Celebrating JGW

When we go through the feedback we have received after the Joy of Giving Week 2009, we are amazed not just at the enthusiasm and willingness to embrace the JGW as everyone's festival, but are also overwhelmed at the detailed planning that has gone into the participation. What is particularly gratifying is the involvement of a large number of youngsters from schools and colleges, for these are the Changemakers of the future. Of the many stories we will be sharing with you from schools and colleges across the country, here is one from LIBA (Loyola Institute of Business Administration), Chennai.
The students of LIBA, had unconditional support of their faculty as they planned a week long celebration starting with an inagural function on the very first day of JGW, the 27th of Sept., 09, the students visited an orphanage to spend time with mentally challenged children, decided to green the environment by planting trees, co-ordinated with Shankar Nethralaya and organised an eye donation drive in college, also collected clothes as a part of the Vastrasamman drive co-ordinated by Goonj, cleaned the area around the college and hostel and began work on creating a beautiful garden in the vicinity of the college, while simultaneously empathising with the rag pickers who make a living collecting garbage.
The students however, did not forget their education and thoughtfully organised a lecture on Social Entrepreneurship by Mr.Mahadevan of Oriental Cuisines. Mr.Mahadevan is a social entrepreneur who employs a large number of the disadvantaged and was instrumental in organising the Battle of the Buffet in Chennai, during JGW 09. The students got some valuable lessons on social responsibility from him.
The impact of the events in JGW at LIBA is best expressed in the words of a student who says, " the people who have felt the Joy of Giving, will celebrate the Joy of Giving Week everyday of their lives. "
These are inspiring words that we could remember as we get ready for JGW 10.