Hands that help selflessly

A bunch of college students founded 'Helping Hands for Poor', a Hyderabad-based NGO, to help the poor, unprivileged students, villagers and the visually challenged Pratima Shantaveeresh Going beyond just attending classes at college, the members of a Hyderabad-based NGO 'Helping Hands 4 Poor' (HH4P) are setting an example. A student-run NGO, HH4P was set up by Ajay Veesam in 2011 just after completing B Tech. The NGO aims to bring a difference in the society by helping the poor, old, unprivileged students, villagers, blind, and people who need blood. The group is also active in conserving nature. "As part of the society, I feel responsible to contribute to it. I felt the need to start this NGO after observing so much poverty around me. My personal experiences were another reason," Says Ajay. The team that started with 100 volunteers now has 700 volunteers. The Vice President of HH4P, Kartik Reddy, said, "To reach out to everyone, the organisation is divided into eight groups to work on 11 different projects. The group 'My home-My support' solves the problems of orphans and senior citizens. 'School Adoption' team goes to various rural Government schools and distributes notebooks and stationary materials. They also conduct competitions like drawing and painting. Volunteers under 'Village adoption' go to villages and conduct free health and eye check-up camps. For eye check-up, the team has tied up with Vasan Eye Bank." Similarly, 'My street-My help' volunteers distribute food packets to elder people who beg on the road side. The food is homemade. 'My clothes-My donation' team collects clothes from localites and distribute them to the old, beggars and in orphans. Under 'Educational project', the students who cannot afford further education are given financial aid. Fees apart, travelling, stationary requirements and clothes are also taken care of. Under 'Teaching and Guidance' programme, volunteers go to backward areas like Rasoolpura to educate students and residents on how to lead life well and motivate them against begging. Volunteers of 'Helping the blind' go to Sri Sai Junior College, a college for visually impaired in Hyderabad and act as scribes, on a regular basis. To make the industrial area greener and pollution free, the team of 'Nature and greenery project' goes to industrial areas and plants trees. Along with this, they educate people who stay around the industry about importance of clean surrounding and harm caused by plastic. People who require blood can approach the team of 'Blood donation project'. Volunteers collect blood group details from various colleges and provide the blood during emergency. While helping others, volunteers also get 'career guidance classes' from experts of various fields. Free coaching on technical subjects is also provided to the volunteers. The NGO works in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Vijaywada, Ananthapur, Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, Guntur, Khammam and Vishakapatnam. The team has an innovative way of collecting funds. Instead of depending on sponsors, the team members themselves donate Re 1 per day. If an outsider is interested to contribute, he will be given the receipt of the donation and the donor will get the privilege of handing over the donation personally. Helpline numbers to contact the NGO: For blood: 9951000102 For volunteering as a scribe and joining the team: 9441414449 To offer leftover food: 8121278218 For funds: 8099523135