The Independence Day this year was very different from last many years Independence Day. It gave me a very vivid picture why Indian boast about being super power in coming decade. Why we are being more proactive in addressing the problems like Climate change, social inequality and even economic recession. The only reason is our Young Generation.
When I was first informed on 14th Aug that a group of young college students from Ghatkopar would broaden our Anti Child Labor- Photo Campaign in their area, it gave as much enthusiasm as curiosity. Enthusiasm because experience of working with young college students has been fabulous till now, their vigor is unmatchable. On the other hand it generates curiosity because youngsters have so much to ask and understand, moreover, their interpretation of child labor and our campaign are really interesting.
Those were the days of Swine flu in Mumbai and Pune when first time I experienced that my shoulders didn’t go through stress/strain test in Mumbai local.
I called up their representative once I reached Ghatkopar on 15th Aug noon and asked for their location.
As expected, it was indeed an enthusiastic bunch of 15 young students and all of them were below twenties. After a brief introduction with all of them, we kick off our campaign. Ashutosh, our campaign lead explained them about the aim of our campaign and how their group can help in this phase of campaign.
There were many things which were evident instantly from their response and vigor. Firstly, they were indeed different from all those people and individual who prefer to celebrate the Independence Day and other national holidays in Big Malls and multiplexes being indifferent about the social problem and their responsibilities. Their best weapon is cursing the system and pointing out how things around them are getting worst day by day.
But here was a group which was emitting the wave of vigor and proactiveness to make the things happen which they wanted to see around them. They had a bag full of masks which they were distributing to the local Chaiwala’s and auto Riksa drivers who knew that Swine Flu was killing people but didn’t know how to save themselves from this killer flu.
The group was explaining them the dos and don’ts of flu before handing over the Flu mask.
Once we explained them about Photo campaign aim and how to interact with the local people and seek their support in campaign. It took hardly a jiffy when this group was all around the locality, explaining people and shopkeepers about Child Labor and government’s initiatives to handle this social problem. And also convincing them that they need to come forward and not be indifferent about this problem. They can become the change agent by getting their photo done with the message which says that “Children should be in school not at work.”
The response from people and merchants from Ghatkopar was unprecedented. Everyone came forward to share their experiences on child labor; their views and suggestion to uproot this social problem form our nation and of course to get their photo done with the message that “Children should be in school not at work.”
The group was splited in 3 parts: one, interacting with the shop owners and merchants, other interacting with passing by junta and third making hawkers aware of our campaigns. We touched almost all segments of citizens in mere 4 hours.
Our campaign came to an end when we realized that our fully charged SONY battery can not match the energy of this group and it was time to call it a day.
We appreciated their efforts and initiatives and requested them to split and not work in a group anymore because every individual in that group had capability to make a new highly energetic and responsible group.
We look forward to work with them in Video and Rally phases of our campaign.
When I was first informed on 14th Aug that a group of young college students from Ghatkopar would broaden our Anti Child Labor- Photo Campaign in their area, it gave as much enthusiasm as curiosity. Enthusiasm because experience of working with young college students has been fabulous till now, their vigor is unmatchable. On the other hand it generates curiosity because youngsters have so much to ask and understand, moreover, their interpretation of child labor and our campaign are really interesting.
Those were the days of Swine flu in Mumbai and Pune when first time I experienced that my shoulders didn’t go through stress/strain test in Mumbai local.
I called up their representative once I reached Ghatkopar on 15th Aug noon and asked for their location.
As expected, it was indeed an enthusiastic bunch of 15 young students and all of them were below twenties. After a brief introduction with all of them, we kick off our campaign. Ashutosh, our campaign lead explained them about the aim of our campaign and how their group can help in this phase of campaign.
There were many things which were evident instantly from their response and vigor. Firstly, they were indeed different from all those people and individual who prefer to celebrate the Independence Day and other national holidays in Big Malls and multiplexes being indifferent about the social problem and their responsibilities. Their best weapon is cursing the system and pointing out how things around them are getting worst day by day.
But here was a group which was emitting the wave of vigor and proactiveness to make the things happen which they wanted to see around them. They had a bag full of masks which they were distributing to the local Chaiwala’s and auto Riksa drivers who knew that Swine Flu was killing people but didn’t know how to save themselves from this killer flu.
The group was explaining them the dos and don’ts of flu before handing over the Flu mask.
Once we explained them about Photo campaign aim and how to interact with the local people and seek their support in campaign. It took hardly a jiffy when this group was all around the locality, explaining people and shopkeepers about Child Labor and government’s initiatives to handle this social problem. And also convincing them that they need to come forward and not be indifferent about this problem. They can become the change agent by getting their photo done with the message which says that “Children should be in school not at work.”
The response from people and merchants from Ghatkopar was unprecedented. Everyone came forward to share their experiences on child labor; their views and suggestion to uproot this social problem form our nation and of course to get their photo done with the message that “Children should be in school not at work.”
The group was splited in 3 parts: one, interacting with the shop owners and merchants, other interacting with passing by junta and third making hawkers aware of our campaigns. We touched almost all segments of citizens in mere 4 hours.
Our campaign came to an end when we realized that our fully charged SONY battery can not match the energy of this group and it was time to call it a day.
We appreciated their efforts and initiatives and requested them to split and not work in a group anymore because every individual in that group had capability to make a new highly energetic and responsible group.
We look forward to work with them in Video and Rally phases of our campaign.
