Giving someone hope is giving someone life.
It’s true! All of us go through the daily hustle, hanging by the delicate thread of hope—the hope of a better lifestyle, better relationships and a better tomorrow. We stress when these hopes are challenged.
During COVID, many of us experienced depression while we sat at home all day. Two years felt like an eternity because of our diminishing hopes of returning to our original routines.
It was hard to get by with a limited supply of daily needs and an extinguished social life. Many of our plans and goals were shattered. Some of us couldn’t meet our families, while others lost their loved ones and are still mourning.
But among us are millions who have been struggling for years together—working hard to make ends meet, depressed for not being able to look after families and stuck in a state of insufficiency for generations. No matter how much we advance technologically, these underprivileged families have to deal with daily physical and mental stress.
For them, it is the fear of a vicious cycle that one day may lead to NO HOPE, NO DREAM AND NO LIFE unless we, the better-off individuals, intervene.
Although it is a challenge to reach these people directly, we can be their hope and the reason for happiness by supporting institutions that work for their welfare.
How can you benefit the underprivileged through NGOs?
- Help disaster victims: Countries like Africa, India and Ukraine often witness deadly disasters and/or political unrest. Millions lose lives, livelihoods, savings and loved ones. We are fortunate to be living away from the affected areas and can contribute online to support the victims with necessities for survival.
- Support well-researched programmes by NGOs: Contributing to existing NGO initiatives is the easiest way to help those in need. Visit the websites of globally-recognised NGOs and select programmes that you feel drawn to. Once you choose your cause, support it with your donation with just a click.
- Volunteer: Volunteering is the best way to spend memorable moments with underprivileged people. If you have the time, visit old-age homes, orphanages, Government schools and NGOs to teach, play, or do fun activities with them. Make them smile and allow these precious moments to heal you for the rest of your life.
- Fundraise: If you cannot donate a lump sum amount, you can start a fundraising campaign with a third-party crowdfunding website and spread the word among your social network to contribute. Additionally, you can inspire them to help more people.
- Write articles: If you like writing, you can submit researched guest blogs to not-for-profit websites for the causes they support. Remember to get in touch with them before you start writing and ask if they accept guest entries.
How do NGOs support underprivileged people?
- They feed and treat malnourished people
- They support the treatment of patients in hospitals
- They arrange therapies for children with special needs
- They train individuals with disabilities to help them get employed
- They raise funds to coach unemployed individuals
- They sponsor items of women’s hygiene
- They help marginalised communities get opportunities in the fields of art and sports
Donate for children in need. Support Akshaya Patra
We, The Akshaya Patra Foundation, are a 22-year-old NGO in India with a vision that “No child should be deprived of education because of hunger”. With mid-day meals (MDM) supporting the PM Poshan Abhiyaan of the Indian Government, we aim to incentivise children to come to school. Free school meals also help their parents prioritise their future and well-being instead of forcing them to work or get married.
We currently feed 2 million children from our 65 kitchens across 14 states and 2 union territories in India. We are also registered under the Indian Trusts Act of 1882 and implement the world’s largest NGO-run school lunch programme.
When you donate to our NGO in India, you will also receive a 50% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act as we are registered u/s 12A of the IT Act as a non-profit organization.
Today, with unconditional support from our donor family, we also run programmes for pregnant women, nursing mothers, homeless mothers and disaster victims.
Your support can help us end hunger in India entirely!
The impact when you donate towards PM Poshan Abhiyaan
Neha knows she needs to be disciplined and focused on academic training to become a doctor. She does just that by studying for at least 5 hours every day without fail.
She says: “My village does not have healthcare facilities. So, when I become a doctor, I will treat poor patients for free. I will open a hospital here so that they don’t have to travel long distances for basic treatments.” When asked about mid-day meals (MDM) served at her school, she mentions that Dal Khichadi and Kheer are her favourite.
Another reason for this dream is that he believes the work of the police force is an engaging job that would keep him on his toes and in touch with his people daily. He is also attracted to the prospect of becoming a police officer because it requires a person who is flexible and willing to deal with varied situations every day.
Talking about the mid-day meals (MDM) served in school, he says he enjoys every dish as they are both nutritious and delicious.
Final Thoughts
When we become the hope for someone else, we recover from our own losses much faster.
As His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama says,
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
So, let’s recuperate by helping children from low socioeconomic backgrounds through PM Poshan Abhiyaan. When you donate to NGOs like Akshaya Patra to provide unlimited food and education, be assured that you are also contributing towards the development of their entire communities.
