Vote-for-a-change campaign

BANGALORE: It was a vote-for-a-change campaign at St Joseph’s Arts and Science College on Saturday but of a different kind.U&I, a non-governmental organisation conducted a ‘Vote to Volunteer’ workshop to rope in students as ‘agents of change’ and familiarise them with the opportunities in social work.The workshop offered students a realistic picture of the kind of issues that need to be addressed with a variety of speakers narrating their experience as change makers.The event saw speakers like RJ Saggy, Auto Raja and Anita Kanaiah, director of Oasis.“We are not only raising awareness about the need that exists but are providing the students with sustainable volunteer opportunities where they can truly use their talents and skills to make a difference”, said Karishma Christopher, project manager, U&I.The challenge, however is not in finding volunteers but in keeping their interest in social work alive.“We have many community initiatives that make volunteers feel like a team”, said Ajit Sivaram, volunteer manager, U &I.At the workshop, the topics of discussion ranged from education to human trafficking and abuse.Speaking about her personal experience with rescuing children from trafficking, Anita Kanaiya, said that the problem of rehabilitation is crucial and that there are good and bad days when working for a cause like that.She urged the students to vote to volunteer and said that the workshop was an important step in making students aware of the kind of work that needs to be done.