Watching things happening around us, with the attitude of giving up, is easy; while challenging oneself, getting involved and moving ahead is industrious.
ROSELINE GOMESThe aftermath of pandemic is still beyond our guess. The silence of our youth is in fact an inner shout that remains unheard. This pandemic gave us varied first hand experiences of trauma, hatred, discrimination, dilution of economy and many more. As we all watch the world collide, we realise that it’s no point taking a step back and protect oneself from the upheavals of the pandemic. It is time to make a realistic decision in preserving our people from getting into deeper mental, physical and economic crisis. This situation led to a brainstorming and initiating of an institution named, Shilpi and Michael Foundation that started by catering to education of youth and then moved towards rendering psychological care and essentials to the youth of our community. When the stigmatised population was unwilling to guide their people during the pandemic paranoia, some youth came up with the idea of breeding courage through services and strategies. This led to the evolution of an idea into a movement called ‘Shilpi and Michael Foundation’, which works towards giving knowledge, skills and material services to many sectors in Bangalore, India.
A mental health e-campaign through art was organised in guiding people to curb negative thinking, unpredictable behaviour patterns, and impulsive actions. Professionals taught humane tendencies to fight fears and rise up with better light and strength. Free psychological consultation camp was organised online and offline free of cost for residents belonging to the rural and urban spaces. The process of curating and selling a product; and gifting a meal to a needy family, motivated youngsters in spreading their expertise and positive vibes. Community facilitators and professionals came together in collaboration to make mental health awareness a normalised lifestyle; and in the process catered to the youth with essentials and strategies to improve. Meals were gifted and packed for those who were losing hope each day and hence it led to inspiring more youth to come forward in building peer support groups to curb scarcity and lack of awareness. ‘Women United Week’ was held by professionals in supporting women who were victims of domestic violence and came up with realistic methods in rehabilitation and care.
Understanding and coping with impulsive actions during Covid-19 through positive thinking was initiated. Community service internships and training during lockdown 2020 was conceptualised and directed to the adolescent groups in drawing self-help strategies to bring up a stronger society. Stray animal’s plight was showcased, and projects were taken in collecting resources and integrating provisional benefits to them. Education seem to be a luxury with an increase of drop outs and thus recycling of toys and books were generated that led to increase in empathy and compassion among the young. Educational sessions were drafted for learners from all sections that made knowledge accessible to all. The team took up the leadership role in dispatching essentials for those who were unable to fetch the same. Authentic information in terms of medical services were researched on the field and sent to the families residing in areas where movement was difficult. Music therapy sessions were organised that led to the start of ‘The Happiness Project’ that educated people about using the available resources in bringing faith among people. Storytelling skills were taught in making people express and understand their problems and take perspectives in coming up with realistic solutions in curbing the pandemic.
All these initiatives were expanded more through sensory-based actions and was done through the collaborative networks of youth. Each individual collectively saved smaller finances in contributing to the families that are alienated in the community. This foundation has been more functional since the period of lockdown where volunteering spirit has increased among the young. It has inspired others to join the loop and, in the process, personal development took place. Slowly the team is able to provide educational and monetary services by backing oneself up with willpower and an inner drive to motivate the society at large. It is our social responsibility to bring a positive change. Watching things happening around, with the attitude of giving up, is easy while challenging oneself, getting involved and moving ahead is industrious. This pandemic has made us believe that our foundation for the service of others in soon to become a philosophy as it is already a movement. Our wish is to fulfil the aspirations of those who dream, and provide them a meaningful purpose in life with all its turbulences.∎
Roseline Florence Gomes is a professor of Psychology & a counsellor at Jyoti Nivas College Autonomous, Bangalore.
