Volunteer with Goonj
Volunteer with Goonj and be a part of our community of do-gooders, where you would get to meet the spirited 10-year-old Prikshit to the wise and wonderful 70-year-old Usha!
Hopeful that every child should have the same opportunities and resources?
Want to create platforms which encourage open sharing about experiences related to taboo subjects like menstruation?
Then Goonj is the volunteering space for you to not only think about solutions but act upon them!
Goonj in a few words : By contributing your surplus materials, you help in mobilizing, motivating, and enabling communities across India to address their own issues and develop community assets. Sounds fascinating right? But there’s more. We use your contributions as a means to generate livelihood through the processing and upcycling of material.
Explore and Begin an Adventure
Experience Processing Unit
Commence on an exciting exploration at the processing center, where you’ll dive into the action with hands-on involvement in processing and sorting activities.
Field Immersions
Embark on a hands-on adventure as we journey to the nearby field area where our groundbreaking initiatives come to life.
Become Part of the Movement
Sparking the Goonj Celebration
Unleash excitement by organizing a vibrant Goonj festival in your city! Dive into the festivities with collection camps, packed with fun activities, and later, deliver the gathered materials to the nearest Goonj office. It’s more than just a collection—it’s a spirited event for a great cause! Here are some ideas to make your drive colourful and fun!
Innovative Champions
Craft comprehensive campaigns revolving around old newspapers, spectacle frames, one-sided used papers, and Goonj’s ki Gullak.
Engaging with young minds
Partnering with schools to arrange engaging sessions, lively stalls, eye-opening exposure visits, and collection drives for Goonj. Contribute by spearheading school material-focused campaigns or bridging the gap with stationery manufacturers to support the cause. Let’s make giving back an exciting adventure for the kids!
Break the Silence on Menstruation
Dive into the mission of shattering the stigma and silence surrounding menstruation. Join the movement and raise your hand for women’s dignity! To know more please refer https://goonj.org/njpc/
Sharing Talents
Bring your talents to the table by volunteering in IT, mastering Corel Draw and Photoshop, weaving captivating narratives, capturing moments through videography, excelling in translation, and more. Let’s turn your skills into a force for positive change!
Activate and Unleash Influence
Talk to Ten
Going Beyond Money and Material – Amplify the buzz in your network for a range of uplifting initiatives! From sponsoring Goonj Kits to payroll giving, from spreading the word about Goonj Ki Gullak to establishing connections with wholesalers, retail chains, and transporters. It’s more than just talk; it’s a ripple effect of positive actions!
Leading the Eco-Charge
Going Green
Unleash the power of upcycled wonders crafted from the last threads of fabric! Be a catalyst for change by introducing these sustainable gems at conferences, workshops, camps, and beyond. Open up connections between Goonj and organizations championing eco-friendly lifestyles, or set up vibrant stalls in corporate spaces, schools, colleges, exhibitions, and more. Let’s paint the town green!
“Goonj ka Jhola” (Goonj’s Environment Friendly Bag) Movement
Championing the stylish switch from plastic to cloth bags! Let’s make a statement while saving the planet. Join the trend and carry the Goonj spirit with eco-friendly flair.
Raise Funds to Sustain the Momentum
Supporting with funds
Becoming a vital part of volunteering by making monetary contributions for essential logistics requirements, transportation, and other crucial needs.
Goonj ki Gullack (Goonj’s Piggy Bank)
Sparking excitement and fostering a culture of savings and sharing through the vibrant use of Goonj ki Gullack (Raise Funds to Sustain)! Join the fun and make a difference—one coin at a time!
Team 5000
Unite with Team 5000 and pledge a specific amount to Goonj on a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly basis. Let’s amplify the impact together!
Volunteering opportunities available in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Kochi, Dehradun, Rishikesh throughout the year. During October and November volunteering options could be taken up in Tier 2 cities as well.
