The last three days of the Joy of giving Week 2010 and we bring to you an update from Jamshedpur, from the Head of a Nursery School called Baug-e-Jamshed. Mrs.Dotivalla, the Principal of the school thankfully believes in inculcating the right values at a young age. So, her school catering to 3 to 5 year olds decided to celebrate the JGW with activities like Collage Making Day, Reading Day, Joy with Dance and Musicetc. The school has also organised a clothes collection drie. These children will, we are sure, grow up to be caring and empathetic individuals. A thank you to Mrs.Dotivalla.
In Chennai today, patrons are getting ready for the big battle, the Battle of the Buffet. Restaurants across the city have tied up with generous donors vying for well cooked dishes. A wonderful way to raise resources while satisfying one's palate.
Meanwhile Bangalore has seen events for children, a focus on health with Pranic Healing, eye check ups, yoga, newspaper collection drive to name just a few.
From Pune comes this update from Opus Software that is celebrating the JGW across its offices with various activities. They are organizing Vastradaan, Annadaan hai Mahadaan and Buy for a Cause campaigns in the ‘Joy of Giving Week’ at their corporate office in Pune. They will also organize the Vastradaan and Annadaan hai Mahadaan campaigns in their Mumbai and Chennai offices. The employees of the organization will donate clothes for the Vastradaan campaign on September 28th and foodgrains for the Annadaan hai Mahadaan campaign on September 29th.
Makemytrip continues with its JGW initiative begun last year with its aim of reducing carbon footprints.
We would like to end with a story from TAPMI where students celebrated JGW with activities for children from an orphanage. As Shweta a team member of the Social Endeavour Group says, "It is an enriching experience to have the children from Balaniketan here and with their presence the campus took on a new colour."
We fervently hope the JGW adds colours to our lives and in the lives of those we share our time, resources and skills with. We could all do with a lot more colour and joy in our lives. So share and spread joy in this the the Joy of Giving Week
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Year 2, Day 4, Sept. 29th
Midway through the second year of the Joy of Giving Week, and we at the JGW team find ourselves unable to express our thanks for the wonderful response our appeals to give have generated. We have been receiving regular updates from all over and we will write about them at a later point in time. Meanwhile a fundraiser in aid of Jai Vakeel School for Children in need of Special Care, called Treasure Trove, was held today at the Taj.
"Treasure Trove is a charity auction of a mixed bag of art/ fashion/ Jewellery/ collectibles and memorabilia – each of which has an intrinsic worth. The idea of mixing all kinds of premium luxury goods at the auction is, that everybody present has a chance to contribute while taking home an object they desire. " We are confident that the fund raised would be substantial.
One of the amazing facets of the JGW is the manner in which it takes care of all sections of society and all age groups and in all areas. So we have resource mobilisation for marginalised children, a Grain Bank for all, fund collection for health related issues like Alzheimers disease, awareness creation about organ donation, helping develop soft skills in skilled and semi skilled workers, events for senior citizens, and we could go on and on for people have chosen to give in numerous ways.
A major surprise in the JGW and one we must admit we did not really anticipate is the link established between the common citizen, the corporate and the government. In fact the response of givernment officials to the JGW is really encouraging. Last year forest officials got together with villagers to plant saplings in Maharashtra and this year police officials in Chennai have come forward with a three point agenda to help the general public. ACP (law and order), Mohammad Shakeel Akhter from Chennai spelt out this agenda when he said " We have a 3 point agenda for Joy of Giving Week. Senior citizens should be respected, women should be empowered and the gap between the police and general public bridged." To carry forward their ideas, they have drawn upon college students, NGO volunteers, IT professionals as 'ambassadors' to convey their ideas. Change as we have always claimed, can be brought about at all levels by thinking and acting positively.
