Lending a helping hand at 16 years

 
In today's world, one thought that flashes across a person's mind is that good deeds and noble actions are probably things of a bygone era. But the likes of Anusha Ramesh compel you to think positive and change your mindset.

In today's fast paced world, dominated by increasing consumerism, one is made to feel and believe that we humans have become conceited, selfish and intolerant. The insatiable desire to horde money and material things, as if one is going to have a permanent abode in this transient and ever-changing world, has led to erosion of the value system that governed the lives of our fore-fathers. The ill-effect of this has been that while rich are becoming richer, the poor are becoming poorer with no one to lend a helping hand to those in need.

One obvious thought that flashes across a person's mind is that good deeds and noble actions are probably a thing of a bygone era. Good no more triumphs over evil. But the likes of Anusha Ramesh compel you to think positive and change your mindset.

Anusha Ramesh, a 16-year-old girl of Indian origin settled in Dubai, was like any other girl of her age – bubbly and chirpy. She relished the riches and comforts of life until one day she came across an article that transformed her thought process forever. The article was an in-depth study on the status of poor children in India with heart rending tales of difficulties faced by the poor in India.

Shaken up and disturbed, Anusha decided to help the poor children in the country of her origin. She shared her decision with her parents and school teachers and was encouraged to go ahead with her plans. Being a girl from a well-to-do family, she was used to throwing away her old books. She also knew that her friends in school also did the same. One by one she called up all her friends and apprised them of the plight of the underprivileged in India. She then requested them not to throw away their old books but to sell them instead, to raise money for the poor children of India. Soon the news spread like wild fire in Dubai Modern High School - Anusha's alma-mater and many students got involved in raising funds. Anusha and her school friends managed to raise Rs 60,000 without putting any financial burden on their parents.

Having raised the funds, the next task for Anusha was to identify children, whom she could help with the funds raised. Being Internet savvy, she did a thorough research to identify charities working for the welfare of underprivileged children in India before choosing Smile Foundation for donating the funds raised.

The foundation, since its inception in 2002, has managed to reach out to one lakh underprivileged children through more than 100 innovative projects on education, healthcare and livelihood in 21 states of the country.

Anusha and her friends have proved that one does not have to be a full grown adult to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged. Smile salutes the spirit of Anusha and also acknowledges the efforts of her parents and her alma-mater for shaping up a compassionate individual like her in times of today.