Dear Volunteer,
What started as a "what if?" post a very successful DaanUtsav at Manipal University, is now very close to fruition.
What started as a "what if?" post a very successful DaanUtsav at Manipal University, is now very close to fruition.
18 Colleges in 2 cities celebrated the Joy of Giving Week successfully executing over 50 projects reaching over twenty thousand people taking the country by storm. All under the umbrella of Manipal University.
This led to the conceiving of 'The Big Idea' as it was initially called. Already the largest University to celebrate DaanUtsav, with one of the most resourceful and talented Student Volunteer pools in the country, Manipal University decided to take the lead and with the support of the DaanUtsav National team, host the first ever 'National Conference on Youth in Social Change' which after many discussions and name changes came to be.
Work began as early as April. After awing everyone in Manipal with The Manipal Marathon, Carnival de Manipal, and Tarang, a bunch of dedicated Volunteers were recognized and made to head specific categories for the Conference. Communications to as many as ten thousand colleges were sent. Volunteers began visiting different colleges and inviting them to the conference. The DaanUtsav team began to reach out and scout for resource persons for the Conference. The word spread and the interest grew slowly, but steadily.
It goes without saying that it wasn't easy. We had our work cut out for us. More Volunteers were joining but that's what we were. Volunteers. We signed up to do this for no other reason but to do something different. We were inexperienced. And when the going got tough, we stuck together. We planned, we tried new things. Some worked. Some didn't. But we tried them anyway.
We had a few arguments and fights. We had people calling us and a little short of telling us what to do, and how to do it. We took the good things. Politely ignored the bad. And we got better. As registrations increased, so did the morale and soon we had a huge team of close to 100 volunteers working in various capacities for the conference.
Two Regional and One National Meet later, everyone in the DaanUtsav community was talking about The Big Idea. The Manipal Conference was trending. Outstation Participation was at its peak and the contest entries were overflowing.
The new term began. The initiators of the idea graduated and took upon themselves larger responsibilities. Their spirit remained and emboldened those they mentored. We took up the reigns and followed in their step leaving our unique footprints behind. We made sure everyone we knew, knew about the Conference. And when 3000 people tell people about something, there is no way it will go unnoticed! Soon Manipal was buzzing with the National Conference being the talk of the town. Huge participation from Manipal was seen which gave an extra boost of confidence.
As I write this letter to you at the wee hours of midnight on the eve of the Big day, I can't help but reflect on all the efforts that have been put into this conference by each and every single one of you. Through Internships, and University End Semesters, carried this idea spending a little time each day to think of how to better the conference. I'm sure like me, all of you have dreamt of this day ever since you started working for it.
Let's give it our best to make this day a memorable one for all of us and for all those attending!
I cordially invite you to the Conference and request all of you to bring your 200% because we damn well are gonna need it! XD
Yours,
Navaneetha
P.S. PFA the Program Schedule and the Invites for the Conference (Like it's gonna happen without you peeps there! :P )
Read more on https://volunteersatmanipal.wordpress.com
This led to the conceiving of 'The Big Idea' as it was initially called. Already the largest University to celebrate DaanUtsav, with one of the most resourceful and talented Student Volunteer pools in the country, Manipal University decided to take the lead and with the support of the DaanUtsav National team, host the first ever 'National Conference on Youth in Social Change' which after many discussions and name changes came to be.
Work began as early as April. After awing everyone in Manipal with The Manipal Marathon, Carnival de Manipal, and Tarang, a bunch of dedicated Volunteers were recognized and made to head specific categories for the Conference. Communications to as many as ten thousand colleges were sent. Volunteers began visiting different colleges and inviting them to the conference. The DaanUtsav team began to reach out and scout for resource persons for the Conference. The word spread and the interest grew slowly, but steadily.
It goes without saying that it wasn't easy. We had our work cut out for us. More Volunteers were joining but that's what we were. Volunteers. We signed up to do this for no other reason but to do something different. We were inexperienced. And when the going got tough, we stuck together. We planned, we tried new things. Some worked. Some didn't. But we tried them anyway.
We had a few arguments and fights. We had people calling us and a little short of telling us what to do, and how to do it. We took the good things. Politely ignored the bad. And we got better. As registrations increased, so did the morale and soon we had a huge team of close to 100 volunteers working in various capacities for the conference.
Two Regional and One National Meet later, everyone in the DaanUtsav community was talking about The Big Idea. The Manipal Conference was trending. Outstation Participation was at its peak and the contest entries were overflowing.
The new term began. The initiators of the idea graduated and took upon themselves larger responsibilities. Their spirit remained and emboldened those they mentored. We took up the reigns and followed in their step leaving our unique footprints behind. We made sure everyone we knew, knew about the Conference. And when 3000 people tell people about something, there is no way it will go unnoticed! Soon Manipal was buzzing with the National Conference being the talk of the town. Huge participation from Manipal was seen which gave an extra boost of confidence.
As I write this letter to you at the wee hours of midnight on the eve of the Big day, I can't help but reflect on all the efforts that have been put into this conference by each and every single one of you. Through Internships, and University End Semesters, carried this idea spending a little time each day to think of how to better the conference. I'm sure like me, all of you have dreamt of this day ever since you started working for it.
Let's give it our best to make this day a memorable one for all of us and for all those attending!
I cordially invite you to the Conference and request all of you to bring your 200% because we damn well are gonna need it! XD
Yours,
Navaneetha
P.S. PFA the Program Schedule and the Invites for the Conference (Like it's gonna happen without you peeps there! :P )
Read more on https://volunteersatmanipal.wordpress.com