We have all seen organizations conduct campaigns and give speeches on how we can bring change or what we can do. Although this is great for motivation, it does not make a difference in the real world. It starts with sitting down, listening, and walking alongside the very people whose lives are impacted.
Too often, solutions are designed in meeting rooms far away from the ground. But we have chosen a different path that begins with listening before leading. Our motto of “Listening is the seed; change is the harvest,” has shaped everything we do. Be it education gaps, infrastructure voids, or medical facilities, we live in the cracks before we work for them.
The Venus Foundation team pays attention to people’s problems, considers solutions from their end, and listens to what they expect. Because sometimes, they do not need suggestions, but someone to stand by them and walk step by step toward sustainable solutions.
Where It Happens: Living the Change Before Leading
“Guidance feels light on the lips, but heavy in the living.” You realise this when you spend enough time with communities. The problems people face are not abstract; they’ve lived realities.
A mother walks miles every day to get clean drinking water for her family. A child sits in a classroom without books, hoping he will get a chance someday. Farmers watch their crops wither and income decline due to climate change.
We have seen all these issues firsthand because we have lived with communities, listened to them, and heard their desired solutions. This is exactly what changes how we act. That’s why we build up the ground instead of designing the top.
The Venus Foundation has walked with children in schools that function without hygienic classrooms, lack of toilet facilities, or clean water. Where families are directly experiencing the effects of climate stress. In this journey, some of the recurring issues we encountered are:
- Education Gaps: Insufficient teaching material in schools, dirty classrooms, and limited spaces.
- Infrastructure Needs: Absence of clean water, hygienic washrooms, or safe play areas.
- Climate Impact: Rapid urbanization and global warming are leading to declining green spaces and rising temperatures.
- Nutrition and Health: Children lacking access to balanced meals and a sanitized environment are affected in their growth.
We carry these experiences to shape our initiatives. This ensures that our work is not a regular charity, but a partnership for a lasting change.
Creating Solutions Together: Early Activities & Pilot Initiatives
Our philosophy is not about making promises. Even if your actions start small, they prove their impact and gain community trust. Here are some of our early activities in alignment with our UNGC partnership goals.
- Plantation Drive: Climate Action
“Increasing green cover in urban areas can reduce local temperatures by up to 4°C,” says WHO. Considering this, we launched a plantation drive in Sectors 19, 5, and 12, Panchkula.
On the bright side, people not only observed but also participated in planting the trees, watering, and adopting them. Our vision is to turn the barren lands into green spaces so everyone in the city can benefit.
- School Adoption: Quality Education
Education is the most powerful equalizer. That’s why Venus Foundation has adopted a local school in Sector 19, Panchkula.
So far, we have renovated classrooms, created a safe playground, inaugurated functional washrooms, installed a watercooler for clean water, introduced a free meal program, and made all learning resources free, including books, stationery, and uniforms.
- Water Cooler Installation: Clean Water and Sanitation
In the humid summers of Panchkula, it’s hard to find clean water accessible while on the go. The practical solution to tackle this was to install a water cooler wherever possible. And we did the same. Our efforts started with the school and extended to public spaces, including the Cactus Garden, Sector 5, Panchkula.
This initiative serves not just school children but also the elderly, walkers, and families who take a stroll in the garden.
- Blood Donation Camp: Good Health and Well Being
Reportedly, over 12,000 people in India die every day due to the unavailability of blood. Our contribution to the cause started with a blood donation camp held at Sector 10, Panchkula, in coordination with the local authorities.
This ensures a stable blood supply for medical emergencies and surgeries from our end. Moreover, not only did volunteers step in to donate, but they also enrolled to join us for our future movements.
How You Can Walk With Us
“A single institution can spark movement, but a community carries it forward.” Likewise, for a noticeable change, it requires collective footsteps. So, here’s how you can walk with us:
- Volunteer: To teach students, help with plantation drives, support meal programs, or whatever you can do. Your time and presence are the most valuable contributions.
- Donate: Every rupee matters. It can fund a meal, create a desk, or give a clean uniform to a student.
- Collaborate: If you have the reach to a broader audience, let’s join hands. Together, we can drive the community towards change.
- Spread the word: Nothing speaks louder than word of mouth. Drop a review, share our work in your network, and inspire people to participate.
Takeaway
Walking with community is not charity. It’s a partnership and the first step to create change that lasts. We are not working to lead the way but to pave it for people. By listening before leading, we’ve learned that solutions are born from collaboration.
