WHO WE ARE

Friends Society is a voluntary youth organization engaged in community service since August 1969 in Vadodara, India. It draws its members mostly from Maharaja Sayajirao University as well as other colleges in the nearby areas and other youth who wish to volunteer.

FS, as its members call it fondly, is run almost entirely by student volunteers. The idea behind FS is quite simple. It is to provide a meaningful alternative to the youth to spend their free time in a constructive manner – that is, by providing social services to people in the surrounding communities. For example, they organize visits to home for blind children or for physically disabled children. A benefit for the volunteers is that they realize self-development in many aspects of their lives, including leadership and communication skills.

Sunday School

Date Start : 20-04-2024
Time Start : 08:30:00
Address : Near Rangoli Restaurant, Fatehgunj Main road
Description : ## Sunday School for Non-Institutionalized differently abled children ##

OUR ORGANIZATION

Friends Society, or FS, is a voluntary youth organization run almost entirely by volunteers who are University students based in and around Vadodara. FS provides an ideal platform for University students to conduct need-based community service projects. Through their service to various strata of society, these students develop leadership skills and become responsible members of society.

Mission statement
“Friends Society is a volunteer-centered institution which provides quality learning and self-development opportunities to individuals through community service.”

Organization
FS activities are managed by volunteers: An Executive Committee (EC) has a Secretary and Joint Secretary to provide overall leadership. Leaders of individual activity groups make up the rest of the EC. The Chairperson is a prominent citizen who provides guidance, monitors overall activities and helps resolve issues as they arise. There are also “Trustees” who are senior past members and prominent persons from various walks of life in society who help the Chairperson and the EC in managing the affairs of FS.

Objectives
To provide a common platform for the University students to spend their leisure time in a constructive way, so that their potentialities are enhanced and personalities enriched.
To bring the members closer to the differently-abled and disadvantaged sections of society.
To create a sense of responsibility among its members through their involvement and participation in the community welfare projects.

FS LOGO
The FS logo includes the motto, “Youth, Society and Integration” as it brings together young people & students, with the underprivileged parts of society. The sense of social responsibility becomes deeply ingrained in the members and they carry it with them wherever they go.

Blood Donation Program

Activities for School Children and Youth

TESTIMONIALS

KS was living in slum quarters in Fatehganj and was studying in the 7th grade when I met him through the Youth Club activity. He was a bright student but lacked self-confidence and self-esteem. I worked with him along with many other boys for two years and helped them build up confidence and make progress. I became attached to these young people and kept in touch with them even after leaving Vadodara and would correspond with them. After many years, I had an occasion to visit Vadodara and contacted these young men, and we met again. KS was among them. He took me to his home and I was greeted by his wife as if we had known each other for long time. I asked her if we had met and she said, “No, but it seems as if I already know you listening to KS talk all the time about you and Friends Society.” At that point, KS opened his wallet and took out a worn out piece of paper. “This is the letter you had written to me 12-13 years back and from that day, it is with me all the time. Whenever I am disappointed or do not know what to do, I will read it and see my path clearly.” I was in tears. I felt my existence is justified. The love, affection and respect my boys of the Youth Club gave, and still do, is the greatest gift and satisfaction of my life. [This is a story of a beneficiary of Youth Club as recalled by a volunteer. Note: KS is now a very successful person owning several businesses and has become wealthy man.]

Haider Ali Saiyed
TESTIMONIALS

An experience in 1981 became a guiding principle throughout my life. The United Nations had declared 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons. To celebrate it, we proposed to FS a cultural show by disabled beneficiaries. As budget did not include funds for this event, we were permitted on condition that we have to raise our own funds. We agreed and estimated that we will need to raise Rs. 10,000. However, we ran into a challenge. The key volunteers had already left Vadodara. Most of the EC members asked me to drop this idea considering the short time and fund constraints. However, it was worth doing it, so we decided to go ahead and try on our own. Very next day, out of nowhere, we received a donation of Rs. 10,000. We raised Rs. 20,000 within 3 days. The cultural program, “WE CAN, WE WILL,'” proceeded and we had two shows in an auditorium. This initiative turned out to be a huge success. And, on top of that, the stage and costume provider to whom we had to pay Rs. 8,000 refused to accept the money saying “if you can do so much, I can let go my charges as donation.” Since that experience, whenever I am in dilemma, I will ask if it is worth doing or not? And, if the answer is yes, I will undertake that project no matter how difficult it may be. Resources will automatically be generated and project will always be accomplished. Dozens of times I have done so and every time I have tasted success. (Haider Ali Saiyed, CEO, Hiral Labs, India)

Haider Ali Saiyed
TESTIMONIALS

I was actively associated with Friends Society for seven years and had participated actively in eight group activities, started a new activity (type writing classes) and worked on many different special projects. I also served as a secretary and treasurer during some of the years. Working on so many different activities, I learned to think in multi-dimensional ways. And, this allowed me to have a broader intellectual bandwidth. This has provided an advantage to me at work over my colleagues who also have good ideas but tend to restrict their thinking in narrow areas. I learned at FS the critical skill of being able to convince others – whether it is seeking donation or selling raffle tickets, or convincing a high ranking government official to have hundreds of trucks dump stones and other materials as a landfill to level off grounds of the FS campus. When I saw those trucks coming in, my self-confidence was boosted– a student being able to convince a high level official. Another key development for me was the ability to control my temperament better. I had to work with all sorts of people – some nice, some not so nice. I learned to keep my cool even with a rude person and say thank you with a smiling face and walk away. Some good advice from senior members had helped. I also learned to shoulder responsibility at very young age and experienced the satisfaction that comes from making meaningful contribution to society at large. (Nisheeth Desai, Chief Technology Officer at a firm in Vadodara)

