Dignity DIARY
November 2023 Issue #53
Dear Friend of Goonj,
As we come close to the end of another year of ups and downs we at Goonj are excited for 2024.. as we turn 25 then. We invite you to block 18th Feb, 2024, Sunday, to be with us in Delhi, on this special occasion. More details in the days to come.. But please know that we can’t do this without you!!
Even as I write this note, news and images are coming in of flooding of parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and nearby areas due to the devastating impact of Cyclone Michaung .. Even as the flood water passes, there will be a need for long term work in the affected areas. We are there.. Need you too..
Meanwhile, in northern India, as winters are making the mornings and evenings colder.. It’s time for ‘Odha Do Zindagi’ Goonj’s annual winter campaign reminding that don’t just recycle your woolens, ‘Goonj them’ to make exponential development impact.. Please hurry!! Many parts of northern and central India are much colder already..
Lots to do in the world.. We need people in volume..
Lagey.. Raho!
Anshu Gupta
Founder-Goonj and Gram Swabhimaan
BLOCK YOUR DATE :-)
Goonj is turning 25
On Sunday, 18th February, 2024
Be a part of this Super Milestone!!
CYCLONE MICHAUNG
has devastated parts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and adjoining areas
Picture Source: PTI
Do Your Bit..
Urgently Required Material: Dry Ration, Ready-to-Eat Food Packets, Tarpaulin, Utensils, Toiletries, Footwear, Sanitary Pads, Torches, Buckets, Solar Lights, Blankets, Clothes (Sarees, Nighties, New undergarments, Children Clothing), Candles, Matchsticks, First-Aid Boxes and Basic Medicines, Chlorine Tablets, Mosquito Nets and Raincoats.
You can make material contribution at the nearest Goonj Office/ Volunteer Dropping Center/Courier to Goonj offices
For Monetary Contribution
log on to www.goonj.org or scan the QR code
WE ARE THERE..NEED YOU TOO..
Looking at winter as a disaster
Winters are here.. For more than 2 decades now, we at Goonj, have been calling winters an invisible, preventable annual disaster for people who have little clothes to protect them. It may surprise you to know that nearly 200+ people die every year due to the
Even as temperature starts to hit single digit numbers this week in Delhi, many parts of Uttarakhand, Bihar, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh are already hitting much lower temperatures. Even in Delhi, being indoors and out on the roads at night is a different experience. In our night distribution sessions, we see so many people shivering without a single woolen layer or blanket for warmth.
Our mission is to bring attention to this ignored yet preventable disaster and reduce the preventable suffering, by channelising the surplus of cities like Delhi to people who need it the most. We believe that it’s not the cold but the lack of clothing that kills people.
But we don’t believe in charity.. as it kills the dignity of a person.. Instead we reach these woolens as part of our Family Kits to rural India where our teams and local grassroots organisations mobilise and motivate communities to work on their own community issues and receive these kits as a reward for their efforts. People thus, dig wells, make bamboo bridges, repair their roads and clean their ponds and so much more to make their communities better.
Goonj's winter campaign 'Odha Do Zindagi' asks you to go beyond the mainstream recycling of your woolens.. Instead ‘Goonj It’ for warmth to people and exponential impact on rural development issues of people. That’s the better way to unlock the full potential of your material.
What can I do to Spread the warmth?
There’s so much you can do!!
1. Contribute your own woolens, socks, shawls, blankets, coats and other wearables to Goonj.
2. With your neighbours and local Goonj volunteers, organise an Odha Do Zindagi collection camp in your residential area, office, campus, etc.
3. Organise night woolen distribution drives in your own city with other volunteers to reach these basics to the most marginalised..
4. Spread the word. Make presentations in corporates, schools, collages etc. about the need and how people and institutions can participate.
5. Buy winter essentials like blankets, socks, sweaters etc. in bulk and contribute at the nearest Goonj office.
6. Make a monetary contribution to Goonj to cover the logistics costs of reaching the woolens kits to far flung areas of India.
7. Sponsor Odha Do Zindagi Kits for rural India.
To Contribute woolens visit
Stories
from the field
Every month we bring you glimpses of our work with rural communities.. highlighting how we mobilise and motivate people across India to address their local issues like infrastructure, sanitation, water and much more.. using their own indigenous wisdom, efforts and resources. Carefully curated Goonj Family Kits are provided to each participant, as a reward for their efforts.
Canal Cleaning: Water shortage issues addressed by cleaning clogged waterways.
Village: Sankizahan
District: South 24 Parganas
State: West Bengal
Before
During
After
Road Repairing: Locals repaired flood-damaged roads linking neighbouring villages.
Village: Naurangia Done
District: West Champaran
State: Bihar
Before
During
After
Bamboo Bridge Making: Parents built a bamboo bridge for accessing a local school.
Village: Dambuk Kangkan
District: Dhemaji
State: Assam
Before
During
After
November Updates
Exhibition held in Bangalore
Goonj's flagship exhibition, 'Witnessing Disaster', was recently held in Bangalore. The roaming exhibition has already been showcased in 5+ cities across India. The 60+ photographs on display highlight different aspects of disasters in India over the last two decades.
To hold this exhibition in your country/city,
write to us at mail@goonj.org with ‘Disaster Exhibition’ in the subject line.
For Indian Nationals
Bank: HDFC Bank Ltd.
A/c Name: Goonj
A/c No: 04801450000130
A/c Type: Savings
Swift Code: HDFCINBB
IFSC Code: HDFC0000480
MICR Code: 110 240 072
Bank Address:
Plot No-9, H & J Block,
Local Shopping Centre,
Sarita Vihar, New Delhi - 110076
By Cheque/Draft
Please make it in the name
of Goonj and send it to
J-93, Sarita Vihar,
New Delhi - 110076
Scan QR Code
For Foreign Passport Holders
Bank- SBI
A/c Name: Goonj
A/C No: 39999163028
A/c Type: FCRA Savings
Account
Branch Code: 00691
IFSC: SBIN0000691
SWIFT: SBININBB104
Bank Address: FCRA Cell,
4th Floor, SBI, New Delhi Main
Branch, 11, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi - 110001
goonj.org