Stories of some of our Volunteers
Dheeraj Razdan
Dheeraj Ji is one of our lead volunteers who has always been at the forefront and has widely encouraged…
View Story
Radhika Gulati
Radhika Ji, is a dedicated Goonj volunteer from Noida. With a Master’s degree in Social Work, she has..
View Story
Madhu Arora
From Childhood we have always seen our parents always supporting friends, neighbors, relatives, staff…
View Story
Aravind Srinivasan
This dedicated volunteer with five years of service at Goonj is a true asset to the organization. Their…
View Story
Pushpa Agarwal
Her journey with Goonj started in 2015 when she gave away more than 50 sarees to Goonj and visited the…
View Story
Alka Damle
The senior citizen with a resolve of steel is Alka Damle ji. She has been a volunteer at Goa for more…
View Story
Sudhir Patel
In 2015, what began as a personal journey to dispose of a few bags of clothes in an optimal manner…,
View Story
Falguni Trivedi
Falguni ji has been the consistent and sole volunteer of Goonj in Ahmedabad for a decade. From creating…
View Story
Smita Rane
A decade ago, a passionate volunteer joined GOONJ in search of a cause that resonated with their values…
View Story
Gazala
Gazala Ji’s Journey with Goonj started a few years back.She charaterized Goonj as a blessing that provides…
View Story
Dr.Padmapriya Vinod Kumar
Dr. Padmapriya Vinod Kumar has dedicated more than a decade to volunteering with Goonj, expressing..
View Story
Volunteering in different ways
With Your Network
Talk to 10: Beyond money and material, spread the word around in your own network of friends, family and colleagues to get more people to take some positive action. It could be about sponsoring Goonj Kits, Payroll Giving with a corporate, spreading the word about Goonj Ki Gullak, connecting to wholesalers and retail chains for unsold material/dead inventory or connecting with transporters for pro bono/ subsidized services.
Going Green
Green by Goonj is our range of up-cycled products made from last shreds of cloth. You can promote these products for conferences, workshops, camps, etc. or connect us to organizations that promote sustainable lifestyle products or organize stalls in various corporate, schools, colleges, exhibitions etc. To visit our ecommerce site, click here.
100 Stories of Change Book
‘100 Stories of Change Vol I’ is a collection of first 25 stories of change By Goonj. You can organize book reading sessions in colleges, universities, societies. Connect us to research and academic institutes where the book can be placed for people studying social work, social entrepreneurship etc..
Working with children
Goonj’s ‘School to School’ initiative engages with urban schools, kids, teachers & parents. You can reach out to schools to organize sessions, stalls, exposure visits and collection drives for Goonj.
Short supply of School material is a constant challenge at Goonj. Pitch in by organizing school material specific collection drives or connect us to stationery manufacturers.
Raise Your Hand for Women’s Dignity and Menstruation
If you are passionate about breaking the culture of shame and silence around menstruation, get involved in this work with us. https://goonj.org/njpc/
Organizing Awareness Cum Collection Camps
Wherever you are, you can organize a collection camp for Goonj, in your city and drop collected material to the nearest Goonj office.
Please read our Guidelines carefully – in English, in Hindi
If you wish to organize a Collection Camp, pl register here
For Book Lovers
A lot of people contribute their books to Goonj.. The one’s relevant for rural India are reached out to rural libraries, schools etc. while others are reached out at reasonable prices to urban masses through stalls at book fairs, college fests, PTAs in schools, etc.
Living Abroad
- Actively spread awareness through forums and speaker opportunities.
- Connect Goonj with your India network.
- Make a regular Monetary Donation and motivate others.
- Become a part of Goonj’s Team 5000 with committed Giving.
Skills to share
Want to volunteer with IT, Corel draw, Photoshop, writing, videography, translation etc.
You are requested to Register for Volunteering
We have introduced a new form to capture Contact details and interest areas for volunteering. You are requested to please refer to the steps mentioned below to complete the form.
