Back in 2004, Our Founder and President Mr. Mrinal Kanti Bhanja noticed a very common problem: “About how the youth of our country are ignorant of the social problems that exist in our country”. He identified two major bottlenecks about why youth lacked social commitment: Firstly, the social problems aren’t portrayed well in the bookish knowledge which people gain through the curriculum and hence are generally unaware of the real scenario at the grass-root level. It can only be understood by real-life experiences by encountering these problems. Secondly, even if they are well aware of the real-world scenarios there was a lack of platform or proper guidance & a team of like-minded people to execute their ideas regarding existing social problems. This gap could only be filled through early exposure to these social problems. We have to motivate the youth of our country to consider these bottlenecks in our country’s progress as their own problems and provide them with a platform to execute their solutions and develop problem-solving skills. The zeal to fill this gap became the cause of the birth of the Gopali Youth Welfare Society.
A total student-run organization started back in 2004, We are now managing a school for underprivliged children of their own, providing quality education to more than 250 underprivileged students from the areas in and around Kharagpur. We also conduct skill development programs like tailoring, computer training, etc, and have many other small initiatives with an annual budget of around 80+ Lakhs managed solely by a group of students from IIT Kharagpur. After the success of strategies and plans of the Gopali Youth Welfare Society (GYWS) near the area of IIT Kharagpur ,the society planned to reciprocate similar models of social upliftment throughout the nation so as to create a greater impact by spreading knowledge and experience gained through such long journey of social service and hence came up with the initiative named LIGHT to reach to masses all over India.
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We aim to build a network of autonomous student-run centers across India, to provide them with a platform for ensuring the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals for the weaker sections of the Society.
LiGHT exist to deliver Gopali Youth Welfare Society's learnings, expertise & experience to involve Youth in social problem solving to the youth throughout the nation.
Gopali Youth Welfare Society was founded with a sole vision to involve the educated youth in social work. The idea was to make them aware of the situation in their surroundings and motivate them to work for it. Back in the 2000s, I used to notice how the students after getting education start aiming for lucrative jobs and work for Multi-National companies. I used to ask myself whether they actually know about what is going on in their surroundings, How one section of the society is still suffering while others are enjoying the luxury which life has to offer. I started the Gopali Youth Welfare Society with an aim to make them aware of these situations which are a bottleneck to the country's progress and help them use their creative brains for solving the nation's problems at the ground level. We have been successful in motivating a pool of students from IIT Kharagpur & GYWS is a prime example of the untapped potential in the youth of the country. Through LiGHT, we aim to provide a similar platform to everybody across the country.
Gopali Youth Welfare Society has acted as a prime example of how involving the youth of the country into social work can not only help us solve the nation's social problem but also help us provide life-skills to the members involved. I personally am a product of this platform, and closely understands how providing a platform can change someone's life. We at LiGHT are working very hard to deliver a similar platform to the future leaders of the country to come forward and carve the path to the Nation's Development. We are trying to achieve this by explicitly providing them with the skills required to solve these problems followed by an opportunity to get a flavor of social problem-solving at the grass-root level by getting involved with our initiatives or identify their own and work for it. Our aim is to form a network of student-run centers like ours across the country so that whenever any student has an amazing idea about solving a problem, he or she should know exactly how to execute those.
"These platforms are generally focussed on providing the members-only with a Platform, We aim to deliver both the Platform, as well as necessary skills and mindset to the people so that they can solve social problems whenever they come across one. We also provide them opportunities in decision making part, which is certainly missing in the above platforms, People can take up their own initiatives once they are mature enough and work with us to enhance its impact at multiple parts of the India. "
LiGHT is an expansion project of GYWS which was formed with the idea to reciprocate the model and learnings of GYWS and to provide a social platform to socially motivated youth of India. It was formed in 2017 by the then Head- Mr. Krushi Bandi , Governing Body Member- Mr. Suyash Yadav of GYWS under the guidance of our founder Mr. Mrinal Kanti Bhanja.
It most certainly does. A small amount goes a long way. In fact, individuals’ contributions form almost 90 to 95% of our income. Taken together, it is these seemingly small contributions that collectively add up to a large amount needed to effect change. There are people all over who are concerned about the situation and who want to do something to change it. However, their own commitments and pressures do not allow them to go out and directly work with situation. LiGHT provides them the opportunity to help in whatever way they can. They can contribute their money, materials, time, or skills. When everybody comes together and pitches in, no task is impossible. This COLLECTIVE ACTION has an impact and brings about change. Every individual’s contribution is important. This is the fundamental principle on which LiGHT functions.
Yes, Gopali Youth Welfare Society is registered under the West Bengal Societies Act. It is also registered for exemption under section 80 G, 12 A, 12AA and for foreign contributions- under FCRA.
The 8 objectives are derived from the broader set of SDG which we aim to cover in a cyclic order so that we focus on the all round development of the areas which we target.
LiGHT organizes a stall for promotion and for attracting college students, to work with us by helping us form a center at their college.
"By autonomous we mean, we will help students to build a team and working structure at their LiGHT center. Our aim is to prepare them for the time when they can carry out their action plans and help us with extending our reach to their areas. You will always be a part of our network and take help from us whenever required. Once you will be mature enough you can help us to expand further and be mentors for several other centers in your locality helping them to be autonomous."
