The Direct Impact program is a way to get involved with
NGO activities "directly", at a grass roots level. The
main idea of this is to create volunteer opportunities
with NGOs, with a well-defined objective and time-frame.
By putting volunteers together with NGOs at project
locations, volunteers get sensitized to the ground realities
at the projects, get a chance to do something and get to
interact with the kids at these locations, and get to
create something useful for the NGO. Typically, we
organize an "event" once a month - the events are
normally half a day, over a weekend and volunteers
can simply show up to participate. The way we plan an
event is as follows - (i) we check with our partner NGOs
whether they have anything that they would like to get
done with volunteer help and identify possible event
opportunities; (ii) we discuss these at our meetings, where
one (or a few) of us volunteers to be the coordinator; (iii)
the coordinator is responsible for planning the event,
raising funds, if necessary, and breaking up the event into
simple tasks that volunteers can do. There is no hierarchy
in Asha Pune - anyone can volunteer to coordinate an event
and can get help to do this from people who have coordinated
events in the past. All communication is by email, via our
mailing groups. The coordinators announce the "event", and
request volunteer help, and specify what the volunteers will
need to do. So, while the coordinator puts in more work, this
planning makes it possible for volunteers to simply show up,
spend a half-day at the event, and the NGO benefits from this
activity.
Help with Direct Impact - join the Direct Impact mailing list.
The Direct Impact activity started in Feb 2004, but had a
very different focus then. To find out more about the history
of previous Direct Impact activities, before we transitioned
to the "event" mode, take a look at our older Direct Impact
site (DI old page).
| Event | Planning | Event Report |
| May 2010: TED Video viewing | Call for volunteers;Reminder email 1; Reminder email 2 | link to report and pictures? |
| Feb 2010: ASHA Science Day Event | Call for volunteers;Reminder email 1; Reminder email 2 | link to report and pictures |
| Jan 2010: Sports day Event at ISC, Yerwada | Call for volunteers;Reminder email 1; Reminder email 2 | ISC teaching program website |
| Nov 2009: Children's day celebration at ISC, Yerawada | Adhoc Event | link to report and pictures |
| Oct 2009: Monthly event at ISC, Yerawada | Call for volunteers;Reminder email 1; Reminder email 2 | ISC teaching program website |
| July 2009: English classes at ISC, Yerawada | Call for volunteers | ISC teaching program website |
| May 2009: Asha Community Center, Bibewadi | Call for volunteers; Reminder email 1; Reminder email 2 | Event report, with links to pictures |
| April 2009: 6-Sigma, Cricket and Pasta at Vigyan Ashram, Pabal | Call for volunteers; Event rescheduled; Reminder email | Event pictures |
| Feb 2009: Gender awareness group, ISC, Yerawada | Call for volunteers;Follow-up email | Report |
| Feb 2009: Visit to Mohor, Budhwar Peth | Call for volunteers; Event plan | Bibhas' pictures from the event |
| Jan 2009: ISC Sports Day, Pashan | Call for volunteer; Event plan | Event report; Pictures from event |
| Dec 2008: Swanand Balak Ashram, Dhanakawdi | Call for volunteers; Reminder email | Event report |
| Nov 2008: Akshardeep Sports Day, Bibewadi | Call for volunteers; Event plan | Event report; Mail from Akshardeep |
| Oct 2008: Diwali with Doorstep Schools, Range Hills School | Call for volunteers; Event plan; Reminder email | Himanshu's photos; Vrushali's photos |
| Oct 2008: Diwali with Swadhar, "Rays of Hope", Nivara | Call for volunteers; Reminder email | Event report |
| Aug 2008: Independence Day celebrations, Doorstep Schools, 3 locations - Pashan, Baner and Shivaji Housing Society | Call for volunteers; Pashan event plan; Shivaji Housing event plan; Baner event plan; Baner event plan update; Summary of plans; Reminder email | Event report; Baner report; Shivaji Housing report; Pashan report |
| June 2008: Decorating Akshardeep shed, Shivrai Nagar | Call for volunteers; Email from Vinay; Vinay's ppt; Email from Rashmi; Email from Akshay; Reminder email | Himanshu's pictures; Guru's pictures |
| May 2008: Educational aids for Swadhar, Nivara | Call for volunteers; Plan for event | Event report |
| April 2008: Fun with Science and Maths Day, Akshardeep, Bibewadi | Call for volunteers; Plan for event | Event report + pics; Pictures from event |
| March 2008: Redecorating Mohor, Budhwar Peth | Call for volunteers; Email attachment for planning meeting; Minutes of planning meeting | Event report - text; Guru's pictures; Event report - ppt; Vinay's report |
| March 2008: Puppet show, Doorstep School, Baner | Call for volunteers | Photos from event |
| Jan 2008: Akshardeep Sports Day, Bibewadi | Call for volunteers; Attachment; Reminder 1; Reminder2; Reminder 3 | Event report |
| Oct 2007: Diwali event, Doorstep Schools, Range Hills | Call for volunteers; Planning meeting | Event report; Link1 to pictures; Link2 to pictures; Link3 to pictures |