The auction for a lunch date with the Big B is going strong and we will update you on that in the coming days. Meanwhile mail us your 'giving' stories at updates@joyofgivingweek.org
"Treasure Trove is a charity auction of a mixed bag of art/ fashion/ Jewellery/ collectibles and memorabilia – each of which has an intrinsic worth. The idea of mixing all kinds of premium luxury goods at the auction is, that everybody present has a chance to contribute while taking home an object they desire. " We are confident that the fund raised would be substantial.
One of the amazing facets of the JGW is the manner in which it takes care of all sections of society and all age groups and in all areas. So we have resource mobilisation for marginalised children, a Grain Bank for all, fund collection for health related issues like Alzheimers disease, awareness creation about organ donation, helping develop soft skills in skilled and semi skilled workers, events for senior citizens, and we could go on and on for people have chosen to give in numerous ways.
A major surprise in the JGW and one we must admit we did not really anticipate is the link established between the common citizen, the corporate and the government. In fact the response of givernment officials to the JGW is really encouraging. Last year forest officials got together with villagers to plant saplings in Maharashtra and this year police officials in Chennai have come forward with a three point agenda to help the general public. ACP (law and order), Mohammad Shakeel Akhter from Chennai spelt out this agenda when he said " We have a 3 point agenda for Joy of Giving Week. Senior citizens should be respected, women should be empowered and the gap between the police and general public bridged." To carry forward their ideas, they have drawn upon college students, NGO volunteers, IT professionals as 'ambassadors' to convey their ideas. Change as we have always claimed, can be brought about at all levels by thinking and acting positively.
The auction for a lunch date with the Big B is going strong and we will update you on that in the coming days. Meanwhile mail us your 'giving' stories at updates@joyofgivingweek.org
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Year 2, Day 3, Sept. 28th, A Child's World
The third day of second edition of the Joy of Giving Week and the nation is apprehensive about the post Ayodhya verdict reaction. It is worrying to hear school children talk of trouble that will follow the verdict and voice the opinion of the significant adults in their environment, about 'these people and those people'. How we wish that children could retain their innocence, that children could learn to live together, be free of and from violence, not be exposed to abuse of any sort, above all learn to believe that each one of us is an equal human and therefore have the same basic desire to be loved unconditionally and to belong. When one hears children talk today, it is evident that very few understand this and that most of them live in fear.
Fear dominates the minds of most children. They are frightened because they have not done their homework, because they have broken something, because the bully at school harasses them, because the uncle/ aunty down the road is abusing them, because the Seth or Malik is beating them, the policeman drives them away and because all these demons visit them at night, turning their lives into a living nightmare. When children are troubled like this, then the world they live in is not safe for them.
What exactly does a safe world mean? It is a world that respects the dignity of our children. It is a world where discrimination and abuse are unknown. It is a world where children feel secure, loved and accepted; a world where children have the right to remain children and are not drawn into adult responsibilities and games at childhood often against their will; a world where every child that is born has a right to a childhood that is peaceful and secure; a right to play and leisure; a right to an education; to freedom from fear; a world where each child has a right to hope and dream and children should never have to face a world that does not promise them the above.
What does all this have to do with the Joy of Giving Week one may ask and the answer to that is everything. Our participation in the JGW should not be undertaken merely to raise resources, but should help us to change our attitudes towards others, whether less fortunate or otherwise. The empathy that we hope accompanies each act of giving is what will ultimately help transform us into better human beings. When this happens, the change will filter down to our children and through them, our society will change into a safe and humane one. Come forward to participate in the JGW and help this change to happen .
Fear dominates the minds of most children. They are frightened because they have not done their homework, because they have broken something, because the bully at school harasses them, because the uncle/ aunty down the road is abusing them, because the Seth or Malik is beating them, the policeman drives them away and because all these demons visit them at night, turning their lives into a living nightmare. When children are troubled like this, then the world they live in is not safe for them.