Step-1
If you are an existing contact with Goonj
- Enter either the email or the phone number.
- Press ‘Search’ to move to next screen.
- An OTP will be sent to your registered number, pl put that and you would be taken to Step-2
If you are new to Goonj or your information does not exist press ‘New’ to go to step-3.
Step-2
- To make any changes, click at ‘Edit’ to update your details. Make changes.
- For Volunteering, pl ensure to respond ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Wish to Volunteer’. This will open up other relevant questions for Volunteering.
- Save
Step -3
- Enter your details.
- For Volunteering, pl ensure to respond ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Wish to Volunteer’. This will open up other relevant questions for Volunteering.
- Save
Frequently Asked Questions
Hello friend! So, you’re ready to dive headfirst into the world of volunteering with Goonj? If you still have a few questions, no worries – we’ve got you covered with our dedicated FAQ section.
Here are a few easy ways to kickstart your journey:
- Write to us at [email protected]
- Call up the GOONJ office (011- 41401216,26972351, 7042399564) to find out what suits your circumstances.
- Register through this link https://goonj.my.site.com/s/contributor.
Absolutely not! At Goonj, we work with everyone from school kids to senior citizens. We have had children volunteer in some of the most creative fundraising activities you can imagine! We had them crafting Gullaks (piggy banks), whipping up delicious cookies, and selling lemonade like mini entrepreneurs. Senior citizens too have volunteered their time and in organizing collection camps in their areas that have garnered massive response. So, whether you’re 8 or 80, we’ve got a volunteering adventure waiting just for you!
When it comes to volunteering with Goonj, we’re not sticklers for formal qualifications or a laundry list of skills. However, if you’re a ninja at some specific skill, feel free to spill the beans. We’d love to tap into your secret talent vault and put it to good use! While having specific skills is awesome, we believe that the most important qualification is your passion and enthusiasm. We’ve got plenty of interesting and meaningful opportunities for you to get involved in. So, if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and join our Goonj family, you’re more than qualified to make a positive impact with us!
There’s no strict minimum time commitment because we believe in the freedom to choose your own adventure. You can start by visiting our processing center or nearest collection drive. Ultimately, it all depends on the activity you take up and your availability of time and resources.
Well, we have a wide range of exciting volunteering opportunities for you. You can start off by tapping into the immense power of your own social network. Spread the word about Goonj among your friends, family and colleagues to get more people to take some positive action. To learn more about our volunteering opportunities, head over to the section on “Volunteering in Different Ways.”
If you can round up a bunch of like-minded individuals who are ready to volunteer with us, we’d be thrilled to have you on board. Please write to [email protected] to join us from your city.
We would be more than happy to have you as our volunteer. All you need to do is make sure that you have all the requisite visa requirements and permissions from the Indian Government in place and then you are good to go!
We’re more than willing to explore all the exciting possibilities of remote volunteering with you. If you reside in cities where Goonj has offices like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Dehradun, Patna, and Rishikesh, then you would need to visit the office of Goonj and understand our operations better. Find the locations of our offices here https://goonj.org/our-offices/. In case you reside in other cities, you would need to attend the orientation to understand about the work of Goonj and also to understand the different options to remotely volunteer.
We promise not to keep you in suspense for too long. It’ll take us somewhere between 24 to 48 hours to go through your application.
Yes. For starters, we kindly request you to visit our nearest processing center. If you reside in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Dehradun, Patna, and Rishikesh, you could access the office locations at https://goonj.org/our-offices/. We will also organize an online Knowing Goonj session for you to understand our work better. To truly immerse yourself in the world of Goonj, we’ll invite you to attend the nearest collection drive where you will witness our volunteers in action. To understand where the collection drives are please refer https://goonj.org/collection-camps/
Once you’ve completed your induction and are officially a Goonj volunteer, it’s time to initiate some amazing activities in your area. Now, here’s where the magic happens. After you’ve initiated your activity in your area, we will connect you to the nearest volunteers who share your passion.