Nisheeth Desai
TESTIMONIALS

Having been associated with FS over many years, I must say that I have learned a lot. First, I had to learn how to manage my time between the family needs and FS. It was certainly not easy but somehow I managed to do that. The warmth and love showered by the volunteers are great source of joy for me and I actually bask in their affection. However, in my role as a chairperson, there were times when I had to chide some volunteers but they would come back to FS like a homing bird. Working with many different people, I better understood human psychology. This understanding of the workings of the mind has helped me in other fields too. And, in my work at FS, I became associated with the very rich for fund raising and also the poorest of the poor through various activities. I became very comfortable with all of them. In my eyes all are the same, some are just more fortunate than others. This realization has kept me well-grounded over the years. (Gowri Rajendran, FS Chairperson)

Gowri Rajendran
TESTIMONIALS

During my college years, a friend and I joined FS thinking that we will have one more place to go in the evenings if we are bored! I joined the blood donation group. Soon, I started spending most of my evenings at FS and participating in other activities as well. That first year, our group had collected the largest number of blood bottles and won an award. Next year, I became in charge of that group. I wanted to do better than previous record. However, many factors such as lukewarm cooperation from key partners, etc. resulted in a disappointing record – only 700 bottles were collected. This was my first lesson to accept a failure! However, the senior leaders at FS never allowed me to feel dejected or frustrated. They would discuss with me the situation and suggest possible remedial actions. Encouraged, I proposed a first ever open community camp to be organized by FS. This proposal created sort of upheaval at the EC meeting. Somehow, the idea became a reality. The result was collection of 60 bottles and donors were lining up. It was a big success to collect so many bottles in just one camp. From such experiences, I emerged as more mature and confident person, to care for other’s opinion and views, have empathy for differently abled people, awareness of social issues and what we can do to address them, and became better prepared to take risks. FS turned out to be a life time memorable experience instead of a place to spend evenings! (Kamlesh Vaishnav, Head of HR for a manufacturing division of an international company in India)

Kamlesh Vaishnav
TESTIMONIALS

A few years back, we were instrumental in getting a blind boy and physically challenged girl get married and we helped overcome resistance from a priest due to different religions involved. To top it all, we are able to get both of them jobs. This is immensely satisfying for us, volunteers. It is no wonder that after 25 years, I am still actively involved in these activities. The love and affection we get from them is enormous and difficult to describe. These children have taught me to remain happy, committed, calm, and smiling no matter what. I have become a better person for that. (Ami Patel)

Ami Patel
TESTIMONIALS

I was one of the first volunteers for Friends Society about 46 years ago and since then have continuously and actively participated in various FS activities. Besides volunteering at FS, I do think that I am also a beneficiary of FS. Over the many years, I have gained far more than I have given to FS. I learnt to speak effectively in English and got rid of my shyness in interacting with people. I learnt the value of team work and skills to become an effective team member and conducting meetings and documenting. I learnt to get things done in spite of limited resources, to build from what you have. All these have helped me in my personal and professional life. It has helped me in my teaching profession tremendously and given me an edge over others in my jobs. My association with FS has taught me subtle differences between “sympathy” and “empathy;” to focus on issues at hand rather than on individuals; and to take stand on issues. I know that I am a different and better person due to my participation in Friends Society activities. – Dr. Sagun Desai, (active member since 1969)

Sagun Desai
TESTIMONIALS

Few comments heard from blind children during the “Cheer-Up” and “Sunday Club” activities: …. with all the (FS) volunteers around him, he is not missing anything in life …. one boy said. We have taught him manners and how to remain calm. Regarding help with writing answers while taking exams, one blind girl said, “we are not worried about writers in Vadodara – because of you, we are able to study so much – you are our mother, sister, teacher and friend.” A parent of one child said, “because of you, I do not have worries about my son.” (Comments heard from blind children)

Ami Patel
TESTIMONIALS

A casual introduction to Friends Society by a friend in 1979 came when the environments at the medical college, where I was a first year student, and at home emphasized not much other than my performance on the examinations. At 20, I lacked a conviction to pursue medicine as a career choice; low self-esteem and apathy about the future were constant unwanted emotional companions. That changed when I got involved with FS. Being a volunteer in the child and mother care clinics for four years was very rewarding to me. The unpretentious environment of FS was a fertile ground to build confidence by extensively using communication skills. Finding joy in caring for others, and self-less support from senior members helped me not only complete the medical college but also grow as a person. I trace many of my professional milestones to the lessons learned at FS. Deeply meaningful friendships emanating from shared convictions and work at FS were unanticipated and they are priceless enduring bonus for me. (Dr. Ravindra Amin, Chief of Psychiatry at a hospital in New York)

Ravindra Amin
TESTIMONIALS

I was extremely reserved with others before I joined FS and rarely took part in group activities in school. That all changed during my 5 years at FS as I got involved with Cheer-up, Program for Future Leaders, and other programs and assumed various leadership roles. I actually got a lot of self-confidence to plan, organise, and in working with people. Most of all, I benefited by improving my public speaking and communication skills. This experience has helped me in my career, and is helping me even today after so many years. The skills I honed at FS helps me manage an international multidisciplinary project, and organise several outreach activities ranging from school children to international researches. I have received recognition from many international quarters for my ability to present topics effectively depending on the audience. All this is thanks to FS. So, FS has really proved for me its motto, ‘Self-development through Service’. (Rahul Sharma, Chief Scientist at National Institute of Oceanography)

Rahul Sharma

Friends Society

Vadodara, India

Self-Development through Service

WHO WE ARE

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday School

OUR ORGANIZATION

OUR ACTIVITIES

Activities for Differently Abled Children and Adults

Activities for Neighbouring Communities

Activities for Patients

Activities for School Children and Youth

TESTIMONIALS

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