Orientation workshop for volunteers(held on 17th Feb)-feedback+pix

The Orientation workshop held at CWDR on Feb 17th was super sucessful with 8 volunteers coming together on a weekday!

Some feedback form the volunteers who attended the Induction programme- 

Anuradha:

"It is a nice idea to conduct all events at one NGO or the other. It was nice to see Prathana who is positive and motivated. It was great to see staff of CWDR and to know their activities. The group activities made the session interesting and of course the snacks made it lot more fun."

Chandra Babu

"I thought the program would be just a presentation. But contrary to my thoughts, it also a fun filled group activity based orientation program that impressed me. I really enjoyed .My perception about volunteering is that its scope is limited to only few areas.But from the program I got to know that it has huge diversity and endless.I also learnt the Do’s and Don’ts of volunteering which will be very helpful in future. I really appreciate the iVounteer group as it is associated with more NGOs and providing the right opportunity for people who are ready to volunteer in their interested areas."

Prema:

"Was a good show, the orientation made us aware to an extent what IVO does and How we can contribute to the society our great little ways.  A feeling of contentment to see like minded people who want to hold hands and make a difference to the world."

Vinod:

"Overall, it was definitely worth the effort of driving 50 kms to get there. Even though a lot of the information presented is available on the website, there is no substitute for inter-personal learning. You hear a lot more opinions and viewpoints.It was also inter-active and informal and there was no drag or boredom at any point in the programme."

You can have a look at some pictures here.

So this is for the volunteers who missed out the opportunity to attend the Orientation workshop.We would be having one again soon,will keep you posted!!

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Anusha

Peace walk -22nd February-against Genocide

Hi,

Indians Against Genocide have a peace walk on Sunday(Feb 22,2009)against the unreported cases of brutalities by the Srilankan army.

To join the walk and to gather more details on this walk kindly visit http://www.indiansagainstgenocide.org (Details in Tamil and English).

Kindly do forward the information to all friends and those you feel might be interested.
Ps:Pix can be disturbing.

‘You can change your city’-Involve activity

Date - 31^st January,4pm - 6 pm

Location - Janaagraha office, Chittaranjan Road, Chennai

1.0. Introduction

INVOLVE 1, the first event for 2009.While planning the event; we decided that this time the core issue would be civic issues and the Chennai city.

iVolunteer has recently partnered with Janaagraha Chennai and had decided to do this event with them

Involve-is a string of feeler activities which is otherwise called as a one-off event. This event strives to attract volunteers in Chennai and to raise the sprit of volunteering among already volunteering individuals.

Involve objective

• Newly enrolled volunteers get to hear, see, do and feel volunteering activities at this event
• A volunteering opportunity open for volunteers who cannot engage themselves in long committed volunteering works
• To create a database of potential volunteers.
• To celebrate the spirit of volunteerism

Involve – 1 (2009)

This is the sixth Involve for the year 2008.The event objective was quiet simple. This was an awareness building session for the volunteers where we had representatives from Janaagraha to give a 2 hour awareness session. Janaagraha is one of the premier social organizations of Bangalore working towards the concept of "participative democracy".

2.0 Invite Sent

http://av.anusha.googlepages.com/involve1-2009

3.0 The event

Most major cities (Chennai included) are experiencing rapid urbanization. The quality of life for citizens across the socio economic spectrum is in decline. Challenges in provisioning water supply, sanitation, public transport, health, education impacts all citizens, particularly those in the economically weaker sections.

Keeping all this is mind, Janaagraha works towards participative democracy where the people can contribute to the betterment of their own lives within their city.

The session started with mutual introductions followed by a  brief note on Janaagraha and its programmes. This was continued with notes on the pilot project - L.B Road project

The conclusive session was the session on Area Sabaa and Arun an active volunteer also briefed on open street mapping and how volunteers could pitch in.

The session was an open ended session encouraging the volunteers to participate in the way the city works.

5.0 Volunteers Speak

“It’s the first time I am participating in such an event. It was inspiring and fun. It was great to see Arun, a young boy achieve so much. It was great meeting everyone and I understood I could actually contribute in some way.”

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Anuradha

I can only say “my dream come true” when I could be a part of this session.

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Dhanya

I thought that the event was a good start. I basically like Janaagraha and what they are doing. It felt like at last there was a platform that could help people like me who want to do something to change the city but do not know where and how to start.

I learnt that tiny things done by each individual makes a lot of difference. I felt like there were such simple and interesting things that I could do that if channelized for the right cause would make all the difference. Also that there are experts who are ready to lend a hand if you are really willing to invest time and energy.

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Savitha Rengabashyam

 

6.0 NGO Speaks

I start with thanks! for organizing this meeting,  which gives me an opportunity to know people with the fire to do something for the betterment of society.From this meeting we were to able get people from IT side to help us in building the technical side stronger, some architects to help us in the structural change, some accounts people who can help us in finance part &documentation. Still we are in search for people to work in the hard core field. So it would be fine if iVolunteer can provide such ones in future, it would be a great help for us and for the society.

Bala.N

Coordinator,Area Sabha

Janaagraha,Chennai