[Apurv]

Hello folks,

'Touching Lives' touches the media !

The Pioneer, Delhi Edition, 19 September 2004
Townhall page
Goto http://www.dailypioneer.com/ 19 September 2004 edition and click on 'City'
(Major thanks to Nasia Bakshi, thanks a lot buddy! )
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IIM students turn philanthropers

Nasia Bakshi/New Delhi

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) students boast of being among the best in the world. And why not. They have been at the forefront of finding solutions to the toughest of management problems. Now, they have gone a step further and become philanthropers.

Two years back, 21-year-old Allwin Agnel started a website pagalguy.com, an online forum to discuss MBA related queries with aspirants. Within two years, it has become a rage and more than 8,000 members have registered themselves with the website. Its guest list consistently touches the 50,000 mark every month.

The promoters say the website's success lies in the strong community feeling among the student fraternity around the country.

Says Wayne Fernandes, a commerce graduate working with ABN Amro Bank: "The website offers an interactive forum, and the best part is that we get quick response to our queries."

With the forum's popularity growing leaps and bounds, Mumbai members decided to meet to evolve ways of tying up with NGOs. "We contacted a host of NGOs for their cooperation to enable us to offer community services on Sundays, but all except one NGO, NASEOH, were cynical about youngsters serving the community."

NASEOH and pagalguy.com members tied up with corporates for data-entry jobs and impart special computer skills to youngsters. "Many youngsters are already working with companies like Datamatics, Reliance,Transworks, Godrej and with other smaller companies as machine operators, packers etc," said NASEOH India director, Sudha Balachandra.

"pagalguy.com volunteers are playing a vital role in bridging the gap in society," she adds.

The success of the Mumbai online meet prompted other chapters to raise a similar demand.

Says software engineer Shameek Chakravarty: "We visit villages, spend time with kids and teach them about staying healthy. This is our way of imparting them a holistic learning." Adds 22-year-old Zarine from Hyderabad's ICFAI Business School: "At times, kids amaze us with their witty answers."

The Hyderabad Chapter of pagalguy.com's has tied up with an NGO, MV-Foundation. "Here, the focus is on eradicating bonded labour, getting children enrolled in school and ensuring that they don't pull out. Organising summer camps and bridge courses for children is the cornerstone of MVF programmes," said MV-Foundation Programme project coordinator, R Venkat Reddy.

Pagalguy.com's Bangalore wing has joined hands with Snehalya, an NGO working for orphans, while the Chennai chapter is in its initial stage of finalising ties with Children's Relief Fund (CRY).

The Delhi chapter of Pagalguy Community Services is expected to kickstart soon.
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Three cheers for us!

[Simba]

Logged in to start this thread!!! Thanks Apurv, U are FAST!!

So, PG junta made it into the newspaper for their communtiy service. WOW!! Keep up the good work, all of u!!!

Three Cheers to all of us!!! Thanks a lot NASIA!!

Simba
PS: Still wondering what the title means!!?? :

[Apurv]

Originally Posted by Simba

Still wondering what the title means!!?? :

LoL moi too
Guess the sub-editor was using up more brains than he/she could handle while editing

[MavericK]

No one asked me .. booohoooo :(
Awwwsum work

ps: who exactly are the "IIM" students ??

[pagalguy]

Way to go junta! We are in the newspapers and for our good deeds .. Touching lives! I'm so proud to be a part of the people who have pulled this off .. <grinning end to end>!

Most of us also know, its just the begining But heck, we have proved that to do any kind of work for the community, we just need the will and the initiative. Everything else follows

Hoping more and more volunteers join us in making this world that a lil better place to be in

[Garuda]

Awesome work peeps I guess it was just a matter of time bfore the community work hit the papers. Keep up the good work people

And anil, shucks

Hey,yeah...where did IIM students come in??

[Francesco CATtie]

gr8 work ppl!!! gr8 to hear that PG is in the news. :smilecol: :smilecol:

Says Wayne Fernandes, a commerce graduate working with ABN Amro Bank: "The website offers an interactive forum, and the best part is that we get quick response to our queries."

i second that.

cheers,
vijay

[TheAkshaT]

Awesome Work Guys

Keep up the good work :bigups:

-Akshat

[Spiderman]

gr8 work volunteers . u all have made us proud . spcial thanks to apurv and nasia .

[itsneeta]

Hey ppl,

way to go! This is what we needed, to let the world know that we arent just a bunch of loudmouths who talk a lot, and do nothing! And that we, young and ambitious as we are, are socially conscious too and willing to do something about our world! I am proud of all who have put in the efforts to make this happen. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

To detract a little from the topic, I had a query... Do u ppl know if any b-schools invite organisations like WHO, UNESCO etc for placements? I know most people might not be interested, but I've met a few who are quite interested in this, and I was wondering if there is a possibilty that sth like this could be done?

Do let me know ur ideas on this...

And once again, PagalGuy is the best!!



Neeta.