The Bridge

I joined The Bridge, the chennai-based volunteer network, in Jan 2003.

Several changes that i have proposed to the organisation in terms of involving volunteers, and people have been taken seriously,

Performed (singing) for Aatam Pattam Kondattam '03 - a music and dance celebration of talent of the residents of 14 ngos of Chennai,

Also done a piece of website writing for them (write up of Aatam Pattam Kondattam '03), www.bridgenetwork.org/main.php?fl=apk2003

Madhuram Narain Centre

Took handicraft classes for one month for the parents of mentally- retarded children of Madhuram Narain Centre, (a special school and educational centre for mentally retarded children) Chennai.

Read the article on my experience at Madhuram Narain Centre >>

Blue Cross

Made weekend visits to Blue Cross, Chennai, for two months, where i fed the animals, cleaned them, did dressings for wounded dogs,removed fleas, ticks, maggots, scrubbed the walls clean, changed soiled newspapers and cleaned the cages...

Also housed some dogs temporarily before they were transported to the veterinary hospital. Had to reluctantly stop my visits in the summer because of the distance (a 50-minute ride on the bike).

Obtained permission to take photographs and through these poignant pictures, have created awareness and motivated several individuals to become a part of the Blue Cross volunteer group.

WeCAN

Sang and compered for a fund-raising music concert, a 'Geeta Dutt' Special, organised by WeCAN, (an organisation that creates awareness and works in the area of Autism) that got a good review from the Hindu..

VSO World Youth Exchange Programme (England and Uttaranchal, India)

Very recently, I was one of nine indians selected to participate in a six-month youth exchange programme which involved living and working in communities in both England and in India for a period of three months each, from October 2003 to March 2004.

Organised by VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas, UK) and Pravah, delhi, the England phase was at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where i worked in two environment placements and the India phase was in the Himalayas, in Tehri Garhwal, Uttaranchal, where we worked with Mountain Children.

The Bucks Free Press, dated October 3, 2003

The Program Experience - the work done and milestones achieved >>

See related news clippings >>     Read letter of commendation from Pravah >>

Miscellaneous

Designed websites free of cost to deserving organizations, that had included www.maithree.org - but please note that the current website was not designed by me; as well as the Kuthambakkam village website (yet to be launched). For more details, please visit websites designed.

And now... Tata Institute of Social Sciences - 2004-2006

I finished my Masters in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, completely by God's grace.

I am currently working for 'Trendsetters' - with teenagers in schools, taking sessions on lifeskills and value education, counselling the students and their families in two schools in Mumbai, and loving every bit of it!