Young Scholar
Nandini Rangaswamy, Secretary, GRG Institutions, giving the Young Scholar award to a student from an orphanage in the city recently. R.Arun and his set of friends, the founders of Youth Helping Hands (YHH), are unlike many other young men their age.Money, comfort and luxury do not interest them.All that drives them is the passion to protect the children living in orphanages from societal stigma and discrimination.
Barely into their twenties, these youngsters have taken the responsibility of garnering support for orphaned children, from college students like themselves.The YHH is now a wide network of like-minded youth who go about organising programmes for the children, spending time with them and helping them with their studies. More than 500 college students are part of the network. Recently, the YHH organised a cultural programme for children from over 20 orphanages at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research auditorium with the support of the medical students studying at PSG.
For the 600-odd children who participated in the event, it was a rare opportunity to display their talents, receive gifts and meet other children like them.Most of them have never seen a place other than their hostels and schools,” says Arun. The children from classes VIII to XII who had performed well in their examinations were recognised.Mementos made by the volunteers of YHH and small gifts were given to the children to encourage them to sustain their interest in studies.
The clothes, gifts and other prizes for the children from orphanages who participated in the programme were sponsored by the volunteers of YHH.A dance programme by children with physical disabilities was the highlight of the event.They were trained by V.Vivek, a professional choreographer and in addition, an active volunteer of YHH. The total amount spent on the programme was Rs.2 lakh, which was raised by the volunteers themselves, Arun says. However, a large share of the expense was met by Manoj Halley, another volunteer.
Manoj was brought up along with Arun at an orphanage in Podanur and was later adopted by a Canadian couple. After 14 years in Canada, Manoj decided to pay a visit to the city where he was brought up.After interacting with Arun, he decided to stay back for a year and work for the children.For further details, contact Arun at 93455-59815.
