Socially conscious corporate employees
They work for big companies like Google, OMICS, Amazon, Silly Monks. They prefer to spend time with HIV AIDS affected children, while their peers enjoy their weekly offs on Saturdays and Sundays
February 15 2016, 11.57 AM IST || Pocket News Alert
A child loses a parent to AIDS related causes every 14 seconds
Hyderabad, February 15, 2016…..They are a bunch of few individuals. They don’t work under any umbrella organization. They are young. They are in their 20s. They are highly positioned. They work for some top companies. Saturday and Sundays are the only two days they get to be free. Rest of the week they toil morning to evening in their profession. Still, they prefer to put to use those two days for some good service. At an age where they are supposed to enjoy fashion, lifestyle, technology and keep chatting endlessly with their peer group, these young girls and boys are spending their valuable time in the service of the HIV AIDS infected orphan kids.
They are working with the best MNCs, IT, Scientific Organizations and other companies. They love their job and they also feel strongly about social causes. They are the socially conscious corporate employees. During their weekly offs on Saturday and Sunday, though they can sit back at home, relax, could get up late, enjoy their weekend holidays, instead, they choose to up early morning 6 am head individually and together with some friends to Desire Society, a home that houses and takes care of 74 HIV and AIDS affected children, located in the outskirts of the city.
Navya who works with Silly Monks Entertainment, Deekishita with OMICS International, Richa with Google, Vasudha with Amazon, Ashwini with conferenceseries.com, Anil with OMICS international like to spend time with those less privileged children, most of them are orphans in the age group of 3 to 18 years.
I have travelled along with my two other friends in a cab to reach here early morning. We wanted to be here with them for their breakfast. We spend time with them till lunch. We will play, we will engage them said Navya. She works with Silly Monks, a one-stop-shop for all digital and creative needs. She and her two friends—Vasudha and Richa spent Rs 1000/- on the cab to reach to Desire Society.
Desire Society is a non-profit voluntary organization. Its mission is to improve the lives of people struggling with the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, especially children and women. Also it aims reduce the spread of HIV and meet the challenges in the field of AIDS.
Statistics reveal that a child loses a parent to AIDS related causes every 14 seconds. The number of children orphaned by AIDS increased from 14.6 million to 16.6 million between 2005-2009 . Each day out of 7000 people newly infected with HIV, 1000 found are children. India is a home to 1.1 lakhs HIV infected children.
This is my first visit to Desire Society in Hyderabad. But, I have been a regular visitor to Desire Society in Vizag, Navya informed.
At a age when you are supposed to be more concerned about your career, you are caring for these kids, what prompts you to do so? Navya replies smilingly and says: “We rise by lifting others”
We hear of people coming up pushing people down. But, how many of us think like that?, She replies, I am thinking and two my friends are thinking. That is enough, she said.
Deekshita who works with Hyderabad and US Headquartered OMICS International, scientific organization that drives the progress of research through open access journals took an opportunity thrown open at her by her colleagues. The occasion was her colleague and boss Dr. Srinubabu's Birthday. She along with her ten colleagues was there at the society to spend some time with kids. It gives me a feel good factor, she said.
“You don’t need a reason to help people. Do small things with great love”, adds Deekshita
When asked what motives her to visit such homes, Vasudha, who works with Amazon said it is those kids, they are the spirit. I got associated with child begging eradication in the past. When you give money to child beggars, you are actually helping them to become drug addicts. I used to sensitize people on giving money to child beggars, which, subsequently turns them to drug addicts informed Vasudha.
Vasudha has good fans among the children at the Desire Soceity. They were playing and mingling well with her. The kids forgot their health condition and got involved fully in various activities.
Vasudha involved with organizations like Papa in Vishakhapatnam. She also associated with Generation Yuva, People's One Organization. Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living, she says.
For Rich, who works with Google, it was her first visit. And the most memorable one too. She was there because of her friend Navya.
These young girls who at their age supposed to sit back at home enjoy on holidays, but they chose to come here. This is something very unusual to their age. Their volunteerism has been making lot of difference said Dhanunjay of Desire Society said. We see many such, though not many numbers, keep coming here, he said.
Navya got associated with MAD(Make a Difference) Foundation. Now that she relocated to Hyderabad, she wanted to search for a good NGO so that she can get involved more.
You don’t know the value of what you have. You will only know when you don’t have it. They don’t have parents. They don’t know who their parents are. They are HIV and AIDS infected. They don’t know how their life is going to be. They don’t even know how long they are going to survive. As long as they live, they must enjoy every minutes of it. They don’t have to die for no fault of their, said Navya. My job is to cheer them up and bring a smile on their cheeks, she said.
Anil Gollamandala of OMICS International we brought some stationary, food items, biscuits, chocolates. We served them breakfast too. It gives us lot of satisfaction, he said.
I have come here with just one intention to give them little love, as they are isolated from the rest of the world. It gives me lot of contentment, which any amount of money can’t give, said Deekshita of OMICS International.
The meaningful participation and sustained involvement of highly talented IT, Corporate and MNC world will really make a hell lot of a difference. With well over 5 lakh plus IT folks and equal number working in others sectors, any little help from their side will go a long way in addressing many social issues. Like them many can do wonders individually and collectively. Such folks are truly socially conscious corporate employees. May their tribe increases
