“It is not the way I intended to live my life. It is a dangerous, tough, thankless job… but someone’s got to do it. It’d be nice if society did not need people like me but while it does… I will be right there.”

Another one of those remarkable stories that I have loved listening to and would like to share .

It is not often that i feel like writing but today was indeed special ,i was talking to perimaa about her association with uthavum karangal . She has been a patron of the organization for long enough. She would always ensure every diwali and pongal that she donated her grand child’s dresses to the children in the ashram .

What makes uthavum karangal so special ?

I think its the founder ,pappa vidyaakar. Great stories are weaved around great hearts and people and the story of uthavum karangal is one such inspiring story, not only for me but for all of us who love to share. It all started when vidyaakar found an abondoned child near the ticket counter… and his rush to save the child. Soon he was to realize that the child wasn’t alone, there were hundreds and thousands of such children.

It was this realization that must have started a movement that has managed to safeguard so many young childrens lives and help them become themselves .More often than not, its a matter of good education and building confidence. And with generous donations and very innovative schemes, they have managed to pull off spectacular results .

Today ,uthavum karangal houses more than 2000 young souls ,all in wait of a better tomorrow .

The question is how can you and me help them have a go at future that you and me dream of ?

Money and time ofcourse, but it doesn’t have to be just one way ,their schemes are completely fulfilling and very very affordable to almost all of us. For a generation that has grown up spending money on ipods, macbooks and 2K jeans, spending 1000 Rs. once in year on your birthday or your loved one’s birthday can mean and make a lot of difference.

You can gift a complete set of books for just $12 or Rs 480 or gift a pair of shoes for Rs200 and the donated items will have the donor’s name on it .There is nothing like feeding a need child and you can do that as well .

Anna Dhanam - Gift of food

(You can provide lunch/dinner etc for our residents by sponsoring meals under these schemes. This will be a better opportunity to share and celebrate your birthdays, anniversaries etc.)

and its not as if you only donate and you would not know what happened ,you can personally take your child in to their places and you will see how much goodwill you can earn .They never start their breakfast/lunch without thanksgiving to the donor ,a very sweet and heart warming song .

The schemes are a long list ,you can take a look at them here

http://www.udavumkarangal.org/ways-care.aspx

And if you are a part of a big corporate,you can join in as well by looking at here

http://www.udavumkarangal.org/corporate-participation.htm

Great things need to be carried along and one man cannot do it all the time .At some point it is the responsiblity of fellow citizens to help him build a society that he wishes for and therein lies the success of all of us together as a society .

I wish we can see more of these coming in our country too,there is nothing special or powerful about money as such except in its ability to create and buy things that can build something more important .What can be more important that education or food for the hungry or life for a abandoned child .I am fortunate i wasnt one ,but i could have been one ,not just me it applies to you .Just because you and me have been gifted and lucky enough ,it doesn’t mean we can afford to turn a blind eye towards these people .

I will try to put my bit for this definitely ,i will put up what i earn from this blog exclusively for uthavum karangal every month ,its not much i know but $40-$50 is still a money i believe can make a difference ,may be a pair of new shoes that the child will be proud to wear and go to school or a new set of books that he/she would love to turn pages and read or may be a new dress that he/she would love to show it to others .

“ Someone invested on our dreams and our lives have transformed. Today we are able to stand with our heads high, because there was somebody to care for us“

Somehow it was very emotional to lbe able to listen to personal experience of these small children and how small gifts fom strangers can make a difference to their lives and to their confidence . I wish we could do more and more people help build a better tomorrow for these tiny tots

Learn about the organisation and its man here

http://www.udavumkarangal.org/Default.aspx

http://www.udavumkarangal.org/the_man_behind.aspx

I remember sometime back ,sidin taking suggestions for donations to NGO and other similar

stuff,may be he could donate some to these special children and also help spread the goodwill .