Young professionals may have a busy life, but some always find time for the things they love, proves VidYuth founder member Anshuman Sinha. VidYuth, funded by Unlimited India, is a youth-based organization that has been active in Mumbai for the past eight months. Anshuman, an investment banker with a leading Mumbai firm, was prompted to set up VidYuth because he always wanted to provide a platform for youth flush with ideas on how to make the make a slightly better place.
Anshuman, along with his friends Sumesh Sharma, Ishaan Sinha and Yash Kataruka, all MBA graduates, form the core of VidYuth and are generally assisted by volunteers during their various social initiatives. Ishaan, who works in the advertising industry, says, The main aim of VidYuth is to address the youth and provide a stage to voice their problems. VidYuth, in a small period of time, has already received support from social activists and organizations.
Since its inception on November 20 last year, VidYuth has been conducting various discussions at colleges like St Xaviers, Sydenham, Sophia and Jai Hind College to mobilise Mumbais youth and help them turn their ideas for change into reality. As Anshuman puts it, We want to give the youth a platform to raise their concerns and we will try our best to help them in our capacity. They have already helped some students make documentaries on drug abuse and the connection between the mills and malls in the city.
Speaking about the topics that are often discussed at their interactions in various colleges, Anshuman says, The most talked about issues that concern the youth are eve teasing and ragging. Eve teasing is a problem for many girls and all of them want to do something to curb that. Ragging has been very visible at various colleges. As a part of their efforts, VidYuth wants to align with the police and form anti-ragging squads.
Other hot topics in their discussions include revolutionary ideals, politics and current affairs. In their recent session at Sophia College, concerns about caste discrimination, extra importance given to cricket as compared to other sports and global warming came to the fore. VidYuth was also actively trying to encourage new voters to shun their indifference, step ahead and cast their votes during the recent Lok Sabha elections. Anshuman says, They believe that none of the candidates were worth being voted for and anyways one vote would not make a difference. Changing this perception is important.
Being a small group is not a drawback for VidYuth. Whenever we go to colleges and meet the students, many of them come up to us and express their wish to volunteer and help us says Anshuman. According to Ishaan, We dont have a particular target when it comes to a number of volunteers. We dont specifically want an organisation with 100 or 150 members.
Though functional only in Mumbai, Anshuman and his team wish to extend their work across the country and help youth everywhere make a difference.