Spreading joy through caring hands

There are umpteen NGOs functioning in and around the city, but Street Cause is one such organisation that has carved out a niche for itself for being one of the most eminent and efficiently student-run bodies. Street Cause was established in 2009 by Akhilesh Juggareddy, a former student of Sreenidhi Engineering College. It was merely a bright idea initially, but he went on to motivate students do their bit for the community, enthusiastically.

Today, Street Cause has grown to be one of the most extensively spread student run NGOs in the city and have acquired a tag line- We Care - focusing on the upbringing of the downtrodden and to elevate the status of the poor. Street Cause Hyderabad comprises around 30 student divisions of different colleges, whose eager volunteers conduct social activities and awareness programmes, both small and large scale.

For members of the Street Cause it has become more like a family than an organization which is making these students understand how important is to take care of others. One such effective divisions of Street Cause Hyderabad is Street Cause Vignana Bharathi institute of Technology (VBIT), located in Ghatkesar.

Street Cause VBIT was started in January, 2012 and students take part in social service in and around the city and play their part for the betterment of the society. The forte of the volunteers of Street Cause is that they function only on Sundays in order to avoid adverse impact on their academics.

Street Cause believes in the saying ‘the first step towards change is awareness’. It has been a tradition at Street Cause VBIT to conduct the awareness drive annually. For the second consecutive year, student volunteers extended over major parts of the city and took out rallies, displaying placards with different slogans on awareness about turbulent issues prevailing in the society such as drunken driving, saving the girl child and increasing the green cover among many others.

Awareness about the raging insect- borne diseases and prevention techniques were also shared to children at orphanages and shelter homes. The program was widely applauded and received positive reaction from the people. Street Cause VBIT took to an attempt to perform a cleanliness drive and to provide awareness on the necessity of a hygienic and a healthy environment. 120 volunteers spread across different parts of the city worked

to clean the surroundings. Two phases of Hamara Hyderabad have been conducted and the organizing of the third phase in on the cards. This event proved to be a huge success as the response received from the local people and the onlookers was overwhelmingly supportive and appreciative. “I have been associated with Street Cause for four years now.

Once we start working with this organisation we’ll fall in love with it because the zeal to serve the society will increase day-by-day. I was the former Vice President of Street Cause Hyderabad; working at the apex level helped me out to know the true meaning of life and my leadership qualities have been improved immensely.

I’m a 2015 graduate and I wish to continue working for Street Cause throughout my life. The biggest thing I have learnt from Street Cause is right from its tagline “A life without a cause, is a life without an effect,” says Krishna Sai Tejaswi, volunteer Pranathi Bhrigubanda, another active volunteer at Street Cause terms it as a boon in disguise. “Street Cause has helped me evolve as a more sensitive individual and to overcome my barricades of inhibitions.

Receiving the most outstanding volunteer award was truly an overwhelming experience. Appreciation for your work inspires you to work harder and reach new heights in that direction. Street cause is the perfect platform for those who are inclined towards the wellness of the society and who want to make a difference to the community by offering service that when the happiness of a person is due to your action the satisfaction your acquire is priceless”.

It's been 8 months since I've started working for this NGO. I didn't know what to do and where to start with at the early stage. But later I found one best mentor of mine Krishna Sai Tejaswi aka Krish. He was the one who always kept guiding and supporting me in every aspect.

As far as I've known, Street Cause is the best platform where an individual can get his exposure. Working in this organization gives me satisfaction and the best part of this NGO is that, with every single person I meet shows love and respect. I feel so honored that I'm a part of this organization and being a volunteer I always love doing my work.

It gives the hope that things can be changed and will change. I was awarded with the “Emerging volunteer” award for 2014-15 shares Shubham Raja, newest member of the VBIT Street Cause.Street Cause VBIT is planning on continuing the services and is ready to go that extra mile to provide quality assistance and extend a helping hand to the society.

Street Cause VBIT has implemented different programs towards the improvement of the community. Various events such as cleanliness and awareness drives, promotion of eco friendly products and reconstruction of dilapidated Government School buildings were taken up by Street Cause VBIT. In the recently held Annual General Body meeting held at Ravindra Bharathi, Street Cause VBIT was awarded with “Distinguished Services” award for 2014-15.

By:Vaishnavi Girish