How To Start An NGO That Helps A Cause You Hold Dear And Help The Ones In Need

Want to help those in need properly and systematically? Here's how to start an NGO that helps a cause you hold dear.

- Radhika Sathe-Patwardhan

The homeless who need food. The strays that need medical attention. The rivers that need cleaning and safeguarding. There are causes that touch our hearts. We find ourselves wanting to help them in any way we can. Many of us donate to Non-Profit Organisations (NGOs) and other socially-driven organisations. Some of us volunteer with them. But you might want to take on a more active role and start your own organisation.

YOU NEED TO BUILD THE RIGHT FOUNDATION

The right idea, the drive to convert it into a reality, and the determination to see it through are all important when you start any type of organisation. “The most important thing is to be sure that this is what you want to do,” says Meena Bedarkar, founder of Nirmalya, a non-profit organisation that works for the welfare of the physically challenged, which she started in 2005. She advises you to first decide on the field in which you want to work; “Running an NGO is a commitment we make not only to society, but also to ourselves. The work requires the understanding and support of family and friends. It demands long-term involvement and a never-lose-hope attitude.”

It is also worth keeping in mind that there might be hurdles along the way. Bedarkar recalls the obstacles that have stood in the way of Nirmalya “in terms of finance, societal issues and differences in urban and rural thinking. There are hundreds of hurdles, but these are to be expected and must be taken in our stride. Persistence and dedication towards our choice of work will put all hurdles in the backseat.” She points out that what used to be a hurdle when she began is not one now. “Society has changed, mindsets have changed – new hurdles come and pass by,” she says with a smile. “It is only with determination and patience that we can overcome all this.”