Come October 22, Class XI students across India can engage in fun and fitness programs to support students of Zilla Parishad schools, including a high school in Bilavalasa and Ippalavalasa, Bhagiradhipuram, Kondalaveru, Koralam, Badam, Kunchigumadam and primary schools in the villages of Sirialpeta. Merakamudidam mandal of Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.
‘Run for a Better Future’, a virtual fund-raising event organized by Hyderabad-based NGO Balmitra Foundation, provides support through books, sports equipment, art kits, scholarships, learning volunteer support and menstrual hygiene management. There are also plans to provide digital access to the students of Heel School, Vijayawada. The five-day event is from October 22 to October 26.
The foundation started five years ago with the goal of getting young adults to lead fundraising and volunteer activities. “The intention was to help children from less-privileged backgrounds help their peers,” explains Chandrika Kanumuri, managing trustee of the foundation. The first event, a 2019 5k run at Gachibowli Stadium Hyderabad, was a student council leading from the front. The money from the entry fee and registration (for ₹500) was used to buy sports equipment, library books, menstrual hygiene kits.
Due to the pandemic, the event went virtual in 2020, with 300 participants sharing videos of their activity – either running or cycling. This year too it’s a virtual one with a team of seven student volunteers doing the campaign and bringing in the registrations. Chandrika says, “Our goal here is two-fold – to raise funds for our cause and encourage the participants to work on their fitness.” While participants receive e-certificates, student finishers are awarded community service hours on their certificates and the top 3 finishers in each category will also receive medals and gifts.
run for a better future
- October 22-26
- Categories: 20km/cycling 50km run in a span of 5 days
- Registration: ₹500 (no foreign donations)
- http://cykul.com/balamitra
From this year’s group Nandini Raju of Chirek International School reaches out to her peers via Instagram (@balamitrafoundation). “We are seven members and have different views and perspectives. By working together, we are learning how to listen to each other and ensure that each member’s views are heard. We also talk to different types of people – sponsors, volunteers, school principals and campaign heads, and this experience is teaching us how to talk to people of different age groups.”
The first student council members shared heartwarming stories about how the initiative has affected their lives. Over an email, Sannidhi Krovvidy, currently pursuing her undergraduate studies at the University of California, says, “The opportunity to volunteer and become a student council member taught me a lot. Being able to go to Vizianagaram and interact with the girls was beyond my imagination about community service. The whole experience, all the emotions and the exchanges that happened were raw and real. Another former member, Venkata Kandukuri, says, “Youth-led initiatives, the emphasis on menstrual awareness and civic mobility changed my perception of community engagement.”
Balamitra in Telugu means ‘the child who is a friend’ and the effort is to lend a helping hand, make new friends and stay connected,” concluded Chandrika.
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