What exactly does a safe world mean? It is a world that respects the dignity of our children. It is a world where discrimination and abuse are unknown. It is a world where children feel secure, loved and accepted; a world where children have the right to remain children and are not drawn into adult responsibilities and games at childhood often against their will; a world where every child that is born has a right to a childhood that is peaceful and secure; a right to play and leisure; a right to an education; to freedom from fear; a world where each child has a right to hope and dream and children should never have to face a world that does not promise them the above.
What does all this have to do with the Joy of Giving Week one may ask and the answer to that is everything. Our participation in the JGW should not be undertaken merely to raise resources, but should help us to change our attitudes towards others, whether less fortunate or otherwise. The empathy that we hope accompanies each act of giving is what will ultimately help transform us into better human beings. When this happens, the change will filter down to our children and through them, our society will change into a safe and humane one. Come forward to participate in the JGW and help this change to happen .
Monday, September 27, 2010
Year 2, Day 2, Sept. 27th
Day 2 of the Joy of Giving Week and the response has been phenomenal. Over 40 registered events organised on Day 1 and we are unaware of the many 'giving' events that may have been held but have not been registered. We have already begun to receive updates from those who had their events yesterday, including an update about events and a health check-up organised for senior citizens living in an old age home in Ahmedabad.
Day 2 of the JGW and the auction on ebay India for a gym session with Salman Khan registered a highest bid of around three and a half lakhs.
Day 2 and the auction on ebayIndia for breakfast with Akshay Kumar has already crossed three and a half lakhs.
Day 2 of the JGW and we received a wonderful surprise when one of the most popular and best loved Indian and an icon for two generations, Mr.Amitabh Bachchan, decided to literally give of himself and has offered to have lunch with upto 10 people and spend around 2 hours with them, in candid talk. This is phenomenal because this is the first time he has ever agreed to do something like this. This is a tremendous opportunity for his fans to take advantage of and start bidding for his time. The bidding begins this evening at 5:00p.m. and ends on the 2nd of October. Please spread the word around and let us pray that we are able to raise a lot of funds through this because the fund goes to charity, as does the fund collected in the training session with Salman Khan and breakfast with Akshay Kumar.
Do write in with your updates to tell us how your event was held and more important, how did you feel at the end of it. Share your joy with us, the Joy of Giving Week. Write to us at updates@joyofgivingweek.org
Day 2 of the JGW and the auction on ebay India for a gym session with Salman Khan registered a highest bid of around three and a half lakhs.
Day 2 and the auction on ebayIndia for breakfast with Akshay Kumar has already crossed three and a half lakhs.
Day 2 of the JGW and we received a wonderful surprise when one of the most popular and best loved Indian and an icon for two generations, Mr.Amitabh Bachchan, decided to literally give of himself and has offered to have lunch with upto 10 people and spend around 2 hours with them, in candid talk. This is phenomenal because this is the first time he has ever agreed to do something like this. This is a tremendous opportunity for his fans to take advantage of and start bidding for his time. The bidding begins this evening at 5:00p.m. and ends on the 2nd of October. Please spread the word around and let us pray that we are able to raise a lot of funds through this because the fund goes to charity, as does the fund collected in the training session with Salman Khan and breakfast with Akshay Kumar.
Do write in with your updates to tell us how your event was held and more important, how did you feel at the end of it. Share your joy with us, the Joy of Giving Week. Write to us at updates@joyofgivingweek.org
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Year 2, Day 1, 26th Sept.
The first day of the JGW today and even as one writes this, there are many 'giving' events that have already taken place and many will happen this evening and for the next 6 days. The response has been overwhelming. Certain 'giving activities' are being repeated this year because of the tremendous impact they had last year and the resources such activities raised. Battle of the Buffet, Shadow a CEO, Udayan's Home of Joy, Joyfest, Vastrasamman, Styles for Smiles are some of the better known events. But there are so many more innovative ways that have been designed for one to give. 314 events at the time of writing this.
