Absolutely different from today’s run-of-the-mill tales of teenage rebellion, Rajashri Iyer tells a tale of a group of youngsters and their MAD drives  along the length and breadth of India, to make  at least  a minimal difference in the current turbidity that mires the system. They are the MAD, MADder and MADdest of the times busy making  differences, in a world of less hopes and more dreams.

Bernard Shaw, the genius and the brilliant platform speaker, once asserted in a desperate tone: ‘Youth is wasted in the young.”. Perhaps he would have regretted if comes across these young people synonymous with energy and enthusiasm, who ply for the needy, lending ears to the sad music of humanity, of course, replacing the head- phones.

With Shaw we put our brake at MAD. Often, this very word makes way for ‘crazy’ in the lexicon of today’s youth. But here, it points to the ‘good habits formed’ that ‘maketh all the differences’. Yes, MAD really means that – they Make A Difference in this world of less hopes and more dreams.

MAD – Make A Difference

If you want to go to Heaven the first thing you will have to do is to die.

Likewise, to make a difference in the world, at first you have to be different, in thought s and in deeds, then you must understand what our present system is. Amongst the argie-bargie of ‘unity in diversity’ we fail to see the unfilled hiatus bearing an ‘x’ factor among those diverse classes, creeds, religions, cultures and so on and so forth. Building a bridge across these disparities (that exists in the same community)is the only way to connect and correct it so as to maintain the promising unity. But in a nation where the discrimination between male and female, rich and poor starts even from the kindergarten and carries on within the certificates and job applications, can we dream about such a bridge?

If not we, the MAD people could do it as they are different.

A group of young students from Kochi started to pick the downtrodden kids up from the streets and started to learn what was missing in them. Feel they are really mad? Because anything happens or evolves out of the blues or anything which shows a charade of something not usual, we have learned to call it mad.

Yes, after hearing the silent cries of the orphaned kids from Thrikkakara YMCA Boys Home yearning for the solace of words, the MAD guys could figure out that ‘x’ factor – Orphaned by the parents and ignored by the power, they are being denied of getting the necessary life skills such as communication skills and basic technical know-how, which are essential for one to succeed in life now.

So, by establishing a library at the YMCA Boys Hostel the MADsters put the foundation stone for the bridge to be prostrated to the hem of ignorance and neglect. Regular visit to the place became a routine procedure- To give an ear for the whimpers of the deserted, to share the lonesome sorrows a bit.. all seemed to be something odd?  But soon they came to realize about ‘the inevitable obstacles that would be part of undertaking such a huge project”.

“But we slowly evolved from those humble beginnings and expanded to more centers across Kochi: and eventually, across the country”, winks a contented Gloria Benny, the President  of MAD.

Yes, MAD has now crossed a long way after its birth in 2006 with a handful of youngsters. Today 800 Make A Difference volunteers teach close to 2800 kids in the Indian cities of Pune, Delhi, Mumbai, Mangalore, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Chennai including that of a full-fledged one in Kochi.

Vision that brings out the mission

“We realized that the system created a gap from the very early years of a child’s life and as time passed by, the gap only widened. We saw a huge untapped resource amongst us. youngsters who if provided the right platform were capable of bridging the gap. Hence is founded Make a Difference with a vision “To bridge the inequality in society through education.” remarked Sanjana Kuruvila another member of MAD.

Once the primary step is over, the vagueness which was prevalent in the early days began to fade… the plain visuals of the objectives and aims that are to be grabbed out combating the ‘inevitable obstacles’ arrayed in the forefront. The unambiguous goals made them realize that they possess the drive and passion to get it animated.

“We currently focus on India’s urban underprivileged, particularly children in street shelters, orphanages, and poor homes. Our children are street smart, intelligent and mature. Yet hardly any of them get the opportunity to continue their education after tenth standard”, echoes the unanimous voice.

Keeping in mind the lined up realities they dug out, MAD began its voyage through the children in orphanages who also, they think, are deserved to be a part of the movement. To make them capable of harnessing their capabilities is the significant part and as such, the mission has progressed through the passionate and energy driven youngsters.

To lessen the drop-out rates from the schools, they percieved quality education as the only solution.

To thrive in this world, as every one knows, English is the conundrum to be solved. The very next thing, being computer know-how MAD started to plow through the academic progression, apart from the usual gobbledygook sans any utilitarian notions.

