A Day of Shared Action
Young people often learn better with hands on participation, beyond classrooms. A recent volunteering experience with students from Shri Ram Universal School Hyderabad showed how teamwork, responsibility, and empathy can come together when young people are given the right space.
A Day at the Goonj Hyderabad GCOC centre
A group of 25 students from Grade 9 recently visited ‘Goonj Center of Circularity’ (GCOC) centre to volunteer in Goonj family kit-making activity. As the day began, the students were introduced to the space, the purpose of the activity, and the process of preparing the kits.
What stood out immediately was how quickly the students adapted to the work.
Without much guidance and instructions, they divided themselves into groups and started taking responsibility for different tasks. Some arranged materials, others focused on packaging, while a few helped coordinate the workflow among their classmates. The activity moved smoothly with cooperation and shared understanding.
Working Together With Enthusiasm
The students worked with genuine interest and energy.
There were conversations, smiles, and constant support for one another throughout the day. They participated with sincerity and involvement. Their enthusiasm made the entire space feel active and collaborative.
As the hours passed, Goonj Hyderabad center slowly turned into a space filled with teamwork and shared effort. The students worked independently mostly, requiring only minimal assistance along the way.
Students volunteering at Goonj Hyderabad GCOC centre
Students volunteering at Goonj Hyderabad GCOC centre
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The students approached every task with care and full participation, each contributing in their own way. Together, they prepared 100 Goonj Family Kits that will reach rural communities as recognition and reward for local effort and dignity-led work. Goonj teams also shared how this volunteering connects to development rooted in dignity, sharing, and community participation.
A Small Step Towards Collective Responsibility
End of the day, the students learnt not just how to make family kits but about teamwork, thoughtfulness and care.
Goonj invites schools across India to partner with us and bring students to Goonj centers for such immersive engagement experiences that foster empathy, social awareness, and responsibility through hands-on participation and shared action.
About Goonj – Material shared by urban citizens and organisations is at the heart of these rural development stories. What lies idle in our urban homes and organisations can address material poverty, the lack of basic things needed for daily life. Goonj repositions cities’ unused material as a resource that brings rural communities together to take collective action on their own priorities. Material is shared back with people as a reward for their effort, wisdom and local resources, not as charity. What emerges is a model where people’s participation becomes central to their own development.
Be a Part of Change
Our invitation to you is, start from where you are.. From a small change of starting a Goonj kee Gullak or Team 5000, joining a long and deep change process, or things in between- organising a collection drive, a volunteering journey, an internship, or simply walking with us signing for a Goonj monthly newsletter subscription.. More on www.goonj.org or write to [email protected].
Many options, but the choice is always one; Taking Action..
