Nipping crime at the Bud

Crime has always been part of every society but of late we have been seeing such an increase in crimes, that we can't help wondering what has gone wrong !? And when crime starts affecting people like us , normal, tax-paying , god fearing , law abiding ,comfort loving individuals then it really does shake us ! This is what is happening to India as nation now .

 If we take a step back and think what is the root cause of crime ? Stress and frustration caused due to various factors seem to be the number one cause. When stress is combined with alcohol and drugs , then there is nothing more lethal than that.

 The modern city today is a fragmented entity ! Take any city, there is so much of glaring inequality ! On one hand we have the rising sky - scrappers and probably just next to them the most unhygienic living conditions in the urban slums. What do we do in such a situation ? Do you think , the kids and youths growing up in those areas are not ambitious ? They are not greedy for that trendy phone, or that pair of jeans, or that hair color ? HELL YES !!! Just like any normal kid, teenager and youth , they also want to have fun and masti in life. The conditions around them do not help them in anyway to fulfill their desires - income of a few thousand at home, cringy places to eat and sleep , and glaring , rude display of wealth just a few kms from their home ! Have we ever stopped to think, what a tremendous stress a growing up kid in an urban slum would be facing ? 

 What happens when the lid goes off due to pressure ? YES YOU ARE CORRECT. The kids take to crimes and illegal ways to earn some quick bucks and then they spend it on alcohol drugs , sex other "in" things. They get the lethal concoction - stress, alcohol , drugs . Then they go and commit bigger crimes !

 These were the thoughts in my mind when I was having a chit chat with my friend , one lazy afternoon in the summer of 2009. We simultaneously hit upon the idea that one very good way to combat this issue is to give these kids and youths some direction in life, which they seem to get none from their family or surroundings. If only we could spend sometime with them, if only we could hold their hands and guide them, if only we could share a similar bond as we do with our younger siblings, then this vicious cycle of crime can be nipped at its bud ... and thus was the birth of an unique mentoring program between the people from stronger socio-economic section and those from underprivileged sections of the society. The program was later christened to be "Light a Lamp". 

 The whole concept of Light a Lamp revolves around mentoring , to be able to become someone's hero and lead by example. Today we are 14 mentors and 50 learners.


A beautiful bond b/w mentor and learner is what keeps the project going !
The enthusiasm to learn and share !



We have 
  1. Been teaching Communicative English in a slum
  2. Collaborated with C-DAC - to start computer classes in a slum
  3. Tied with local clubs of the slums as our partners in this noble initiative
  4. Been conducting Art of Living workshops to create the environment conducive for learning, growth and spread of human values
  5. Been having a lot of open interactive sessions with the learners
  6. Have been having a lot of fun
  7. BEEN LEARNING A LOT ..... about life, about societal challenges, about ourselves


Happy faces !
Such bright eyes ! They only need a direction !



Youth at the computer class

There are still so much to learn ! And anytime I am with the kids or the youth or do anything regarding this project, makes me fill with wonderful enthusiasm and creativity ! 

Note : If you wish to join this wonderful project drop a mail to lightalamp.online@gmail.com or give your details on the Light a Lamp FB page

 **Light a Lamp is just one of the many wonderful initiatives of Volunteer For a Better India

***More details on Light a Lamp can be found at Light a Lamp Overview.

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