JGW and CHILDLINE

One of the invisible but enduring benefits of the Joy of Giving week, has been the linkages established between the corporates, the NGOs, the government and the private individual. All have come together to contribute time and resources, to make a difference in society. The benefits of such a linkage will hopefully be long lasting and continued.

Connections like these are what enabled CHILDLINE to organize events across India during JGW 09. CHILDLINE, a NGO, runs a 24 hour telephone Helpline for vulnerable children in distress. Initially begun in Mumbai, it currently functions in around 80 cities in India. They do need resources to help them going and the organization leveraged the opportunity provided by the JGW to raise resources and to spread joy amongst the disadvantaged children. They organized events for the whole week in cities as varied as Jammu, Gorakhpur, Kolkatta, Mumbai, Ahmedabad to name a few.

In Kolkotta, the NGO partnered with Park Hotel to host a party for children in need. In Delhi, Park Hotel again partnered CHILDLINE and raised funds through tambola and ‘Cheesecakes for a Smile’ campaign.

Ahemdabad had a complete week of outings for children who visited many places ranging from the zoo, to the Shatabdi express at Gomtipur Station to the Sabarmati Ashram. Art and craft, dandiya, drawing etc were also organized for them.

Even the small town of Gorakhpur found altruism was in full strength as small merchants and businesses came forward to print leaflets, donate resources and host tables to raise money for CHILDLINE.

Jammu had painting competitions with the involvement of Zilla parishad officials and in Mumbai, the corporates came out in full strength to support the initiatives of CHILDLINE duing JGW. Tata Tele Services, Mphasis Software, Deolitte both encouraged their employees to contribute and also patronized the cafeteria set up in these organizations by volunteers of CHILDLINE to raise funds during JGW.

But the icing on the cake was of course the contribution of Mr.Adi Godrej, who very magnamiously contributed 4 times the bid amount of Rs17,000 made by a student of ISB, who won that opportunity in ‘Shadow a CEO’, again a JGW event. The student who got the opportunity to 'shadow' Mr.Godrej, had chosen CHILDLINE as his NGO to contribute to. A wonderful way of ensuring that more children in distress continue to be helped, in the process also contributing to many smiles. Spread the joy; in the Joy of Giving Week 2010.