BENGALURU: A group of teenagers - residing in JR Greenwich, off Sarjapur Road - are utilising their free time in volunteering for an array of activities. The team of five have even formed a formal group named Ardour - which means a passion for positive change.
Medhansh Garg, Age 15, a grade 10 student started the group in November 2021 after volunteering for a blood donation camp held in their community. Medhansh brought together other teenagers in the community who were volunteering individually to join the group. Soon, the group had four other members - Lekhya Bandapalli, 15, Ira Bapat, 14, Rishit Garg, 15 and Tanish Suragihalli, 16.
Medhansh told TOI that their first campaign was a blanket donation in a nearby community, which they were able to organise by crowdfunding Rs 25,000. While they also crowd-funded money for other causes, their visit to a local orphanage helped them understand social causes better.
“Ira’s mother, who has been into social service for some time now advised us to not donate things to an orphanage but be involved in an activity with them. As we also were not high on funds, we decided to visit the orphanage with plenty of board games, held a quilling workshop and made some friends for life there,” Medhansh said adding that they also held a cultural programme, presented dance for the kids.
Their orphanage visit was backed by 11 volunteers and snacks that were sponsored by their parents.
The group also organised a blood donation camp on April 24 in their society in collaboration with Sankalp and Narayana Hridyalaya.
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