Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Fwd: Just 2000 people can make a huge difference !!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: GOONJ.. <mail@goonj.org>
Date: Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Subject: Just 2000 people can make a huge difference !!
To: "palashbiswaskl@gmail.com" <palashbiswaskl@gmail.com>

"Thand to bahut hai lekin ab humko bhi nahi lagti. Ab farak kya hai, hum aur aap mey?" (Yes it is very cold but we also don't feel it now. What is the difference between you and us now ?..) She giggles and then bursts into a loud laugh.. Looking at her new possession a warm piece of cloth, a basic need, a symbol of dignity, a leveler !!

No charity, she has earned it. She is one of thousands of people who earn clothing and other material with dignity as part of GOONJ's nationwide initiative Cloth for Work. From a repair of road to digging a well, hundreds of such acts are making a vast pattern all over the country. "Building a parallel economy" is how people are describing it, where second hand material is turning into a powerful resource for development !!

It's been a hectic phase. Floods in the dry land of Leh-Ladhakh, U.P and Uttarakhand, many fire incidents engulfing entire villages, hundreds of people losing everything in Shastri park building collapse in Delhi and then the worst- the harshest winters, breaking all past records. We did our small bit. Thanks to a large number of people and organizations standing with us with material, money, space, transport and links in the villages, slums. Do refer www.goonj.org for updates.

This mail is not only about the work but also a response to a series of mails and queries from a lot of well wishers asking us– "What can I do for GOONJ"?

In February, we are completing 12 years. We don't remember writing to people about money or organizing any fund raising event! Things have still been working. People have supported the work and have made sure that nothing for whatever reasons, stops at GOONJ..

With the increasing reach we feel we are in a new phase. We want our potential to be exploited- not just used.. and here is an effort to take care of some of the bottle necks. Please spend five minutes and see what you, your friends, relatives or your organization can do. Do read, revert, act…

1. TEAM 2000- It's about bringing together a strong team of 2000 people who give a sum of Rs. 10,000/- (about $ 250) in a year i.e. just about Rs. 800/- a month. BUT IT's NOT like an EMI or a lifelong commitment. Give till you feel comfortable or trust the work. Commit less or more…although we are looking for 2000 people to commit at least Rs. 10,000/- . Apart from taking care of major regular expenses, the money will be used for growth, expansion and wider replication.

We are confident that this is achievable and like all other initiatives of GOONJ, we want TEAM 2000 also to be driven by the volunteers.. Do sign up, spread the word, Talk to your friends, relatives and colleagues to join the TEAM 2000 . A simple form is enclosed giving the money transfer options. Contributions are tax exempted u/s 80G of IT act.

2. Vehicles– With the growing spread, transport cost has gone up and material inflow at GOONJ is increasing. Pick up vans are the immediate need in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Jalandhar & Pune. (costs between INR 2.5 to 4.00 lakh ).

3. 25 Computers/laptops- For the past many years we have somehow managed with the used lot of computers. Now when we are focusing on MIS, trying to use technology to maximize the potential, we need high end, good systems. Laptops are preferred as most team members spend a lot of time in the field. We also need printers and photocopy machines for 8 offices.

4. Transport support or linkages with transport companies to reach out material to hundreds of towns/villages across the country.

5. Space– We are looking for about 2000 sq. ft. space for processing centers/storage in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jalandhar, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad either pro bono or on the minimum possible rent.

6. Linkages with garment industry,specially dealing with cotton and hosiery. We are producing about 2,00,000 sanitary pads every month and it needs to grow. Any wastage, export surplus will do.

Feel free to write back with your queries/suggestions/comments. Do send out this message to as many people as you can.

Looking forward..

With best

Anshu

For Team 2000- http://www.goonj.org/Team%202000%20form.doc

To join GOONJ on facebook- http://www.facebook.com/pages/GOONJ/150270596264

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Anshu Gupta (Ashoka Fellow)
Founder Director
GOONJ..
www.goonj.org