The answer can be divided into two parts: Head Quarter node to Centre node Knowledge transfer Knowledge transfer in the member of the nodes We make plans at the HQ with the involvement of centres and distribute it to the Centre Coordinators. Then later the Centre Coordinators further distributes the plan and divides the work among the Core Team Members and the Volunteers. Now comes the distribution of plans among the centre nodes, Each of the teams at HQ node is assigned a certain number of centres and then the member of that team manages the centre. Distribution of knowledge is either through various groups formed or through calls or others means of communication. And often we have skype meetings with the centres which help us keep in contact with them and also regular contact is the key to management. The involvement of centres in the planning part help us to tackle the regional problems that the centres faced. Here is the hierarchy: _attach the images from the annual plan regarding the hierarchy_ Hierarchy helps us to stream down the content easily and feedbacks are accessible easily, also the workflow is properly defined.
"A center will be considered autonomous when they have build their own action plan and are self sufficient to conduct those activities in their areas. They should be able produce proposals, build documentations, build working procedures, raise sufficient funds, publicize their work, etc."
Yes, Annual Report for LiGHT is formed defining expenditure on every activity conducted and that year's progress.
You cannot succeed in this world by being a bookish worm. You need to learn how to face and solve real-life problems. You need to have skills to convince people, to manage people and to lead them in an activity. Your CG is not everything. In the end, what matters is the skills and LiGHT is a wonderful opportunity to develop one’s all-round personality. The experience certificate of working in a nation-wide NGO will help them in their higher studies applications as well as Jobs applications. The network will connect them with various other individuals, exposing them to a large number of people from different sets of mindsets and perspectives.
On request we will surely issue a certificate for the work and duration of time that a person volunteer with LiGHT on the tasks assigned by us. On the other hand we strongly discourage people from approaching us with requests from their friends, relatives, children, college kids wanting a certificate when they are not actually interested in working with us as a volunteer.
"We have identified that there is always a need to meet physically and network with each other to work together. Also, physically meeting creates a much deeper impact than virtual sessions. We aim to have representatives from each of the centers and conduct an annual meeting where everyone gets to know each other in a much better manner." Apart from physically meeting and networking sessions, the objectives of this meet shall be as follows: 1. To show them how we work at IIT Kharagpur Chapter, and motivate them to develop a similar structure at their centers. To allow them to meet with our founder, and advisory committee members. To organize a skill development workshop where specific leadership, team management, event management skill should be focussed upon. To guide them about other career opportunities in the field of Social work, and workshops on Social Entrepreneurship. Workshop on Generalized framework for Social Problem Solving, that we use at GYWS.
For applying you can reach us through our website's Contact section. To say the least an interview will be taken and the main focus of the procedure would be to see your motivation towards your work.
The most required skill is commitment towards your resposibilities would be appreciated if you have any documentaion, management and communication skills.
You can join us in various ways, as collage student to form a new center at your collage, as a social worker to guide college students, teachers and alumns can join as a member of advisory committee, as a virtual volunteer or can collaborate with us if your NGO has similar vision as ours.
For applying you can reach us through our website's Contact section. To say the least an interview will be taken and the main focus of the procedure would be to see your motivation towards your work.
The most required skill is commitment towards your resposibilities would be appreciated if you have any documentaion, management and communication skills.
You can join us in various ways, as collage student to form a new center at your collage, as a social worker to guide college students, teachers and alumns can join as a member of advisory committee, as a virtual volunteer or can collaborate with us if your NGO has similar vision as ours.
As an NGO (non-government organization), we do not receive any direct government funding allowing us to remain independent, making unbiased evaluations of government policies and programs. The government has also extended certain tax and duty exemptions to us, enabling us to minimize costs
Yes, when you donate online (Add the link of the donate now section here), you help us twice over, as it is the most cost-efficient channel of collecting funds for LiGHT.
Not at all. It's simple and safe method. Here is what you have to do to make a donation online the LiGHT site: Click on the "Donate Now" option. Decide the amount that you wish to donate towards any one of the causes or towards LiGHT’s work in general Confirm the amount and whether you would like to donate once to start with or make it a recurring donation Enter you personel details like name, mobile number, address, email address etc. Specify your mode of payment Choose between the Payment Gateway option and proceed Fill in your credit/debit card/Bank account details. You will get an immediate confirmation of your donation through an email with a donation number and instant receipt for your donation.
We are committed to protecting your personal information with us. For more details, please do read our Privacy Policy.
Donation to LiGHT (add link of Donate now) are exempt from 50% under section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Tax exemption is valid only in India.
Certainly. While specifying the details of your donation, just mention that you wish to claim tax benefits. The tax exemption certificate will reach you by mail or if you want it through post, we will send you the certificate through post also.
Yes, you can donate to LiGHT even if you are living outside of India. Please click here to donate online. (Insert the link of Donate Now option)
The entire operation is a huge logistical exercise; where money is needed for expenses on transportation, storage space, and manpower for sorting, packing etc, office expenses and team salaries.
For corporate partnerships please write to Contact Us (Please add the link to the Contact Us Section here) from our LiGHT Team to further discuss.
"LiGHT has been working with national and MNC corporates from different sectors, for many years now." As an organization you can connect with our work through Co branded campaigns CSR funded projects Giving your surplus/2-3 months to expire inventory your surplus office material like furniture/IT equipment Matching grants to employee payroll giving Engaging your Employees special campaigns involving employees in giving campaigns motivating your teams to contribute their surplus material. Sessions and visits to sensitise teams about rural issues or value of our objectives with LiGHT. Payroll Giving – employees can support LiGHT work with payroll giving on a regular basis or for its disaster releif and rehab work. Connect with some innovative giving ideas like RISE and all To know more about corporate engagement please write to CONTACT US (Drop the link of contact us section here).
LIGHT is an initiative of one of India's largest student-run government registered NGO Gopali Youth Welfare Society, based in IIT Kharagpur. Gopali Youth Welfare Society aims at the overall socio-economic development of the underprivileged near the IIT Kharagpur campus.