We would be happy to help with arranging accommodation and other aspects but given our limited resources we are unable to offer accommodation and other stay related arrangements to volunteers.
We don’t have a dedicated children’s center for teaching, but you can explore other exciting volunteering opportunities under the section “Volunteering in Different Ways”
Volunteers usually don’t receive a certificate at Goonj because we believe volunteering is about doing something selflessly. While we value your time and efforts, certificates are only issued for an internship which is for 1 month at least and involves working full time with the team. For more information on internship opportunities, visit https://goonj.org/internship/
We lovingly refer to our volunteers as the “extended family of Goonj.” So when it comes to expectations, we are looking for people who bring a big scoop of passion to the table. Passion to make a difference. But that’s not all – we’re also looking for people who can understand our ethos and values. What we mean is that you should ensure that your actions never undermine the dignity of self, those we work with, and, most importantly, those we stand with. Lastly, we want our volunteers to take what they learn and spread the Goonj love far and wide. We want you to ignite change in your community and inspire others to join our movement!
Of course! You could volunteer during weekends. You can organize collection camps in your residential society/clubs/educational institution/office. You can also join us for a tour of our Processing Unit where you will witness the transformation of urban surplus to powerful resources that trigger voluminous rural development work pan India. We’d also love to have you conduct sessions with our team. Teach them something cool, share your wisdom, or just spread some cheer by playing some tunes on your guitar! The choice is yours.
Yes, you can travel to the field as a volunteer. We schedule regular visits to fields where you can get your hands, and possibly your shoes, dirty. To join the fun, just fill out form link https://forms.gle/hae5uiCyNwW5hANQ7. This way, we’ll know you’re eager to jump into action, and we’ll reach out as soon as we schedule our next field visit.
Don’t worry, you can still stay connected with us. We can organize an online orientation which would help you to understand the work of Goonj and the different volunteering options that could be explored. Stay updated on our activities by following us on our social media handles. You can always express your interest in volunteering by filling out our volunteering form https://goonj.my.site.com/s/contributor. or writing to [email protected]. During Joy of Giving event in October, collection camps could be taken up in your city by inviting other volunteers / stakeholders in the same.
Here are some options below to contribute;
For Direct/Online Contribution – click here
You can also make a cheque / draft in the name of Goonj and send to Goonj, J-93,
Sarita Vihar, New Delhi-110 076, Tel.- 011-41401216
You can also join our ‘Team 5000’ family who commit a monthly amount to Goonj. If you wish to be a part of Team 5000, do get in touch with us by writing to Neelima at [email protected]. Spread the word and encourage people in your network to support us.
For receipt purpose, please send your name, amount, email ID, tel no. and address to
[email protected] , with date & mode of transfer, transfer code/ cheque number,
Bank’s name and location with the last 4 digits of your account number.
These connections are invaluable to us and by providing the contacts of manufacturers,
exporters and retail chains, you can help us reach more communities across the 25
States and UTs (as per 2022-23 data) we work in. Here’s how: We prepare more than 10 different kinds of kits/packs of materials which are channelized to our implementation areas on a regular basis. These kits include materials such as sarees, footwear, blankets, toys and more which are of continuous need. Bulk contributions of these materials would enable us to meet this need. Write to us at [email protected]
Our Volunteers Speak
Her journey with Goonj started in 2015 when she gave away more than 50 sarees to Goonj and visited the processing center in Delhi. Upon coming back to her home in Dehradun, since then, she has been enthusiastically involved in organizing many collection camps and spreading awareness about Goonj. Since 2017, her house has also been a dropping center. She never fails to passionately educate the contributors about Goonj’s work in detail, which is why her dropping center gets huge collections of both material and money. Volunteering with Goonj is her way of serving the society
Volunteering with Goonj is indeed a noble way to serve society, and her commitment over the years demonstrates the positive impact that individuals can have when they actively engage in philanthropic efforts. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the significant contributions she has made to the organization and the communities it serves.
