Where there is will, there is a way. Re-chord, a student led NGO, has proved this by coming a long way despite the ups and downs they have faced. Over 40 students from B.Tech and B.Arch background have joined hands to run this organisation, funded by pooling in their pocket money.
Mohammed Irfan Anees, a student of CSI Information and Technology college and president of Re-chord, said that initially the idea was to start a magazine. “We thought we can use the profits to help the needy, but unfortunately we couldn’t get sponsors to launch it. Thus we decided to start an ngo,” he said.
The members of Re-chord visit other non-profit organisations, orphanages and old age homes and provide them with basic necessities such as groceries, clothes and medicines. The NGO works in association with organisations such as Sphoorti, Basera old age home, Sri Renuka old age home, and Aramghar, a home for the mentally handicapped.
“When we went to Aramghar for the first time, we thought we won’t be allowed to interact with the patients. Several people recognise us and talk to us. I remember a lady in her mid 30’s who talks to us normally whenever we visit Aramgarh. Her parents passed away in a road accident and she couldn’t cope with the shock. It’s really sad to see people in such conditions,” said M.A Baseer, an engineering student from Nawab Shah Alam Khan of Engineering and Technology and general secretary of Re-chord.
Apart from the regular activities, the Re-chord team once tried to construct a few temporary houses at Rasoolpura slum. They named the project ‘Home Sweet Home’ and started working on it. “However, the local politicians got involved and succeeded in stopping us,” said Baseer. Though the project was interrupted, the members of the organisation are undeterred and have decided to implement the project at Attapur and Masab Tank slums. “We will be scheduling it soon,” said Irfan.
Though there were times when they couldn’t continue with their plans due to lack of funds, there have also been instances when the funds or help overwhelmed them. Talking about one such instance, Irfan said, “We once planned to distribute fruits at Government Maternity Hospital in Purana Pul. The sponsors sent us 9000 oranges. We had not thought that we would receive such help and had no clue how to carry so many oranges. We ended up using stretchers.” The students plan to carry on their work with a little help from friends.