<div align="justify">One could use Michelle Obama’s testimony to introduce the organisation, Make A Difference (MAD): “Make A Difference is an amazing programme designed and run by young adults who recruit other young people, outstanding college students like themselves, to mentor and teach children who haven’t had the same chances in life as many of the mentors have had.” The former First Lady of the United States said this in 2010 when the organisation was just four years old. Today, the organisation is spread across 23 cities across India, has 4,250 volunteers and caters to nearly 3,460 children.<br /><br />Empowering children<br />In Bengaluru, which is also its headquarters, MAD operates in six centres including Bosco Vatsalya Bhavan, Angels orphanage and Ashadeep girls’ home. MAD believes in equitable outcomes for vulnerable children. Sabrina Tauro, city team lead for MAD, Bengaluru, elaborates, “An average child has two adults to support her whereas even in well-run orphanages and shelters, 40 children have to share three caregivers. So, while their physical needs may be met, these kids are vulnerable as they lack emotional and educational support and are hindered by a lack of exposure to the outside world. We wish to achieve egalitarian outcomes where the children can grow and flourish in a safe environment, have access to quality education, have the ability to earn and save money and protect themselves from exploitation.”<br /><br />A tall order, considering that India has nearly 176 million vulnerable children. But then MAD is all about rolling up sleeves and acting rather than getting overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. Volunteers form the backbone of the organisation. They are required to commit at least one year of their time and energy in teaching, mentoring and sometimes playing the wingman to these children. <br /><br />MAD believes in empowering the child as well as enabling institutions. Empowering the child involves everything from after school support to interpersonal skills, and even the support to find and maintain a job. In fact, the support system continues till the child reaches 28 years. This is necessary because when children turn 18, they are usually required to move out of the shelters but are hardly prepared for a life out of its four walls.<br /><br />How does MAD enable institutions? By sensitising teachers to the special needs of children from shelters, by creating awareness in society, by helping the government in drafting or changing its policies and helping the shelters themselves with infrastructure and management support. MAD has drafted and fine-tuned many of its modules be it academic support for the children or building leadership among the volunteers.<br /><br />More than just volunteering<br />Anjana, like many others, became aware of MAD through social media and applied to be a volunteer. She says she was impressed by MAD’s rigorous and professional recruitment procedure. “At MAD, we are part of a family and part of a bigger cause. Seeing young people spending their weekends with the children or doing some other organisational tasks while they could be partying is refreshing,” she says. But are the college kids doing this because volunteering looks good on their applications to foreign universities? “Not all volunteers are from privileged backgrounds. Even if career advantage is the initial draw for a few youngsters, soon they get immersed in the movement,” states Anjana.<br /><br />That volunteering at MAD is addictive is borne out by the fact that most volunteers stay on for longer than the stipulated one year. Sabrina, who is into her fifth year, recalls, “It was my first year in education support and a 10-year-old boy who I was teaching had been very shy throughout. However, he opened up at a clay modelling workshop which was held as a part of the Dream Camp held yearly to help children build and connect with their dreams. He almost single handedly explained the making of the models. His dream had apparently been to become a scientist and the camp gave him the confidence that he could become one! It was a defining moment for both him and me.” <br /><br />How does Sabrina manage her job and this volunteering? “The three core beliefs at MAD — sense of family, cause above self, leadership through ownership — resonate with my philosophy and I do believe that we are making a difference and that makes it possible to manage.”<br /><br />What are the future plans for MAD? They would like to start catering to younger children — they start with the 10-year-olds now. Strengthening their existing programmes further and sharing their expertise with other organisations in the sector are also on the anvil. Awards and accolades for the organisation and the founder, Jithin Nedumala, have been plenty. But ‘MADsters’ don’t rest on their laurels and wish to take the children to greater heights. For more information, log on to makeadiff.in.</div>
<div align="justify">One could use Michelle Obama’s testimony to introduce the organisation, Make A Difference (MAD): “Make A Difference is an amazing programme designed and run by young adults who recruit other young people, outstanding college students like themselves, to mentor and teach children who haven’t had the same chances in life as many of the mentors have had.” The former First Lady of the United States said this in 2010 when the organisation was just four years old. Today, the organisation is spread across 23 cities across India, has 4,250 volunteers and caters to nearly 3,460 children.<br /><br />Empowering children<br />In Bengaluru, which is also its headquarters, MAD operates in six centres including Bosco Vatsalya Bhavan, Angels orphanage and Ashadeep girls’ home. MAD believes in equitable outcomes for vulnerable children. Sabrina Tauro, city team lead for MAD, Bengaluru, elaborates, “An average child has two adults to support her whereas even in well-run orphanages and shelters, 40 children have to share three caregivers. So, while their physical needs may be met, these kids are vulnerable as they lack emotional and educational support and are hindered by a lack of exposure to the outside world. We wish to achieve egalitarian outcomes where the children can grow and flourish in a safe environment, have access to quality education, have the ability to earn and save money and protect themselves from exploitation.”<br /><br />A tall order, considering that India has nearly 176 million vulnerable children. But then MAD is all about rolling up sleeves and acting rather than getting overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. Volunteers form the backbone of the organisation. They are required to commit at least one year of their time and energy in teaching, mentoring and sometimes playing the wingman to these children. <br /><br />MAD believes in empowering the child as well as enabling institutions. Empowering the child involves everything from after school support to interpersonal skills, and even the support to find and maintain a job. In fact, the support system continues till the child reaches 28 years. This is necessary because when children turn 18, they are usually required to move out of the shelters but are hardly prepared for a life out of its four walls.<br /><br />How does MAD enable institutions? By sensitising teachers to the special needs of children from shelters, by creating awareness in society, by helping the government in drafting or changing its policies and helping the shelters themselves with infrastructure and management support. MAD has drafted and fine-tuned many of its modules be it academic support for the children or building leadership among the volunteers.<br /><br />More than just volunteering<br />Anjana, like many others, became aware of MAD through social media and applied to be a volunteer. She says she was impressed by MAD’s rigorous and professional recruitment procedure. “At MAD, we are part of a family and part of a bigger cause. Seeing young people spending their weekends with the children or doing some other organisational tasks while they could be partying is refreshing,” she says. But are the college kids doing this because volunteering looks good on their applications to foreign universities? “Not all volunteers are from privileged backgrounds. Even if career advantage is the initial draw for a few youngsters, soon they get immersed in the movement,” states Anjana.<br /><br />That volunteering at MAD is addictive is borne out by the fact that most volunteers stay on for longer than the stipulated one year. Sabrina, who is into her fifth year, recalls, “It was my first year in education support and a 10-year-old boy who I was teaching had been very shy throughout. However, he opened up at a clay modelling workshop which was held as a part of the Dream Camp held yearly to help children build and connect with their dreams. He almost single handedly explained the making of the models. His dream had apparently been to become a scientist and the camp gave him the confidence that he could become one! It was a defining moment for both him and me.” <br /><br />How does Sabrina manage her job and this volunteering? “The three core beliefs at MAD — sense of family, cause above self, leadership through ownership — resonate with my philosophy and I do believe that we are making a difference and that makes it possible to manage.”<br /><br />What are the future plans for MAD? They would like to start catering to younger children — they start with the 10-year-olds now. Strengthening their existing programmes further and sharing their expertise with other organisations in the sector are also on the anvil. Awards and accolades for the organisation and the founder, Jithin Nedumala, have been plenty. But ‘MADsters’ don’t rest on their laurels and wish to take the children to greater heights. For more information, log on to makeadiff.in.</div>