Mrs. Pushpa Agarwal
Satyam Saini, a dedicated volunteer of Goonj from the vibrant city of Ghaziabad has been an integral part of the Goonj family for the past five years. Satyam Ji’s association with Goonj began through one of our passionate volunteers.
Satyam Ji’s impact extends beyond his personal involvement. Organizing collection camps in his apartment multiple times a year, he has created a strong network of enthusiastic volunteers who share his vision. This sense of community collaboration has not only strengthened the impact of Goonj’s initiatives but has also created a ripple effect, inspiring more individuals to join the cause he becomes a beacon of inspiration for others. His visionary approach ensures that the impact of his efforts goes beyond the immediate and contributes to a lasting and positive change in the community..
Satyam Saini
Jayasree’s journey with Goonj began in 2019 when she wanted to give her clothes and other essential items to those in need. That’s when she first reached out to Goonj. Since then, Jayasree has taken the initiative to organize collection camps in her society. Teaming up with her ever-supportive friend, Ananya, they come together to host these collection camps every 2 to 3 months. It warms our hearts to see the overwhelmingly positive response from their fellow residents, who eagerly join them in making a difference.
What motivates Jayasree the most is the vast scale of Goonj’s work and the remote areas they reach to the underprivileged. This inspires her to make her own small contribution to the work of Goonj.
Jayasree
Kinjal Dharod, a resident of Hyderabad and a regular contributor for over four years, discovered Goonj’s Taraang campaign, a campaign aimed at spreading joy among children across urban and rural India. Her son’s twelveth birthday presented Kinjal with an opportunity to raise materials for the cause in a unique way. She suggested that instead of buying conventional birthday presents, her son’s friends purchase school materials for the same value. Ayan, Kinjal’s son, happily agreed and invited his friends to bring school stationery as birthday gifts for him.
Kinjal’s family was encouraging. “My family has always been supportive, they joined me in spreading the word about procuring school supplies.Apart from this she always participates in the Goonj campaign and her out of the box ideas makes it a beautiful journey of volunteer.Kinjal Dharod’s story serves as a reminder that small, thoughtful actions can make a significant difference in the lives of others, and it’s heartening to see individuals and families actively participating in such meaningful initiatives
Kinjal Dharod
Her journey began while she was working at Wipro, when she felt a strong desire to get involved with NGOs and help improve the lives of those in need. It was during this time that she visited the Goonj Sarita Vihar office and was deeply inspired by the remarkable work being done there. She made the decision to join Goonj as a volunteer, a choice that has had a profound impact on countless lives.
In 2002, she selflessly opened up her own house, transforming it into a collection center for materials in Bangalore. Her house soon became a hub of compassion, as people from all walks of life came together to contribute towards making a difference.
Her contributions to disaster relief efforts, particularly during the devastating floods in Odisha, were exemplary. She displayed immense dedication and courage, inspiring numerous individuals to contribute their time, resources, and materials. Her ability to motivate and mobilize others was truly awe-inspiring, resulting in significant positive change in the affected communities.
Through her selfless service, this remarkable individual has not only touched the lives of those she directly helped but has also inspired countless others to join the noble cause. Her passion, empathy, and tireless efforts have made a lasting impact, empowering individuals and communities to lead better lives.
She has accomplished this as a lead volunteer with Goonj. Her dedication to uplifting the underprivileged and her ability to bring people together in times of need are qualities that truly make her a remarkable individual.
Smitha Anand
On 21st October,the residents of PSR Krish Kamal apartment were celebrating Dusshera and other festivals together.Our volunteer, Jayant Khullar, was very motivated and really wanted to do something unique during the collection camp for the children. He came up with the idea of Gullak-making sessions for children. All the kids were informed prior that they needed to bring materials that could be used to decorate and make their own Gullaks. It was so delightful to see around 8 kids who came with containers and carton boxes of different shapes and sizes to make attractive gullaks.
