Volunteerism has been the spirit of Sakthi – Vidiyal since its inception. In the early days of Vidiyal we reached college students through the NSS unit of Madurai Kamarajar University and organised several youth sensitization programmes in the city. This process had enabled young persons to commit themselves to work as volunteers in our programmes and activities.
As part of our intervention we strengthened the personhood in children, and encouraged them to be effective change agents in their own communities. Dissemination of information related to the society and their personal experiences enabled children to develop a personal goal for the society. This has resulted in the development of a Volunteer Programme in Vidiyal. The volunteer programme is called ‘Muhangal’ means Faces in Tamil. When our children reach college or find a job, they commit themselves to give their personal time to Vidiyal in its outreach programmes.
This brought positive dynamics in our work and created synergy in the Vidiyal commune. These volunteers who have reached this level after fighting against discrimination, poverty, and unjust social order have become role models for the younger ones. It enabled the younger ones to visualize a future with immediate reference from their own community. It brought positive impact in the volunteers because they are able to contribute to the development of children from their own communities. Their skills and talents are matched with the needs of children. They serve in the Child Resource Centres and engage in activities designed for the holistic development of children.
