Chennai: NGOs or non-governmental organisations as politically correct people would like to call them, come in various shapes and sizes. There are many which are famous due to their consistent work towards the betterment of the community and the environment.
However, there are several NGOs that do not look for any form of recognition, but just work towards a cause.
Kaviyam is one such organisation which has been in existence from 2007. Based out of Ambattur (and registered here) in the city, it has been actively focused on creating awareness among the public about global warming, education, effects of achohol consumption and smoking, apart from dealing with increasing old age homes.
With more than 100 members present, Kaviyam has been constantly working towards making children model citizens.
One of the members, Pramod spoke to News Today about their ambitions and accomplishments.
“We started Kaviyam with the sole purpose of helping the needy and to preserve the environment. From 2007, we have been working tirelessly keeping political interventions at bay. We pool in our own money to get whatever we need,” said Pramod.
The group has been pushing for every family to grow a tree, has been helping out farmers to get electricity connections and much more. But their biggest achievement according to Pramod was the fact that they are now providing tuition to over 70 children free of cost at a village named Thamaraipakkam, which the team has adopted.
“Children will study for about two hours and they can also indulge in other extra-curricular activities, things that they might not find time to do at school,” said the member.
The NGO is also providing job opportunities for educated youngsters from the village. The tutors who teach children are all graduates from the village, we were told.
Kaviyam’s core team has been working with children for the past decade. “We have to get them young. Once you teach them at an early age, they will get hold of it and will become model citizens. We need to drive citizens but the push need only be light for it is easy to educate children,” they said.
The members of the NGO are proud that their work is bearing fruit since people in the locality have started accepting their campaigns. “We can see the change ourselves. Our endeavours are finally bearing fruit,” they said.
The team has its eyes set on dissuading people from leaving their parents at old age homes. Also, it has bigger plans for the village too.
“Seeing our work, local heads of three neighbouring villages approached us to do the same in their place. That shows we have been treading down the right path,” they said.
Kaviyam is now looking for more volunteers who wish to take part in its activities. For more details, contact 9884725007 or 9710128470.