miscellany - To create happiness for marginalised kids

Anjali Goyal often spotted abandoned bicycles as she walked around in her apartment block in Hennur, Bengaluru, even though they were in good shape. On enquiry, she learnt that the children had outgrown them or something else had taken their fancy. As she spoke to more people, Anjali realised that this was the case with clothes, toys, books and many other items belonging to kids.

“Earlier, with large families, it was a common practice to hand down used stuff to younger siblings and cousins. But now, our neighbours and others in our social circle are our extended family. I thought of connecting those who have unused stuff with those who want them. I created a Facebook group to facilitate this exchange and it proved to be quite a hit,” says Anjali, who firmly believes in jugaad — the Indian innovation system of keeping things simple and cost effective.

The enterprising and social responsibility spirit had always been there in Anjali. In 2012, Anjali had enabled children from Sparsh Charitable Trust, an organisation that works with underprivileged children, to see a movie. “The owner of the theatre was willing to let out the space for free but said that I had to procure the cinema reel,” she recalls. Anjali then went to the film producer’s house and convinced him to lend the reel for this good cause.

The happiness that children showed that day convinced Anjali that even simple things matter. “Many parents want to donate their children’s unused stuff but don’t have the time to find the recipients. I arrange to get them to the needy,” elaborates Anjali. Gopinath of Sparsh Charitable Trust says that the books that they got through such a donation have been of great use to the needy children.

But Anjali’s enterprise is not just about charity. Having seen the usefulness of the Facebook group — the members have grown is over 16,000 today — she along with her husband created an online platform, Secondcry where parents can sell or buy stuff that their children have outgrown. “It is like an OLX catering exclusively to this
segment,” she says.

Growing interest
The added commercial angle resulted in several satisfactory deals between
parents who wanted to sell stuff and those who wanted to buy. Without any marketing, Anjali’s Secondcry, a self-funded enterprise now has members from Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad too. There are plans to take the initiative to Tier-2 cities where there is a greater need. Anjali says that many mothers are very happy with the platform as it gives them the freedom to sell and buy stuff for their children on their own.

Anjali has also coordinated with Child Relief and We Movement to enable them to get clothes and toys for residents in some of Bengaluru’s slums. “The parents are happy that they are giving away stuff for a good cause and the organisations are happy to get their much needed supplies,” says this young mother. Anitha Kiranmayee of Child Relief and We Movement says that Anjali’s organisation arranges for stuff to be picked from donors and it has also put her in touch with some of them.

A look at the Secondcry platform shows that strollers, toys, activity books and even clothes are being put up for sale by parents. Those who are willing to donate can also use the platform to reach the needy. For more information, visit www.secondcry.com or their Facebook group, Secondcry.