Youth

Bandhavi is an initiative by the Bangalore-based organization Visthar. Bandhavi is Visthar’s initiative for girls who are at risk of being dedicated as devadasis. Currently 100+ girls hailing from villages in North Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh participate in a residential school program that enables them to grow as individuals, as well as build a community that lives in love, respect, trust and friendship.

In 2006 ETASHA Society was borne out of the belief that it is very important to help young people in developing new skills, by giving them access to relevant vocational training and connecting them with employers. The NGO has played a great role in enabling the youth to take control of their own careers and lives, and to help their families break out of the cycle of poverty.

RuralShores was started keeping in mind the problems associated with mass migration of rural youth to the cities in search of jobs, both to the individuals and to society as a whole. It focuses on enabling these youth to have access to jobs without leaving the villages. On the whole, this is positively impacting the development of rural parts of India as well as giving stable jobs and incomes to the people.

If you have any working knowledge of building software, applications, digital marketing, website development, and other aspects of IT, Code4Cause makes it easy for you to contribute your knowledge and skills to help NGOs build capacity. Read about their simple and effective model, which has enabled them to enrol thousands of volunteers and help scores of NGOs across teh globe in just two years!

Narendra Patil, a third year engineering student from Karnataka and his fellow mates tapped the positive side of technology and their engineering knowledge, to come up with a unique model of an eco-friendly refrigerator. It not only runs without electricity but can also be available to the poor as an inexpensive and necessary utility option. Read about the wonderful innovation here.

In March-April 2013, Maharashtra suffered from what was probably the worst drought in 40 years. The people were once again at the receiving end of the wrath of Nature, as it took a heavy toll on the lives of the people on the parched lands. It also led to the formation of a youth organization dedicated to helping the victims and finding long-term solutions. This is what began as the Maharashtra Drought Relief Project, and is now called Yuva Foundation.

When one lives in the city and enjoys excellent health care at one’s beck and call, it is difficult to appreciate the hardships suffered by the poor in remote locations of India. SEWA Rural is an organization that aims at improving the lives of these very deprived people. From healthcare to vocational training, they have been providing holistic development to the needy in Gujarat for 33 years now, and even today, they continue to serve the poor with utmost enthusiasm.

Many of you would have read our previous coverage of the Jharkhand tribal girls who won the third place at the prestigious Gasteiz Cup in Spain. Here we bring you the complete story, to know more about the girls who have become an inspiration to an entire nation!

For several days now, our readers have been pointing us to a remarkably inspiring story that was making waves on social media but had not received its due coverage in conventional media. As we prepared to run the article today, it was heartening to see that it also appeared on the front page of The Hindu, covered by one of our freelance writers, Anumeha Yadav. Here we piece together the amazing story for you, compiled from the many sources that our readers have sent us, and for which we would like to thank them.

It might be one of the most unique covers of a Green Day hit you'll ever hear: young, at-risk girls from an Indian shelter singing Boulevard of Broken Dreams. But that is what Music Basti has brought into their lives. Watch this video to know what music can do.