The session started from 11 to 1, and the Goonj team also engaged with the kids and helped them get a few ideas on how they could make gullaks of different shapes and sizes. All the kids who participated in the Gullak session were rewarded with Goonj IT crowns, which made them more happy and satisfied enough that they spent their weakend very well.
Jayant Khullar
She has been a volunteer for Goonj for the last 20 years. She has consistently organized collections camps near her residential area and in several schools. Through her motto of ‘NEVER SAY NEVER’, she has overcome her challenges and never let obstacles deter her from doing her part in supporting us.
Beas Sinha
“It is my wish to engage in as many camps as I can and be instrumental in widening the volunteer network in my area” she shares joyfully. Even after having moved to a new location, she was able to organize collection camps in four new residential colonies, expand her network of volunteers and advance her goal of making a difference in the lives of people.
Niru Jaipuriya
Nalini Gopalakrishnan is one of the active volunteer of GOONJ since 2020, she lived in mumbai and worked in insurance sector, from there itself she started working as a volunteer for educating children’s of sex workers, after reaching to kochi she read about Anshu Gupta and voluntarily approached GOONJ for conducting campaigns at her apartment. Now every year she is doing campaigns with GOONJ and also helping us to reach others by referrals. In campaigns she is reaching to lot of people, even without a team she is ready to do the campaigns herself, she is very much active and eager talk to people about GOONJ and its works, from the last three years cooperation now she is regularly talking with people for resolving their confusions with how to deal with materials they have in their hand, GOONJ seems a solution for all these questions she facing every time so the campaigns are not ending with a particular time period she is always a part of this with every words. She has new ideas about bringing more volunteers to GOONJ especially from the younger generation and she believes this should be a habit to growing people, they should know and practice how to deal with materials, importance of dignity in everyone’s life, addressing every issues and reaching to solutions by using wisdom in themselves etc
Nalini Gopalakrishnan
Two good friends, Vimala and Saraswathy are familiar faces of GOONJ collection campaigns happening at Mattancherry every time, they feel very comfortable with each other, having a common mindset in social activities. Both of them knew about GOONJ before and when Goonj started in Kerala they visited our PU with their personal contributions and got more attracted with the work we do. Vimala was a teacher and Saraswathy was working in hospital administration, during the work life they were active in such campaigns they worked for Epilepsy groups for their support. When the Gujarat earthquake happened, they did cloth collection campaigns. During those collections camps they have observed that lot of people contributes things without thinking about the dignity factor “at least they should understand that there is another person at the other end who is in need, we are all privileged people, we buy things without a second thought and easily get tired of the same and throw them easily” Personally both of them are practicing the concept of recycle in their life , So they are very much aligned with the concept of GOONJ how it deals with materials and is beyond recycle concepts. From the last few years they have been volunteering with GOONJ and periodically doing campaigns with huge responses. Both of them personally run these campaigns without any other titles or collaborations. They believe in small things they can do and are hopeful about the small difference they are making with each step.
Vimala and Saraswathy
Kumud Gupta was introduced to Goonj’s work through a TV show our founder, Mr. Anshu Gupta was a guest on. Encouraged by her niece and her family she decided to take on the journey. Since then there has been no turning back though her continuous efforts and her long-standing association with Goonj, she has inspired many other people to come ahead and join Goonj. Since then she has been organizing material collection camps in every campaign with adding various themes to aware people about Goonj work. It’s the effort and personal touch she adds that makes these so much more special her engagement with Goonj. She hopes people practice mindful giving, she encourages and follows its principles.
