Report and pics:  Trishma Pinto
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 7: 'Make a Difference (MAD)', a youth volunteer network in the city, held its first Volunteer Recruitment Drive at Roshni Nilaya Auditorium on Sunday July 5, 2009. It was well attended by a large student crowd and the corporate world, with the masses swarming in from 10 am to 2.30 pm.

The organization, which has been newly-formed in the city, seeks to recruit volunteers, who are keen to teach English to young children in street homes. In the city, the orphanages that benefit from MAD are: Infant Mary Girls Home, Jeppu, Balikashram, Kankanady, and St Aloysius Boys Home, Ullal.

The recruitment drive began with an ice-breaker for all the participants who came in. It was followed by an orientation of the history, working and the core team of the MAD organization. The members were then put into groups, to discuss real issues they might face in the classrooms with the kids. Situations like class control, local language problems, and how to handle the first day at class etc were brought up. This was followed by an individual interview session, with the help of external interviewers in the form of RJ Vishwas Kamath of Radio Mirchi and Capt Ramprasad Kodialbail, a toastmaster who works with the Chinmaya Mission. On their very first recruitment drive in the city, MAD Mangalore recruited 106 enthusiastic volunteers to teach English and assist with the Fund Raising and public relations activities.

Rakesh Haridas, president of MAD Mangalore says, “MAD is a wonderful platform for the youth to reach out to the underprivileged. We are thrilled with the enthusiasm Mangalore has shown towards this worthy cause, and look forward to more corporates and young people at heart joining us.”

For more information about the organization, contact:
Rakesh Haridas – +91 96111 05672
Kirti Mohan – +91 90089 17195
Alternatively, log on to the www.makeadiff.in for details.