Bhubaneswar: Despite heavy rains Sunday, Bakul Foundation kicked off its ‘Daan Utsav’ celebrations with 400 volunteers and over 2500 children who braved the rains and celebrated the joy of giving with story creation and storytelling activities, craft sessions and games.
The theme of ‘Daan Utsav’ is embodied in the spirit of giving, sharing, mobilising donations in the form of materials such as old and new clothes, books and toys for charities and by spreading joy through simple acts of service.
Started in 2007, Bakul Foundation demonstrates the power of volunteerism and small individual contributions and has been celebrating Daan Utsav every year.
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Shruti Kanungo, who has been coordinating the event for the last few years, said, “The rains did affect the activities.
Some of the volunteers and children did not turn up because of the rain, and we had to cancel activities in two slums.
But the volunteers were not ready to give up.” Joining the Day of Service at Bakul Library, Additional DG of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi motivated the children and the volunteers to develop the reading habit.
“I am inspired by how Bakul engages young people for volunteering and gives the best leadership training one could ask for, by developing the idea of empathy for everyone,” he said.
PNN