We would like to reassure those who think that the JGW is about contributing big money, that it is not so. It is all about the small pebbles that together add up. So no contribution is too small. In fact, one could raise money by sharing one's time and skills and contribute that to charity. This is possible by being a part of the Dreamathon, a new event that has been designed to help raise money by living one's dream. Can it get better than that !!
Bitterness, envy, greed, seem to rule our lives and that needs to change if we are to live in content. With 6 days more to go for the JGW to come to an end, let us come together and pledge our time, skills and resources to create a better opportunities for the marginalised and a better land for ourselves. When each one of us contributes individually towards this, the effort becomes a collective one and results are soon visible. There are many such efforts undertaken during the JGW but we sign off with a story about Prof.Sandeep Desai who used to teach at SP Jain College of Management, Mumbai, who has managed to raise rupees 4 lakhs for a school in Ratnagari by asking commuters on the Churchgate-Borivili locals in Mumbai to contribute. As he says, "The response has been great." We need more such stories to uplift our spirits and galvanise us into action. The Joy of Giving Week, 2010.
We would like to reassure those who think that the JGW is about contributing big money, that it is not so. It is all about the small pebbles that together add up. So no contribution is too small. In fact, one could raise money by sharing one's time and skills and contribute that to charity. This is possible by being a part of the Dreamathon, a new event that has been designed to help raise money by living one's dream. Can it get better than that !!
Bitterness, envy, greed, seem to rule our lives and that needs to change if we are to live in content. With 6 days more to go for the JGW to come to an end, let us come together and pledge our time, skills and resources to create a better opportunities for the marginalised and a better land for ourselves. When each one of us contributes individually towards this, the effort becomes a collective one and results are soon visible. There are many such efforts undertaken during the JGW but we sign off with a story about Prof.Sandeep Desai who used to teach at SP Jain College of Management, Mumbai, who has managed to raise rupees 4 lakhs for a school in Ratnagari by asking commuters on the Churchgate-Borivili locals in Mumbai to contribute. As he says, "The response has been great." We need more such stories to uplift our spirits and galvanise us into action. The Joy of Giving Week, 2010.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
and we thank....
The second chapter of the Joy of Giving Week begins tomorrow and signs of the festival surpassing last years collection and participation are already visible. 296 registered events at the time of writing this. It brings us joy ! But none of this would have been possible without the wholehearted and voluntary participation of thousands of both well known and anonymous men, women and children, not just in India, but outside the borders of our country as well. The coming weeks will give us a clearer idea about the numbers participating and the resources collected and the innovative manner in which the week has been celebrated, but even as we are all set to usher in the week, we take a moment off to give thanks to.....
the many celebrities who have taken time off from their busy schedules to make time to promote, participate and contribute to the JGW. Tendulkar, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shriya, Adi Godrej, Amit Chandra, Anurag Kashyap.... to name just a few
the media, which has been covering the week extensively for a couple of weeks featuring on its pages, this story of positive change that comes across as a ray of hope amongst all the negative stories that are on the front pages of our newspapers or are headlines on our television screens.
the State Bank of India for carrying on all its 22,000 ATMs, the message of the Joy of Giving Week.
the many faces across the length and breadth of the country, from the school children in places like Nagaland, the corporate honcho in a metro, the college student in small towns, the concerned senior citizen, the homemaker, the office goer, the government official, the man on the street, all of whom have embraced the JGW as their personal festival, thus enabling us to make this a common vision, for the JGW has been visualised as a festival where every Indian from a 'billionaire to a paanwallah' can participate
above all, thanks are due to the many volunteers of the JGW team who have been working in visible and invisible ways for months to ensure that the message of this festival reaches as many as possible and that those who desire to participate are enabled to do so. It is their motivation, single minded determination, the shared vision, the time devoted to carrying this message of hope to as many as possible by making time for it in their otherwise busy schedules, that has contributed to a large extent to the success of this festival.
