Friends Society
Friends Society is a youth organization providing various social services in Vadodara, India. It draws its members mostly from Maharaja Sayajirao University and also from other colleges in the nearby areas. FS, as its members call it fondly, is run almost entirely by student volunteers.The idea behind Friends Society is quite simple. It is to provide a meaningful alternative to youth to spend their free time in a constructive manner – that is, by providing social services to people in the surrounding communities. They organize visits to the home for blind children or for physically disabled children; work with children in underprivileged communities through Sunday Club, Sunday School and Cheer-up programs; help poor women increase their earning potential by teaching them to sew and embroider, organize blood donation camps, and so on. In all, these volunteers conduct around a dozen such activities. Friends Society serves following four sections of society:

Thus, a volunteer can choose participate and contribute to any of the above activities.

Self-development for volunteers:
While providing services for the identified needs of the beneficiary remains the focus, an equally important goal is the growth of FS members through participation in these activities and by assuming formal and informal leadership roles. In just two to three years of association with FS a remarkable transformation among its members is observed. They improve their organizational, social, problem solving and communication skills and learn how to work in teams. For FS, it is very important that participating in FS activities should never compromise the main goal of students – their education. Their experiences of volunteering at FS serves them well in whichever career they choose to pursue. Several hundred past members attest to that and say, “I gained more from FS than what I gave.” That is why, our slogan is “Self-development through Service.”

This formula has worked very well since FS was founded in 1969. It is the main reason why this organization, run by youth volunteers, has survived for about five decades against many odds, challenges, and continuously changing membership and the world around it. This is indeed a great track record.

FS Publication:“INVOLVE” is published periodically by FS to keep its members and supporters informed of various activities and projects that are being conducted.