Extending a caring hand

Three youngsters from Hyderabad took a pledge to empower and support the less privileged people and started a voluntary organisation to realise their goals

History is replete with examples of people who have made others happiness their own, for in seeking happiness for others they find it themselves.

Moving beyond one’s comfort zone, walking the extra mile, empowering, encouraging and enthusing those who are complete strangers are qualities that define them.

As we increasingly debate the ways of a “self-absorbed” generation, we know that those who put service before self, are as rare and refreshing as an oasis in a dreary desert.

‘V’ care, a voluntary organisation floated by three youngsters, Sandeep Gudi, his sister Sindhu Gudi and their friend Gautam Devulapalli, is a beautiful endeavour to network with and empower institutions that are working for the outcast, underprivileged and neglected sections of society.

Visiting several orphanages to donate food and clothing to commemorate the death of a dear friend who met with an accident during college years, the trio decided to come up with a permanent effort moved by the plight of the people they met during their visits.

‘V’ care was registered as a voluntary organisation in 2009 to help the poor and needy sections of society by teaming up with existing aid organisations working with similar objectives.

Lahari, an orphanage and old age home; Sphoorti Foundation housing 200 orphaned, destitute and street kids, and Charumathi Child Care Centre in Nalgonda that takes care of HIV-infected children, are associates that ‘V’ care works with.

“There are so many people out there crying for help. There are elderly people abandoned by their families, kids who go hungry for days having no one to care for them and HIV-affected children, who are socially ostracised for no fault of theirs.

We try to help each one of them as best as we can,” says Sindhu Gudi, who makes it a point to visit the different shelters as often as she can.

Gautam, who works in Singapore, is regularly in touch monitoring activities and mobilising support and her brother Sandeep is the driving force behind all activities according to her. So passionate was he about helping the underprivileged that he donated his entire salary from his first job for this cause. Sandeep now is self-employed and he sets aside a lot of his earnings and time to better the lives of the less privileged.

Volunteers like Balakrishna and Vamsee from ‘V’ care personally supervise many of their activities. They provided food to several slum areas in Kukatpally when people were stranded in their homes, during heavy rains.

The food was provided with the help of another outfit with volunteers called the ‘Robin Hood Army’, who take excess food from hotels, caterers and function halls, check their quality and deliver them in slums, to feed the hungry, Sindhu reveals.

Three lorry loads full of food, clothing and 10, 000 water bottles, were also sent by them to Chennai during the terrible floods that devastated the city she recalls.

Raising funds for constructing a proper building with all amenities for 200 children on a three acre land in Dindugal is now a top priority for ‘V’ care which has been receiving online donations from friends, Facebook appeals and special fundraiser events.

The children in the home attend a government school in the vicinity and receive free English medium education. Their notebooks, clothes and food requirements are met through these donations. All monthly rations are procured by volunteers themselves who deliver them personally at the centres.

Actor Navdeep was one of the first celebrities to respond to a Facebook message and visit the Prasad’s Imax Theatre, where ‘V’ care organised a special screening of the Telugu film ‘Atharintiki Daaredi’ for children of the Spoorthy Foundation.

His interaction with the kids before the film is an unforgettable moment for them and he has remained a steadfast supporter of their cause ever since. Actor Nani was another celebrity who lent support to their activities by releasing their poster.

Most of the kids who are orphaned and semi-orphaned are encouraged to go to their guardians during the holidays so that they have some interaction with families and come back refreshed. “There were six children who had no one whatsoever and I had them stay with me for a week.

We took them on a boat ride on the Tank Bund, treated them to ice creams and went out on long drives. The idea was to give them all the childhood treats that more privileged children have,” says Sindhu.

The students of this home secured a percentage of 9.3 in the 10th standard examination and there are kids who are joining engineering, polytechnic and other courses with help from ‘V’ care which supports them until they are able to earn a livelihood.

Sandeep and Sindhu’s parents are both service oriented and have been role models and a great source of inspiration for the children. While mother Sandhya, an advocate, helped many people lead a better life, their father Sudheer, a doctor runs a clinic in a slum in Gandhinagar with minimal charges for poor patients in the area.

Organising a major event with classical dance by noted actress Shobana, a performance by the popular band Caprico and sand animation at the Shilpakala Vedika in the city on the June 17, ‘V’ care hopes to raise enough money to complete the building in Dindugal.

An abandoned mother at the old age home who asks for snacks during their visits, the warm welcome when V’ care members visit their shelter and the gratitude in their eyes for all the love and care they receive, are priceless moments that make their mission worthwhile, according to Sindhu.

‘V’ care owes its activities to a number of friends, corporate firms, donors from Facebook and all those who attend their fundraiser events each year.

The success of their mission, however, is entirely because of their commitment to extend a helping hand and desire to make others happiness their own.