Toward the horizon

Toward the horizon I walked,
Without a look behind
Toward the horizon I walked,
To start afresh.
The more I walked,
The more I missed
What I had left behind.
Escape is easy
Staying is difficult.


While I walked to do my shopping for my brother's wedding, I just saw the horizon and the title toward the horizon got stuck in my head. I haven't been able to get it out since then. I decided I had to get it out or else my exams will be doomed. I came up with the first few lines and then was speaking to a friend and he gave his own perspective on it. This is what I came up with after talking to him.

Toward the horizon I walked,
Toward the horizon,
Monsoon clouds hoarded.
As the rain pitter-pattered,
I walked on.
The horizon came seem to come.
The end truly wasn't never
Possible still were amends.
The more I walked,
The more I realised,
Over it wasn't.
Each one can still do
What we have to.
We still can 
Make a difference.


Complaining about things or just wanting to do something isnt enough. It is time to get your hands dirty. 
Want to make a difference? Here is the A-Z of social causes (compiled by Karmayog). Choose a cause close to your heart and give it your very best!! 

A to Z of social causes


Adoption is critical to ensure that every child has the love and support of family life.

Indian Association for Promotion of Adoption and Child Welfare undertakes programmes in adoption, foster family care,family support programme and educational assistance for underprivileged children and a child guidance centre.

www.iapacw.org


Blood Donation is important as this simple act can prevent people from dying needlessly.

Think Foundation helps organise voluntary blood donation drives and create awareness about thalassaemia and platelet donation.

vinay@thinkfoundation.org


Corruption has to be eliminated for India to develop as a First World nation, and this can be done easily through computerising procedures and decision making. 

Transparency International, India, promotes transparent and ethical practices in government by raising awareness among people, planning policies for better delivery of public services, and partnering with civil society groups.

www.transparencyindia.org


Disaster Management through community preparedness and involvement is necessary for us to cope with the effects of natural and manmade disasters.

Saritsa Foundation makes people,especially disabled school children, aware of the risks and how to respond when caught in disasters such as fire,floods, earthquakes.

www.saritsafoundation.in


Environment protection is the most serious concern facing the world today, as the effects of global warming and climate change are both being felt and understood. 

Centre for Environmental  Research and Education educates students,teachers and corporates about global warming and shows them through books and practical workshops, how to bring about easy changes so as to reduce environmental damage.

www.cereindia.org


Fair Trade is essential to reduce inequity in the world. 

International Resources for Fairer Trade is engaged actively in supporting producers, raising awareness and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of trade, through programmes like community business, ethical business, sustainable agriculture, socially responsible business, and  domestic fair trade promotion

www.irft.org


Gandhian Values are extremely relevant in today’s time of violence and communal strife. 

Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal is a Gandhian Trust having noted Gandhians amongst its midst and it undertakes various constructive programmes, seminars, workshops, meetings, youth camps, etc.

www.mkgandhi.org


Hearing-Challenged is a disability for which there are various solutions in daily and professional living that enable the hearing-challenged to share the same quality of life that we do. 

Astitva School educates, trains and rehabilitates hearing-impaired and mentally-challenged children through modern methods, using its 25,000 sq ft space equipped with necessary amenities. These students have regularly won awardsin the annual Special Olympics and in state level sports.

www.astitvaschool.com


Innovation changes the course of history and improves the lives of millions of people.

Ashoka – Innovators for the Public, financially supports social entrepreneurs so that they can and act more effectively as changemakers.

www.ashoka.org


Justice delivered fairly and quickly can transform lives. 

Janhit Manch, through its Forum For Fast Justice, is working on a campaign to reduce the 3.5 crore pending cases in Indian courts.

www.janhitmanch.org


Knowledge and its application determines social progress.

Tata Insititute for Social Sciences ,since 1936, offers degree and diploma courses in social sciences, and undertakes social research and dissemination of knowledge, training and field action projects.

www.tiss.edu


Legal Rights need to be ensured to all citizens to deliver the principles guaranteed in our Constitution.

