
Islam. Hadith of Bukhari

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
Christianity. 1 Corinthians 10.24

Without selfless service are no objectives fulfilled;

In service lies the purest action.
Sikhism. Adi Granth, Maru, M.1, p. 992

(Courtesy -Unification.net)

I don't want to get more philosophical but just want throw out from some religious scriptures which we all believe in. All these words from scriptures of different religions at one time or other, point to an important fact that "We all are here for reason to help others". We have the privilege and humanly wealth to lend hands to others when in need.

Each and everyone of you are in different corners of the world and there is one thing we all have in common. We all are Indians by root and we are already enriching others life via this media. Sulekha had a given us this common platform to connect every indians all over world. We been happily using this wonderful sublime media to connect each other via blogs, groups, forums to share our thoughts, views and ideas on every bit of things we like and believe.

My master mind, just got indulged itself and popped a good idea which I been thinking a lot about and found courage to share to you all today.

Purpose: How can we use this endless media to connect people who are in need of help (whether its monetary or few encouraging words or physical help) to the people who can really help.

You might say that there are lots of NGO's and non-profit organizations which does that the same old thing. Thats true. There are thousands of non-profit organization which rooted themselves and took upon projects for the improvement of our country. I won't deny that but they only concentrate on separate common project like by educating kids, Orphanages, old ages, exterminating poverty and so forth.

Where is the need for an individual is getting addressed here whether he/she is rich or poor ?!

I believe a network like "HELPING ANGELS" which goes beyond a cause, religion, caste, persons financial status is indeed needed. There is a unavoidable certain need for this kind of network which can cross boundaries to connect any individual who need help and who can helped.

I like to share some practical situation which I came across recently. I have friend whose office coworker son needs a bone marrow transplant in USA and the party is willing to take any risk and spend any kind of money. They conducted lots of camps to find any matching donor. They were not able find it. They are still trying.

Let say at the same time, there is a person who has an exact match and willing to save the life in the other part of the world. If they can't connect, how can it be possible to save a life? It will possible through this "HELPING ANGELS" network which can be a bridge to connect people in two ends of the rope to save the circle of life.

Another example, there is middle class family who found their only son who his 7 year old needs a big heart operation for him to be alive. They can't afford the expenses. They can only come up with 75% of the total money need. They still 25% of it. There are lot of kind people out there who like to help others. Let say one of us in sulekha from another part of the world is a kind enough to help. How can find each other ? This network will help to save a life.

"If there is a WILL, there is always a WAY to do it"

Action:I totally urge everybody who check out this blog to consider this option to be a Ambassador for this initiative. Please contact me at helpindia2007@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Its a simple initiative which we can take up in this Sulekha media just to connect people of two ends. Its that as simple to help somebody. It doesn't need to lot of effort, you don't need to go anywhere or don't need money. There is no comparison to the satisfaction which will get when you help others. It just take a simple thought to do it..

What you can do: If you know of somebody who can be relative or neighbor or anybody, who needs help in any nature.. Please tell us. You or we will announce it thru this sulekha blog and if somebody is willing to help. We just connect them each other. Once the circle is complete, we just helped both of them by connecting them.

Current need:

I came to know that one of Top blogger, John. F. Williams is in need of some monetary help for his project to build and run a old age home. Anything would really help his undertaking of this huge effort.

If happen to read this and want to give us any suggestions, please don't hesitate to add your comments. We will welcome your valuable and inspirational ideas.