A life of giving—not just money, but time and spirit—repays. This was the motto with which the concept of Joy of Giving week was started. Joy of Giving week(27th September to 1st October) was an initiative of Give India, an NGO that is dedicated to changing lives, lives of not only the poor but also of the needy. LIBA also wanted to contribute in a small but effective way. So a number of activities were organized both on and off campus. which were as follows:
Inauguration Ceremony
Joy of Giving Week was flagged off at LIBA on 27th September, 2009 with a small inaugural function organized by the students. The inauguration was blessed by the presence of Rev. Fr. Maria Augustine, Professor Victor Louis Anthuvan and Professor Alagu Perumal Ramasamy.
Orphanage Visit
The plan for the day was to spend time with mentally challenged children at MITHRA, Anna Nagar.
A group of more than 25 Libaites reached Mithra at around 11a.m. The event went on till 3p.m. The students of LIBA had various events and games through which they were able to make those little children participate and at the same time entertain them.
- LIBA students conducted games and at the end of it gave chocolates to all the children.
- We also spent time talking to the kids, playing board games, football etc.
- We had organized dance programs and songs for the kids and also made them dance along with us. The children enjoyed every minute that we spent with them and so did we.
- We provided them with things that they had requested: clothes, slippers, accessories etc.
- We sponsored their dinner for the day.
It was a wonderful learning experience for all those who were there with the children at MITHRA and surely an eye opener as to what we can do for the society in our way. We Libaites have a very busy schedule during the week and many a times we have no weekends too. But we were able to understand the fact that there are people who need us, our time and our love. So, as future leaders our learning is to balance our life in such a manner that we can give time for others and share this testimony with the world that anything is possible through love and giving.
Waste to Wealth
While the world around enjoyed a relaxing holiday amidst the festivities, volunteers of LIBA Radius, the Social Initiative of LIBA, were busy working full throttle on cleaning up the campus. It was the second day of the Joy of Giving (JOG) week and it was evident that our volunteers were out to make a difference. In the first half of the day the garbage around the LIBA Hostel was cleared and segregated into plastic waste, metal and glass. The bio-degradable waste was left untouched to fertilize the soil. Appropriate safety measures were taken as the volunteers wore gloves and masks.
In the second half of the day, the garbage around the field adjacent to the LIBA hostel was collected and loaded on to cement bags. Carrying a yellow cement bag and loading garbage into it – the sight did resemble what we see very often on our streets - and mind you, it’s very easy to poke fun at others. Not the type who’d shy away or be ashamed of what others think, the volunteers were upfront in saying that they got to taste the reality of life as experienced by rag pickers trying to seek out a living on the high streets. Now that’s some plain-speaking without mincing words.
The activity did not just end with picking up rags, an idea is on the cards to construct a garden in the place where the rubbish was cleared out – closely connecting with one of the three pillars of Radius. Any guesses? Transform – yes this activity would essentially transform a garbage dump into something of lasting beauty.
The non-biodegradable waste collected was given to Exnora – a foundation that works to dispose of non-biodegradable waste in the most safe and efficient manner.
Eye Donation Camp
Donate eyes, Donate sight.. They say, by donating one set of eyes, you give two other people, the hope of sight. The eyes are one set of organs that can be transplanted easily. Even people with myopia and hypermetropia can donate eyes. This is one property that sets it apart from donation of other organs or blood donation. In case of blood donation, people with sugar or other conditions cannot donate. This organ donation can be done by anyone. To serve as a portal for this donation, LIBA Radius, the social initiative in LIBA, conducted an eye pledge drive as an event during the Joy of Giving week. This was conducted in association with Sankara Nethralaya on 28th Sept 2009 on LIBA campus. The drive was extended till 1st Oct 2009, to clear doubts and give, many part time and executive students, the chance to experience the joy of giving by donating their eyes. About 50 people, comprising of students and faculty members, came forward to donate their eyes, happy at the chance to give something back to the society. This initiative also helped clear many doubts prevailing in the minds of the students at LIBA, regarding the process of eye donation. On the whole, this drive was successful in its purpose: to give each the option to experience the Joy of Giving.
Tree plantation
In the beginning man was living in the forest without any worries they lived happily in the dark forest, but as civilization started the natural shelters of trees were replaced by walls buildings etc but with civilization man has brought a new disease to the universe the “Global warming”. We as a part of LIBA Radius took the initiative of planting about 80 saplings around the LIBA campus as an inauguration for making the campus green and the world surrounded by it. Volunteers were so interested in lending a helping hand and the set target of 80 saplings, which was successfully achieved. And a new trend towards the development of this tree planting project, we students of LIBA have adopted a tree each, which we will be taking care of them till they manage to grow by themselves. It was indeed happy as we started watering and guarding the trees, a added up responsibility to our hectic schedule of studies, but this is really a cute project where we forget our worries and enjoy the enrichment of nature with our love towards it. This indeed is a path way for creating not only a green campus but a greener world. Let’s protect the nature!!!
