Students, NGO raise money to help transgender community

In an attempt to help the transgender community become financially independent, students of Ramjas College, organised a two-day yard sale. The proceeds will be used for the welfare of the transgender community.

This initiative was taken up in collaboration with SIFE, an international NGO, which ropes in students from different parts of the world. The NGO applies business concepts to develop outreach projects in order to improve the quality of life and standard of living of people in need.

“For last one month, we have been training four transgender members to make hand crafted jewellery and accessories. We plan to increase the members to eight in a few weeks. This is an effort to build a business model for them so that they could become self-sufficient in a year’s time,” said Tushar Maithani, student and volunteer of SIFE Ramjas.

The once a week training session costs Rs 600. The student volunteers initially pooled in their own money for the training.

One of the student member Navodita, who herself has been designing and making hand crafted jewellery since her school days, is now imparting training to the members.

“We came up with an idea of a yard sale which has never been done before in the campus. We requested the students to give any items which they don't use. Most of them were in usable conditions. There were some items with their tags intact,” added Maithani.

The items ranged from second hand novels, magazines, bags, clothes, decoration pieces, CD's and some other electronic items.

“Keeping the affordability factor in mind, we ranged most of the products between Rs 100 - 300. There were a few expensive items but at half their market value,” said Meghna, another volunteer, adding that it was decided that if a product is sold, 50 per cent of its sale price will go to the owner.  
She also said, “There was a telephone cum pen stand for Rs 1000, which remained unsold. The bags were a hit and were sold quickly.”

The two-day yard sale held on January 24-25 generated a total of Rs 25,000 and 26 student volunteered for the initiative.

“It was a success, the teachers were very encouraging. We got a great response from the students. Hopefully, we will be organising another one soon,” said a volunteer.