Thank you to all and may the Joy of Giving Week bring us all great joy. Join, participate and celebrate the JGW with humility and abundance.
the many celebrities who have taken time off from their busy schedules to make time to promote, participate and contribute to the JGW. Tendulkar, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shriya, Adi Godrej, Amit Chandra, Anurag Kashyap.... to name just a few
the media, which has been covering the week extensively for a couple of weeks featuring on its pages, this story of positive change that comes across as a ray of hope amongst all the negative stories that are on the front pages of our newspapers or are headlines on our television screens.
the State Bank of India for carrying on all its 22,000 ATMs, the message of the Joy of Giving Week.
the many faces across the length and breadth of the country, from the school children in places like Nagaland, the corporate honcho in a metro, the college student in small towns, the concerned senior citizen, the homemaker, the office goer, the government official, the man on the street, all of whom have embraced the JGW as their personal festival, thus enabling us to make this a common vision, for the JGW has been visualised as a festival where every Indian from a 'billionaire to a paanwallah' can participate
above all, thanks are due to the many volunteers of the JGW team who have been working in visible and invisible ways for months to ensure that the message of this festival reaches as many as possible and that those who desire to participate are enabled to do so. It is their motivation, single minded determination, the shared vision, the time devoted to carrying this message of hope to as many as possible by making time for it in their otherwise busy schedules, that has contributed to a large extent to the success of this festival.
Thank you to all and may the Joy of Giving Week bring us all great joy. Join, participate and celebrate the JGW with humility and abundance.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Words of Wisdom
With the Joy of giving Week 2010 beginning the day after tomorrow, we could all do with some inspiring quotes to set us in the right frame of mind to give. Here are some wise words from the wise.
Gibran, puts it beautifully when he says, " It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding."
Albert M. Wells , " Sharing what you have is more important than what you have." The JGW stems from this idea, that it is more important to share than to possess.
Another gem, " You can never expect too much of yourself in the matter of giving yourself to others." ( Theodore C. Speers)
A beautiful and inspiring quote that sums up the essence of the JGW, is by Henry Drummond" There is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving" and the second "True religion ...is giving and finding one's happiness by bringing happiness into the lives of others."
The Joy of Giving Week, attempts to do just what these sayings advocate, bring happiness into one's own life and enrich that of others by giving, giving in abundance. Each one of us can give, no gift is too big or too small or too mean. In fact there is no meanness associated with giving. The very act of giving elevates us to a higher plane which is why one supposes that there is a feeling of joy. The recognition that joy accompanies giving is one that we usually learn as children and forget along the way. It is time to learn this lesson again. Two more inspiring quotes to end this post with : " No people were ever honored for what they received, Honor has been the reward for what they gave". ( Calvin Coolidge) and Henry Ford, the trail blazing businessman " Most people thing of success in terms of getting, success however, begins in terms of giving."
Gibran, puts it beautifully when he says, " It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding."
Albert M. Wells , " Sharing what you have is more important than what you have." The JGW stems from this idea, that it is more important to share than to possess.
Another gem, " You can never expect too much of yourself in the matter of giving yourself to others." ( Theodore C. Speers)
A beautiful and inspiring quote that sums up the essence of the JGW, is by Henry Drummond" There is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving" and the second "True religion ...is giving and finding one's happiness by bringing happiness into the lives of others."
The Joy of Giving Week, attempts to do just what these sayings advocate, bring happiness into one's own life and enrich that of others by giving, giving in abundance. Each one of us can give, no gift is too big or too small or too mean. In fact there is no meanness associated with giving. The very act of giving elevates us to a higher plane which is why one supposes that there is a feeling of joy. The recognition that joy accompanies giving is one that we usually learn as children and forget along the way. It is time to learn this lesson again. Two more inspiring quotes to end this post with : " No people were ever honored for what they received, Honor has been the reward for what they gave". ( Calvin Coolidge) and Henry Ford, the trail blazing businessman " Most people thing of success in terms of getting, success however, begins in terms of giving."
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