Clothes collection
As part of the Joy of Giving Week, LIBA’s Social Initiative Radius organized a clothes collection campaign. It served the twosome purpose of instilling a sense of responsibility towards the society in the students while at the same time finding people who would put to use stuff that was lying unused with the students. Donating old clothes to charity came across as a great idea for many reasons. Donating old clothes can be very much helpful to society as people who need affordable clothing can have access to donated clothes. The environment also benefits since clothing thrown away rather than donated ends up in the uselessly polluting the land.
The campaign encouraged the students to donate clothes that are wearable, clothes which does not fit them would definitely fit someone who needs it. Students came forward and donated clothes (not special occasion clothes) that had stayed in their safes and wardrobes for more than two months indicating clearly that they did not need them anymore and therefore should give them away.
However, the driving force of the campaign was that that there is extreme joy in giving away something that one loves so much, than that one may not like because the real Joy of Giving lies in parting with things one values greatly.
The clothes donation campaign at LIBA started on 29 September, 2009 and lasted till 1 October 2009. Collection booths were set up at two places in LIBA and were open to both the fulltime and part time students. Students participated in the campaign with great fervour and by the end of the campaign a large carton of clothes was available for donation. These clothes were packed and handed over to Goonj, Seva Samajam Children's Home (75, Bajanai Kovil Street, Pallipattu, Chennai).
Guest lecture on Social entrepreneurship
Mr. Mahadevan of Oriental Cuisines shared with us his experience and the path which lead him to great heights. We had an enthralling 20 minutes lecture on Social Entrepreneurship. He spoke about the qualities that an Entrepreneur should poses, where he emphasised on discipline, quantitative ability (ability to analyse the figures) while dealing with large number of units, being able to get things done even when we are not around the work place. He shared with us many of his personal experiences where the above mentioned qualities had come handy. He also stressed on the importance of an employee in an organisation and the way in which he has to be treated. He says that profit is not a bad word in social entrepreneurship. He made us realise that without profit the purpose of the Business is not fulfilled. The profit is needed to achieve the social motive for which the business is started. Mr. Mahadevan employs several economically backward people who are getting pension benefits, insurance, etc... and above all a secured life for them, in more than 70 countries. Apart from this he is also supporting several NGOs. A simple, down to earth person who has achieved so much in life and is passionate about giving back to the society which brought him up, was just extremely amazing to listen to.
Conference on Social Entrepreneurship
The LIBA Radius is a happening activity in our college, the club which has the most number of committee members, a deed if it’s good for the society; people are very much interested in participating and serve them. But people have lots of desires and aspirations that is why they are here at LIBA for a post graduation. But how I as a management graduate help the society and of course also fulfil their desires.
The morning session guest lecture by Mr. Mahadevan was an eye opener for us, further more to throw light upon the act of benevolence towards the society we had the mini conference on Social Entrepreneurship with the theme – we “mean” business.
LIBA radius in association with LIBA Entrepreneurship Cell organized a mini conference on Social entrepreneurship on 1st October 2009 as part of the Joy of giving fest, to infuse the need of entrepreneurship for social cause. Inspirational speeches by Fr. Joe Arun, Mr. Sriram Iyer and Ilango Rangasamy were all directed towards lighting up the fire of entrepreneurship among students of LIBA.
Fr. Joe Arun introduced the environment of Social entrepreneurship that means bridging the gap between Social motive and business motive. Then Mr. Sriram Iyer gave us a first hand experience of Social entrepreneurship, stating his personal experiences on the subject matter. We then had Ilango Rangasamy a leading entrepreneur of TVSG who gave us an insight on the various resources with the help of which we can make social entrepreneurship possible and can go on to change lives for ourselves and others. Both the speakers gave us an inspiring speech, which we could think about goodness for the society that can be provided even by people who are so busy in this competitive corporate world. They gave us insights on many aspects of Social Entrepreneurship which I think would be a boost for people who were thinking of doing a socially motive organization.
They give a major part of their timing and money for the welfare of the society, this conference where they shared their experience was really a awe inspiring one which will make all of us a socially responsible personalities.
With this event our JOY OF GIVING WEEK came to an end, the program was coming to an end but we have started enjoying and this will continue forever serving the nation.
Abdul Basheer Khan
PGDM 2009-2011
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