English, for living

Bridging the poles of disparities needs the communication platform to stand erect as a stepping stone. So, MAD’s primary project has fallen in to the English Education path. On their run to know the system to which they would be in incessant combat, they came to meet with the shocking reality of the plight of middle class and downtrodden children who stifle when they once finished their tenth class, to cope with English medium.

So each English volunteer of MAD began to spend time with the children for some time creating a wholesome English ambience. They taught them Communicative English (never the ennui grammars of the routine school syllabus) for 2 hours at their ascribed centers every week for around seven months a year. From the dawn of 2010, MAD has partnered with the Cambridge University Press and these children began to use “The Cambridge English for School Curriculum”, thence forth.

“This five-level course for young students has won worldwide praise for its innovative approach that really works. It was the first course to be fully based on CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) principles. Cambridge English for Schools features a communicative, task-based approach where the content and concepts reflect students’ own lives and interest” says, Gloria Benny.

Only India’s most renowned International Schools follow this method of English Teaching and these fabulous books by CUP (Cambridge University Press). That particular one is being gifted to the browbeaten children here — thanks to the untiring efforts and drive of these MAD guys.

“We are preparing them to face life better by improving their communication skills… one day it would empower them to stand on their feet…” affirmed, Jithin C Nedumala, one of the Board of Directors of MAD.

Even when the family-bound children wheeze to reach abreast with their classmates cursing the vernacular training they enjoyed in the basic schools; these deprived kids are all geared up to come off with flying colors via the unconditional love and support they drawn out in the  MAD way!!!

Being whiz

Without shouting from the tops, MAD takes these children through the courses offering effective and mixed-ability classes and emphasizes learner choice, decision-making and autonomy. Along with the perfect English way, MAD also runs a computer project running at some centers where they try to teach children English using user-friendly software such as Rosetta Stone, Gcompris etc. While familiarizing children with an essential component of today, language learning is also achieved by the project.

“We have initiated our computer program in Cochin where we have computers in the ratio 6:1 installed in every centre which means every child will get half an hour of computer class every day.” conveys  Gloria Benny.

Being an army of pursuing students, the MADsters know the up-to-date pulse of the system in which they live and strive to overcome the awaiting uncertainty, better than any other bracketed charity workers . As drifting along the currents of the education and employment structures,  they know, how to counter the tryst with the future.  So they hope to make it big in a realm of eventfulness.

To  stand  upright

Education is not the end of everything; it can be a means – a means to an end. By providing the children a platform and efficient support, MAD converts them into the means by which they expect the end could be attained.

“We also have a Placement program running concurrently. The placement team arranges field visits, career talk and camps to enrich the learning spectrum of the children. The primary focus of this is to shape their future by widening horizons and brings their way, more and better career opportunities”, says Sujith Abraham Varkey, another Board Member of MAD. ”

“Our aim is to ensure the underprivileged children are brought into the main stream so they can chose their careers based on their potential and interests and not their financial constraints.”, added Gloria Benny.

However, most of their children have not reached the employable age. But like caring parents with long-visions MAD has partnered with certain colleges and other institutes in advance to execute their placement activities.

When money matters…

If we go deep into any trouble around, most of them will be based either on lack of money or on lack of love. Here, the second factor is affluent. But nothing moves in our world without money lubricating each deal is an unabated truth.

MADsters, are alert to this fuzzy segment also, though novice. “We have a structure called Friends of MAD; which is MAD’s financial wing. Currently, we have 300 odd donors who donate amounts worth Rs. 200 or above through monthly ECS transactions. This collective pool is our primary fund source.”, Gloria replied to the query.

Moreover, ZOHO Coporation a private organization having a global network with headquarters in Pleasanton is there as the corporate sponsor of these MAD guys.

“Zoho has funded 50% of our National Budget last year and we look at similar grants, award or patrons who may be interested into sponsor any of our projects each year.”

Vibes make ripples around.

Ex  officio

Today requires more than 24 hours from one’s life, in the torrents of fast-tracked technology.  So ‘how do you find time to lift and uplift such a MAD venture’, can never be an irrelevant question.

“Yes, most of our teacher volunteers are college students or young working professionals. Since we’re primarily a voluntary organization, we work on MAD part-time. The core team or volunteers involved in the admin functions in MAD would typically spend about 8-10 hours on MAD every week. While the rest of the volunteers, who are involved only in teaching children would spend around 4 hours for MAD every week. Since we have a recruitment process that ensures that we take in only highly committed volunteers, our volunteers are passionate about the cause and they’re all willing to spare this time for the cause…”,

It was the elucidation from those really passion-driven MADsters.

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