Lawyers Collective, established in 1981, helps citizens in human rights advocacy, legal aid and litigation.

www.lawyerscollective.org


Mental Trauma not only makes one’s life miserable, but can also drive one to suicide.

Aasra is a crisis intervention centre for the lonely, distressed and suicidal since 1960.

www.aasra.info


Noise is amongst the most pervasive pollutants today.

Awaaz Foundation guides citizens on how to complain against and control dangerous levels of noise in their area.

www.awaaz.org


Orphanages provide the care, education and nourishment that children need till they are adopted.

Our Children is an NGO that has worked for 38 years with Children’s Homes and Orphanages to improve the lives of the children there.

www.ourchildrenindia.org


Poverty is almost impossible to overcome on one’s own.

Apnalaya, founded in 1972, helps children and adults living in slums towards a better life, through programmes such as balwadis, crèches, study classes, sponsorship, health camps, computer education, etc.

www.apnalaya.org


Quotas and reservation policies end up punishing the meritorious.

Youth for Equality works for equal rights for all, and special privileges for none, and works towards ensuring education for all with a special emphasis on women and children.

www.youthforequality.com


Right to Information is the only tool that brings democracy directly into the hands of every citizen.

Bombay Chartered Accountants Society runs very effective RTI guidance clinics every Saturday, besides publishing newsletters on various aspects of RTI.

www.bcasonline.org


Street Children are an unfortunate reality because of poverty, broken families and cruelty.

Saathi is a 10-year-old NGO that works youth living on the streets, runaways or abandoned adolescent girls.

www.saathi.org


Trees provide shade, counter pollution and bring nature into our everyday lives.

Hariyali organises tree plantation drives throughout the year and has planted and tended to thousands of trees.

www.hariyalithane.com


Urban development has so many interconnected issues that solutions are not easy for government, and hence all stakeholders need to get involved.

Yuvak Pratishthan organises camps of all types in many slums in Mumbai including for health, sanitation, environment, sports and cultural activities. It also runs certificate courses in Slum Studies.

www.ypmumbai.com


Voting is essential to strengthen and improve democracy so as to preserve our individual freedoms.

Association for Democratic Reforms, founded by professors from IIM-A and NID, works with government and citizens towards electoral reforms and  political process reforms.

www.adrindia.org


Women are the cornerstone of the family and for the development of children, and thus of society.

Seva Sadan Society , a 100-year-old NGO, provides shelter, education, vocational training, and employment opportunities to make girls and women self-sufficient.

www.sevasadan.org

EX-Servicemen and their families need our support and respect as they ensure us our freedoms.

Navy Wives Welfare Association works for the rehabilitation of widows and families of deceased naval personnel.

www.nwwa-west.org


Youth are the only agents of societal change that we can pin our hopes on.

Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action works with street children, women, youth, pavement and slum dwellers on issues of livelihood, housing, food, security, education, health, women’s issues, civic amenities, human rights, environment and governance.

www.yuvaindia.org


Zoos educate and sensitise us to the wonders and value of nature. 

Plants and Animals Welfare Society is a volunteer run body that works tirelessly to help animals and keeps tabs on the state of the animals in the Byculla Zoo.

www.pawsasia.org

6 comments:

  Tushar Mangl

8 January 2009 at 09:47

Good one
can i copy this a-z list for my social causes blog plz?

  Anonymous

8 January 2009 at 15:46

Nice post... Nice list :)

I'm visiting for the first time...

Nice blog...

Keep going :)

  Unknown

10 January 2009 at 00:50

nice posts...i like ur blog!!!

  Anonymous

10 January 2009 at 13:32

i saw the A-Z in the other blog...

loved the horizon poem...could picture it easily...

  Akansha Agrawal

12 January 2009 at 09:53

It's a really nice list... post it in Jagruti too, if you haven't done it already!

  Anonymous

18 January 2009 at 23:37

thanks for this post ... will come here again to pick up my cause ...