Transforming hapless lives

Recently, an 82-year old man Nooruddin from Warangal was in a very bad condition and was found abandoned at Nampally railway station. His left leg was paralysed and he was alone and desperately in need of some help. Fortunately, some volunteers of an NGO came to his rescue and shifted him to a shelter home. And, he is a happy man now.

This is not the story of only one man we come on streets who are ailing, both physically and psychologically. But very few people have the heart to help them. Among such noble and kind souls are around 60 volunteers of Youngisthan Foundation (YF). On weekends, they spread out in the city, to its nook and corners, looking out for those destitutes who are badly in need of some succour.

Youngisthan Foundation has launched the 'Transformers' initiative a few years back when they saw sick and old people roaming on streets – homeless and hungry. Many go without food oftentimes and lie on footpaths. YF volunteers include students and professionals who pursue this noble initiative of helping the homeless and mentally challenged. The volunteers attend to their hygiene needs and help restore them their basic dignity.

Volunteers spread in teams in search of the needy roaming on streets or lying in bad condition. They try to communicate with them and counsel them. If the people are homeless, then they will be shifted to old age homes. If anyone is found suffering from any kind of illness, then they will provide first aid and find ways to better their conditions. Volunteers offer to shave and do haircut.

Speaking to The Hans India, the volunteers said that, "as part of the physical transformation, we provide a space for bathing and do a haircut and shave. We provide clothes as well, because their clothes are very dirty. We give them first aid if it is required and if people deny such help, than we provide them food and try to convince them about importance of hygiene."

As part of the emotional transformation, the volunteers provide empathic counseling and help individuals discover feasible ways for earning a livelihood and securing his/her future, they added. "We have tied up with an old age home so that the elderly have a safe place to go to in case they choose to leave the streets."

So far, these volunteers have helped more than 1,000 street people to undergo transformation in their lives. They also rescued around 350 people within the city limits.