There For U - update 1 by Manya, Grade 10

After the successful project of ‘The Pawmobile’, Ludhiana’s 1^st Animal Transportation Service, TFU weaved a meaningful Diwali for the city. To do so it took up 3 projects:

1. The ‘SEED BALL’ Creation and Dispersion Drive

With the increasing amounts of pollution and the alarming rate of deforestation, it is only apt to think of measures to undo the damage. This Diwali, There For U Foundation did exactly that. This project was spearheaded by Mr. Rohit Mehra, ADC Income Tax, Ludhiana.

The intention of this drive was to produce 3,00,000 ‘Seed Bombs’ in stage 1 and then disperse them in the marked areas for sprouting in stage 2. The drive started with the sincere efforts of 35 TFU’s Young Positivist Members who contributed over 50,000 seed bombs. The momentum picked up and several schools proudly associated with the project.

TFU organized a workshop in the school along with all the supplies; clay (soil), mosses, coco-pit and seeds which varied from moringa, gulmohar, amla ,chandan, guava etc. The children and teachers were then introduced to seed bombs and how they function. Post the interaction, all made these seed bombs collectively and gave the city uncountable potential trees!             

The takeaways were huge. The energy was phenomenal, the message was loud and the outcome was beautiful.

With a remarkable number of seed bombs ready, we marked the beginning of Green Diwali, with dispersal (Day 1) on 24^th October and carried it further on 2^nd Nov (Day 2). Barren Lands ahead of South City and the extremely polluted Industrial Area of the city were chosen to disperse these seed bombs. TFU and FLO members and children got together for the dispersal drive.  We are a little over midway with our targets but the drive continues. It is still reaching out to schools, organization and colleges.

2. Go Local, Buy Local : With the belief that Diwali is a time when all houses should light up with festivities, happiness and diyas and every family, big or small should have a smile on their face, TFU tried to bring that light into one household of potter Sarbjit Singh Ji from a small village Chohane, near Malerkotla who has been struggling, as pottery is a dying art. He has made diyas for generations for our houses to light up but unfortunately has found it difficult to brighten up his own.

TFU organized a full one day workshop to make and buy diyas from him this Diwali. On 6th of Oct Sunday, all Foundation members (kids) called young positivists gathered around his potter's wheel and clay to have some fun making diyas. They operated a potter's wheel for the first time, learnt, observed, made, decorated and most importantly HELPED someone in need. TFU pre-ordered and purchased 3000 diyas for all our members and supporters and raised a humble amount of Rs.15,800 from the Foundation to potter Sarbjit Singh.

3. TFU’s ‘Sakshar’ Scholarship : The light spread through education, multiplies manifolds.  This light ceases to diminish and can change generations. The foundation wished to inaugurate its Education Scholarship for the Underprivileged this festival of lights. ‘Sakshar’ Scholarship is formulated to support higher secondary education where finances become a problem for most underprivileged families. The scholarship will fund the student’s entire Grade 11 and 12 fees. Three candidates were shortlisted from the ‘Dasmesh Khalsa High School, of Heran Village on the criteria of their merit in Grade 10 and financial requirement. And the scholarship is finally being granted to Luvjyot Kaur, Grade 11, after a thorough background check, meetings with family members and interviews with the student. Luvjyot is the oldest of the 4 sisters and has dreams to make it big. The only earning member of her family is her 62 year old grandfather. Her father is a victim of substance abuse and thus a liability. She has a mother and grandmother who look after the 2 room ‘kuchha ghar’ for a family of 8. Her subjects are Political Science and Economics. She wants to work in the corporate world someday to support her younger sister’s education. And we hope that she does!

The scholarship was granted to her on the 2nd of November at the village school. The cooperation and acumen of Principal Mrs. Barjinder Kaur and her team was impeccable.

I feel, there is no better gift to the city than hope. Hope that we can make it better, greener and sturdier. And if each one is a conscientious citizen then the responsibility is beautifully divided. We are overjoyed to help attain this balance in whatever small way TFU and its young positivists can. We wish to sponsor education of more children in the future and work constantly in making the city greener. The Pawmobile is running successfully helping transport numerous strays and pets in need. These small steps will hopefully act as rays of sunshine for the city.