Kumud Gupta
The story of Reena Agarwal, Nelam Agarwal, Shilpa Baid, and Lalita Bainwala is a testament to the transformative power of collective action and shared passion. Their dedication to making a difference led them to Goonj, an organization that not only shared their vision but also provided them with a platform to channel their enthusiasm and determination into meaningful change. Twice a year, like clockwork, the volunteers organized collection camps within their society. Armed with enthusiasm and determination, they ventured into every tower, knocking on doors, and engaging in physical meetings with the residents. Their mission was clear: to collect materials that could be repurposed to bring positive change. What fascinated and inspired them the most was Goonj’s innovative approach to utilizing donated materials. To their astonishment, they learned that the old clothes they collected were being used to create bamboo bridges in remote villages, connecting communities and facilitating access to essential resources. The discarded garments were also contributing to environmental conservation efforts. Goonj was transforming old clothes into eco-friendly resources, planting mangroves and rejuvenating the natural world. In their journey with Goonj, these dedicated women became deeply connected with two initiatives that held a special place in their hearts: the Cloth for Work Initiative and the NJPC Initiative. The Cloth for Work Initiative empowered communities by exchanging labor for essential items, ensuring that the spirit of self-reliance was nurtured alongside the distribution of resources. The NJPC Initiative focused on menstrual hygiene and health, a cause close to the hearts of these women, as they believed in the importance of dignity and well-being for every individual, regardless of their circumstances. United by their unwavering dedication, Reena, Nelam, Shilpa, and Lalita continued their tireless efforts, weaving a tapestry of kindness and compassion in the fabric of their society. Together, they proved that the collective power of individuals with a shared vision could indeed create ripples of change that extended far beyond the boundaries of their community
Avani Oxford
What started as a personal journey in 2015 to giv of a few bags of clothes in an optimal manner, my google search led to Goonj.Since then every 26th January we’ve been regularly conducting collection drives in the locality and kind of becoming a festive ritual and people are expecting us to be there. On the journey we came across many volunteers, which helped us to catalyze and get connected with many housing societies and companies where we could organize collection drives.Also conducted a few walkathons amongst the volunteers of Goonj to spread awareness in the public and along the way wherever we found opportunities to exhibit Goonj As an organization like every year in Navi Mumbai and Thane Happy Streets, Goonj is able to interact with lots of citizens on a Sunday morning.All the while, I got to learn a lot about social work, the kind of impact Goonj’s initiatives are making and the various issues and challenges in the social sector.The Goonj team is always eager to engage with volunteers, is open to their ideas and willing to do new experiments in the social lab.
Sudhir Patel
I read about Goonj 10 years ago in a magazine and then started contributing material and money in collection camps in Pune. The mission and vision of Goonj of empowering/helping communities and in the process taking care of the environment with 4 R s (Reuse, Recycle, Reduce and Recover) is aligned with my thought process. I try to contribute to this movement by collecting materials and money for the cause. Since I have space, I decided to set up a Permanent Collection Center with the help of the Goonj team at my place, where I accept material once every week. This has also been enriching personally as I get to meet a lot of people and hear their life stories
Richa Gupta
I, Gopi Nair, have been an active volunteer with Goonj since 2007. Have conducted many collection camps, Rahat camps & awareness drives in our locality since then. Worked closely with surrounding communities which helped create an ever supporting attitude for Goonj activities.During the recent Palghar volunteer meet (Maharashtra), engagement with the Goonj rural working group helped understand the reality of rural life. I was really appreciative of Anshuji’s new idea of “Gram Swabhiman ” initiative and would like to put in more efforts in this direction through Goonj.
