It is estimated that nearly 50% of India’s population is below the age of 21. As a young country, we have much to look forward to and much to expect from the youth. And as future leaders, it’s critical that young people take the responsibility for their actions and the consequences. So when one comes across a group of youngsters motivated and geared up to do something better, improve their surroundings and make a difference, it’scertainly very heartening indeed.
When was the last time a conversation with a 22 year old left you feeling humble and small? A conversation with young Crishnaa Verenkar just did that to me. A young girl from a middle class family, Crishnaa went through a phase feeling depressed and without purpose in life. But a seemingly routine trip to the Margao market with her mother gave her the inspiration and guidance in the right direction. She saw stray cattle eating plastic while vendors were throwing away large quantities of vegetable waste into the dustbins. She promptly came back to the market the next Sunday, gathered all the vegetable waste and fed the stray cattle. This became a regular routine for Crishnaa and she roped in some of her friends in the project as well. Aptly named ‘Green Munch’, the project caught on and even the vegetable vendors started giving the vegetable waste to the group to feed the cattle.
Crishnaa and her group of volunteers/friends have started a group called ‘The Healers’. This group including Akshaya Sunderarajan, Smita Chougule, Puja Kumari and Crishnaa does some amazing work with children of migrant workers among other activities. The initial activities started in Davorlim where they would conduct classes for children of these workers. While interacting with these kids, Crishnaa and her friends realised that even though most of these kids went to school, the quality of their education was so poor that they hardly knew the basics. They started classes every Sunday with these children where they interacted with the kids, taught them general knowledge and also helped them with other problems. Crishnaa even developed a syllabus for these classes. The sessions at Davorlim had to be discontinued, but the activities at Vasco are going strong. This group of youngsters not only try to widen the horizons of these underprivileged kids, they also try to make things interesting for them. They organise picnics and visits to old age homes where the kids perform for the elderly. The project is called ‘Nanhe Taare’. The most interesting aspect that these youngsters deal with is to help the marginalised children get as much into the mainstream as possible.
While studying at Chowgule college, Crishnaa had initiated a club called ‘Bark with me’ to feed the stray dogs on campus. After she finished college, she continued with the project and now feeds stray dogs in her area. Crishnaa also helps homeless people, particularly managing to get donations and feeding the homeless at least once a week.
The lack of funds doesn’t deter these determined young people. Their approach to fund raising is unique too. They solicit funds from individual donors for each project, for each activity, for each day. For instance, Sachi Kudchadkar is a generous donor for the dog feeding program. Crishnaa’s mother, Madhavi Verencar is an ardent supporter and a donor. A dentist who wanted to help volunteered for a free dental check-up for the Nanhe Taare project’s children. With whatever money they get, the group assigns the funds to an activity, no matter how many they reach or how often. They aim to register themselves as a non-governmental organisation so that they can solicit funds and channelize them more effectively.
The Healers have a motto on their website that says – “With your help we can do the impossible”. Indeed a powerful and impactful appeal.
