By Anshul Tewari and Sumedha Bharpilania:
While the usage and acceptability of social media is a topic up for debate, it certainly has emerged as a tool for social change and social good. So much so that there are books and websites being run just around the very concept of social media for social good. Indian non-profits, while over 80% of them do not even have a functional website, many of them are now taking to social media to not just spread news about themselves and their programs, but are also impacting a young, dynamic and urban audience to get out of their comfort zones and have a social impact. Below is an exhaustive list of 11 such non-profits:
1. Teach For India
Teach For India is a nationwide movement that aims to narrow the educational gap in India by placing the country’s high potential college graduates and young professionals, of all academic majors and careers, in low-income schools to teach for two years.
This non-profit’s Facebook page boasts over 70,000 fans, all extremely active. Teach For India fellows also operate many other local level (city/college) sub-pages around the same cause.
With a mission to create a movement of leaders who will eliminate inequity in education in India, Teach For India is also the winner of the The Economic Times’ Great Places To Work Survey (2011) under the N.G.O category.
Visit the Teach for India Facebook page here.
2. Jaago Re
The mission of this campaign, as the Facebook page of the same reads, is to transform tea from a medium of mere physical and mental rejuvenation to a medium of social awakening. With a following of over 1,00,000, this initiative by Tata Tea runs an array of campaigns on positive news, art and culture, citizen awakening, voter rights and much more.
The Facebook page has a strong, active community with loads of interaction and dialogue, by ways of contest, quotes, photos and much more.
Visit the Jaago Re Facebook page here.
3. Lets Talk
Lets Talk is the discussion page for the Must Bol campaign, a youth led campaign calling young people to examine violence in their lives and speak out against it. To recognize it, to talk about it, and to address it. According to the Facebook page, “This is violence that emerges from our gender identities.”
The campaign is led by a core group of 30 odd young people from Delhi, who explore the realities of gender norms and invite other young people to join the dialogue and efforts to change the situation.
Check out the Lets Talk Facebook page here.
4. Bell Bajao
One out of every three women worldwide faces violence behind closed doors. Breakthrough’s campaign Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell in Hindi) urges men and boys to take a stand against domestic violence.
Yes, this is the same campaign that featured the innovative television ads which urge people to ring the bell when they hear domestic violence in their vicinity. The basic genesis behind this campaign is that if people intrude, domestic violence will stop.
Check out the Bell Bajao Facebook page here.
5. The YP Foundation (The Youth Parliament)
The YP Foundation (TYPF) is a youth run and led organization that supports and enables young people to create programmes and influence policies in the areas of gender, sexuality, health, education, the arts & governance.
As per the Facebook page, the mission of The YP Foundation is to promote, protect and advance young people’s human rights by building leadership, and strengthening youth led initiatives and movements.
Their goal is to support and enable young people to create programmes and influence policies in the areas of gender, sexuality, health, education, the arts & governance.
Check out The YP Foundation’s Facebook page here.
6. SMILE Foundation
SMILE Foundation is a non-profit organization that works for children and women. Established in the year 2002 this organization has come a long way to provide education and employment opportunities to underprivileged children through around 52 centers across India. SMILE is also working proactively for the empowerment of Women in India. For more information please visit our website.
An extremely responsive Facebook page makes sure their work impact and information engages their audience in a healthy dialogue.
Check out the SMILE Foundation’s Facebook page here.
7. Center for Social Research (CSR) India
Based in New Delhi, India Centre for Social Research (CSR) is dedicated to creating a violence-free, gender-just society through social research, capacity building and advocacy.
As per their Facebook page, “We believe that people of all genders deserve equal rights, privileges and opportunities. We believe that women can be catalysts for and agents of social change. And we recognize that restructuring gender relations requires the participation and support of all sectors of society: women and men, young and old, grassroots to national levels, private and public institutions alike. All people, regardless of their gender or status, are decision-makers–and therefore also change-makers.”
Check out the Center for Social Research (CSR) India’s Facebook page here.
8. The Kutumb Foundation
Since 2002 the Kutumb Foundation has been working with children and young people from the disadvantaged sections of the society. The Kutumb Foundation works out of the Khan Market area and from other parts of the Delhi-NCR. The organisation focuses on education and life-skill building amongst children and young people through alternative and creative mediums.
Check out the Kutumb Foundation’s Facebook page here.
9. SaveLIFE Foundation
Winner of the 2010 Rolex Award for Enterprise, SLF is a first of its kind initiative to combine community volunteerism with Healthcare, Technology and Law Enforcement, to provide urgent medical care for road accident victims.
This non-profit is working towards mobilizing and engaging everyday citizens in Basic Life Support to improve road safety and emergency care in India.
Check out the SaveLIFE Foundation Facebook page here.
10. Digital Empowerment Foundation
Digital Empowerment Foundation, a Delhi based not-for-profit organization was registered on December 2002, to find solutions to bridge the digital divide.
The mission of this non-profit is to inspire individuals and communities to use technology for their own advantages. It focuses on enabling communities to be aware and conscious of the utility and necessity of using Information Communications Technology for their own empowerment.
Check out the Digital Empowerment Foundation’s Facebook page here.
11. Video Volunteers
Video Volunteers (VV) is working to create an alternative media landscape in which thousands of people around the world, living in slums and villages, are producing high quality video content that brings awareness to communities and empowers them to take action.
We create models of sustainable, locally owned media, and devise training programs that give communities the journalism, critical thinking and creative skills to run them.
Check out Video Volunteers’ Facebook page here.
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