Gopi Nair
In the spirit of giving back, the week starting October 13th saw the Harish Chandra Research Institute, Prayagraj, come together for a noble cause as they hosted a Goonj collection drive. What made this event even more special was the dedicated efforts of our passionate volunteer, Aarti Ramana, who organized the camp for the very first time. Aarti used the language of Goonj to raise awareness, inspiring others to join the cause and make a difference. She went the extra mile, ensuring that the materials collected were meticulously segregated. But that wasn’t the only highlight! Three remarkable fundraising activities added an extra layer of vibrancy to the collection drive. On October 13th, the campus came alive with stalls of delectable food and refreshing drinks, courtesy of some compassionate residents and the volunteer herself. Siblings, Adhyan and Koyal, brought joy with a delightful game stall. In a generous gesture, A.H. Wheelers & Book Company, set up a book stall, agreeing to donate 20% of the profits from each purchase to the cause. This not only promoted the love for reading but also contributed significantly to the fundraising efforts. The momentum continued with a second round of the food and book stall on October 18th. On October 19th, a unique garage sale unfolded, allowing residents to sell their old household items to the local community. The result was astounding, with a substantial amount of Rs 26,500 raised collectively from these activities. In a heartwarming gesture, Aarti expressed her willingness to extend support to anyone willing to conduct a collection camp in Prayagraj. The Goonj collection drive at Harish Chandra Research Institute stands as a shining example of how collective efforts, innovative ideas, and community spirit can create a wave of positive change. Let’s applaud Aarti and everyone who contributed to making this Goonj collection drive a resounding success.
Harish Chandra
At Ranimayam apartment, there is a dedicated volunteer who consistently collaborates with Goonj to organize collection drives. During the recent JGW event, this volunteer, upon learning about a unique fundraising activity, became quite enthusiastic. She gathered a group of 10 children and encouraged them to participate. Although only six children initially took part, but they were not good at skipping as their preference was more for board games than skipping.
Understanding this, the volunteer took on the role of instructor, teaching the children how to skip. Even when they struggled to skip correctly, the volunteer decided to count each attempt and contribute a certain amount to the fund for every skip. This creative approach motivated the kids to actively engage in the activity. Each child managed to complete around 10 skips, and in the end, the volunteer contributed about 100 skips. As a result of this fundraising initiative, the volunteer contributed 1,500 Rupees. And we have provided the children with a smiley sticker as a symbol of their accomplishment. The individual’s primary goal in participating in this activity was to infuse an element of fun and enjoyment while fostering a sense of social responsibility among everyone involved.
Bala Subramaniam KL, aged 54 is a social entrepreneur for nearly 8 years and is a volunteer of Goonj. He is one of the association members of RK NAGARAA (RWA). He has lived in RK Nagar for around 15 years. He assisted in the startup of TAKSRA for community development like cleanliness, water conservation, etc. The association created a healthy competition within the 13 streets that comes under the association about cleanliness, hygiene, water conservation, etc. They created a street wise Whatsapp group for their better functionality and prosperity.
He also came with an innovative idea of RK Nagar social group budding entrepreneurs. They created a Whatsapp group and used to share the products of the budding entrepreneurs that would help in motivating and getting awareness of the product. He also encouraged to create Magilar mattum group and RK Nagar Garden Club too.
When the association decided that they should discard the materials that can be used to others, they reached Goonj to conduct a Public Collection drive. While interacting with the Goonj Team member, he highlighted the point that Goonj is doing a great service by reaching the end of the rural parts. Hence, without any doubt, they want to do a public collection drive with Goonj. He is a person with simplicity and an enthusiast with social responsibility. The camp was a great and collected materials around two vehicles. Goonj Team was overwhelmed by their hospitality and arrangement of the camp.
Disclaimer
Volunteers usually don’t get a certificate at Goonj because we believe Volunteering is about doing something selflessly. While we value your time and efforts, certificates are only issued for internship which is for 1 month at least and involves working full time with the team.
Please note that contributing your surplus material is not volunteering. If you are from a corporate/school/college/insti
Disclaimer
No third party agency is working on behalf of Goonj for any recruitment, trainings, camps or other activities related to Goonj. Please check/consult with Goonj directly to get correct information or assistance. Please beware of any unwarranted claims made by anyone on our behalf. Kindly bring any such claims to our notice for immediate attention and action.
Goonj doesn't charge any money from anyone for these activities. So if you come across any individual/ organization making a monetary demand in our name please bring it to our notice immediately on [email protected]