Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Pics: Rahul Jothi, student of Nitte Institute of Communication
Mangaluru, Sep 10: Over 60 people donated hair at Locks of Love, a hair donation drive, organised by St Agnes College Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in association with Bliss Professional Unisex Salon at Forum Mall on September 10.
The unique cause began at around 10.30 am with Kamalakshi, a senior citizen donating her hair. The 84-year-old who had heard about the drive was keen to donate her hair and was one of the first ones to be present at the venue.
The drive which went on till 7 pm had people of different age groups, the youngest being 7-year-old Riha volunteering to donate her hair.
"I have always been attached to my long hair, so cutting it off was a very emotional experience for me. I cut around 30 cm for the cause and feel really happy about it," says Melita D’Sa who donated her hair.
"Locks of Love campaign was a huge success. The hair which is collected will be sent to a Kerala based NGO Sarga Kshetra that makes and distributes free wigs to women and children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment," says Laxmi Shenoy, head of the department of journalism and mass communication of St Agnes College.
In support of the cause, students had organized a variety of cultural programmes at the mall to support the Locks of Love campaign. Students of St Agnes College and Ocean Kids performed in a flash mob. Students of St Aloysius PU College and Suhas from Nitte Institute also performed songs, dances at the mall to support the drive.
Tulu actors Prathik Shetty and Sahil Rai also attended the drive to cheer the donors and create awareness about the campaign.
Bliss Professional Unisex Salon proprietor Nazeefa Aysha says that the campaign will be continued at Bliss, even in the future. Anyone who is interested to donate hair can visit the salon anytime, and Bliss will take care of the rest.
A student’s initiative
Locks of Love is completely a student initiative. Students of St Agnes College Department of Journalism and Mass Communication have been toiling since a month to create awareness about the hair donation drive. The students have organised flash mobs, awareness talk, visited different college campuses to create awareness and also started a social media and whatsapp campaign, says Laxmi Shenoy.
The department of journalism and mass communication began in St Agnes College this year. Apart from Locks of Love, the students have started campaign #Womenatwork, where they bring the efforts of working women, which often go unnoticed, into the mainstream.