Net Facilitator
In the world of social work and
social networking, Chandni Parekh has created an unusual space for herself as
the “go-to” girl for those in need and those wanting to help.
“It’s normal for friends to help
each other, I just don’t limit myself to friends,” said Parekh who has been
networking for numerous causes through Facebook, Twitter and the 10-odd
e-groups she has been part of for the last six years.” There is little content
on Internet on various requisites of NGOs, so I help out by posting and
forwarding e-mails to relevant people and groups,” she said.
Parekh has aided NGOs organizing
events, cash-strapped students searching for funds and even coordinated the
city’s first Stand-Up Comedy fundraiser. “Karan Talwar, a stand-up comedian,
got in touch with me through Twitter saying his crew would love to do a show
free for a good cause. So I got to work,” she said with a smile.
According to Parekh, her pilot
initiative on Twitter, Fund-A-Cause (FAC), began as an excuse to stay in the
realm of 140 characters as Tweeting about the day and airing opinions
discomfited her. With the FAC mouthpiece however, the tongue-tie seems suitably
loosened. “I extend mails to tweets. At first I didn’t think there would be
much to post, but so far there has been a perennial stream of tweets,” she said
as FAC’s follower-count crosses 3,500.
Engaging in social work and
attending numerous NGO events across the cityscape has been the building bricks
of this Mulund-resident’s swelling network. Settled firmly in her web, she has
now begun documenting all the NGO activities she attends to help donors
understand better, whom they are funding. “I used to record these for my own
use but I’ve now decided to share this along with the transcripts of all
events. NGOs don’t have the resources to do it themselves and people don’t
realize the effort that goes into an event - especially when it’s run on a
shoe-string budget,” she said.
In her middleman niche, Parekh has
developed an evenhanded perspective of NGOs. “There is a lot of mediocrity and
inefficiency, and often there are unwise allocation of funds. But this is no
excuse to stop social work,” she said decisively.
A social psychologist by day, her
exposure to the field began at the age of 15 as a member of a Rotaract Club of
which she was appointed president within two years. During her last year of
college in 2003, she was one of the 40 select students the World Aids
Foundation trained to hold a six-week HIV/AIDS education programme for
adolescents. “I loved creating a space for the young to ask me anything, things
they normally have no one to talk to about. A few years later I realized I want
to hold my own tailor-made workshops on sexual education for them,” said the
psychology graduate.
After a Masters in Social Psychology
and a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology, Parekh fashioned her
module with a little help from numerous international organizations such as the
WHO, and even filmmakers, who sourced her subject material. Over the past six
years she has been conducting workshops at CBSE/ ICSE/ SSC schools, besides BMC
schools and special schools. “So far I have never approached a school. It’s all
word of mouth,” she said.
Almost 15 years into the field,
Parekh is now a consultant for a social enterprise working on improved
visibility, resources and support systems for NGOs. The wide network and
experience she brings boosts the enterprise where she also writes a weekly
column presenting information on free upcoming events across the country,
advice and funding for NGOs and others through fellowships, scholarships, CSR
projects and individual sources. So far, she has contributed 57 such pieces.
“This is the first year I’m on a
regular payroll,” she said with a laugh
Alison Saldanha
: SIE 120708
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