Social volunteers or activists are aplenty these days. They work on many fronts, not worrying about their boots getting muddy. But, as with any big thing, social stigma has found its way around it and wrapped itself tight.
But for Venkateshan, the co-founder and managing trustee of Provoke Foundation, such volunteers are the embodiment of basic human values that include affection, care and love.
News Today caught up with the youngster who recently won an award at an event held in Malaysia for involving himself in social work. The event that was held on 10 December was the International Conference and SPT International Peace Awards 2018 and he bagged the ‘best social worker’ award for 2018.
“It all started when I was young. I have always wanted to volunteer and lend a helping hand to the needy,” said the 26-year-old. “When I joined work, I decided that my first salary would be donated for some cause, that is how I got in touch with non governmental organisations (NGO),” he added.
Venkat, as he is fondly called by his family and friends, is not from a wealthy background. His father is a driver, while his mother takes care of the house. He was working in a reputed IT firm, but after associating himself with social activities, he decided to go that way, both professionally and for passion’s sake.
He is currently pursuing Master of Social Work degree and says there are a multitude of jobs in this category that people do not even know about. “I researched a lot about this field. I am in it for my satisfaction and for achieving something in life.”
Venkat was asked why he started his foundation, he simply replied that he wanted to help those in need. “We started to help orphanages, identified homes outside the city that are not catered to by others and began spending time with them,” he said.
His team, which now consists of five core members and 40 volunteers, also works on helping students get educated. “We made use of crowd funding as we understood the power of social media sites and applications like Facebook and WhatsApp. With our work, we have developed trust among people,” said Venkat, who lives at Reddy Street, Korattur at present.
His NGO also works in training women and getting donors who have the rarest of blood groups to the hospitalised, while also working with other NGOs cordially, to get a better reach.
When asked how a person can determine that an NGO is working transparently, Venkat said, “Visit them and also look at their past activities. If they are working well and are open, then one need not worry about anything else. You need not give cash away, instead people can go and volunteer and get to know the atmosphere themselves.”
Venkat’s Provoke Foundation won the award for ‘Best Social Welfare Organisation’ in 2017 at the National Conference and SPT National Peace Awards ceremony. He says, in order to start an NGO, there are things one must do.
“People nowadays start NGOs and go out of the picture within a year or so. Before starting an entity, they must become a volunteer themselves and start from the ground up. Then they would get the knowledge and know-how of the NGO world,” he said.