OLD is GOLD and E-Waste Drive
“The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand
heads bowing in prayer.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
The Social
Responsibility Committee of Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Bengaluru,
conducted the “OLD is GOLD” and “E-waste
Drive” campaign during the month
of October 2018.
The campaign was
initiated on October 5th, 2018 with the rolling out of an e-mail
giving the students of SIBM B a chance to be responsible towards the society
and to play their parts for the greater good.
The mail
encompassed details about the duration of the campaign and also on the
particulars like what could be classified as collectibles for the campaign.
Things that could be donated: Usable blankets, bedding,
clothing, shoes, bags, belts etc.
Things that could be recycled: All electronic items.
The students
were encouraged to share usable blankets, bedding, clothing, shoes, bags, belts
etc (OLD is GOLD) and electronic items that were not being used by the students
and were lying idle. (E-waste Drive)
The collection
process was carried out from 6th October to 15th October
2018. The committee members along with the housekeeping staff and campus
administrator made sure everything went smoothly. The collection drive was a
success as students actively made their contributions.
On 16th
October 2018, the Symbiosis Bengaluru family gathered all the collectibles and
went on to donate these to GOONJ, Bengaluru to make a difference to society
with this small contribution.
GOONJ uses these under-utilised and excess
urban household material as a tool for rural development across 23 states in
the country. It recycles old clothes, for instance, Old jeans are turned into school bags, cotton fabric is used in making
sanitary pads or quilts. Thus, by creating new use for cloth, its
value as a resource goes up.
It thus aims to bring an equitable
relationship of strength, sustenance and dignity between cities and villages.
It believes that everyone has a stake at this collective responsibility. The
basic idea is to start the culture of regular and dignified giving. To work for
the receiver’s dignity instead of the donor’s pride.
We, at
Symbiosis, are in complete accordance with the same belief. Such simple acts of
charity might not mean much to the giver but can certainly make easier the
lives of the unfortunate or the underprivileged. It is but the upliftment of
the weaker counterparts of our society that actually brings prosperity to the economy
as a whole. Alone, we can do so little, together, we can do so much.