AFS ASSIGNMENT 1

 TOPIC – 2 LOCAL CHANGEMAKERS

IN OUR TOWN/CITY/STATE, WHO
MADE OUR IMMEDIATE
SURROUNDINGS BETTER.

 NAME – ASHWIN MUDALIAR

 CLASS – 10 ‘A’
 SCHOOL – DPS NEELBAD, BHOPAL
CHANDANI GROVER [CHANGEMAKER
1]

ANIMALS!! Be it dogs or cats or any animal for that matter, animals have
always been ill-treated and torchered. Stray animals have always been stone
pelted at just for fun. We take animals for granted and treat them so badly.
Some of us even take out all of our anger on animals by beating them,
which leads to even death of some of them. Some people kill animals just
for fun. Some people even encourage slaughtering of animals just for their
evil pleasure!! A fifteen year old girl called Chandani Grover thought
otherwise. She runs an animal shelter, which takes care of stray and injured
animals and feeds them. Let’s know more about her.
 THE STORY OF CHANDANI GROVER
When then 14-year-old Chandani Grover witnessed the tragic death of her four-legged

friend, a puppy she used to feed, the horrific sight of a speeding car hitting the puppy

broke her. However, she did not let the incident bring her down. Instead, she turned the

sorrow into something positive. She decided that everyone, especially defenseless

animals, deserve to be treated with kindness and empathy. A year later, Chandani’s

message – “Kindness: The Universal Language of Love” – her organization, is reaching

far and wide.

“I want to see a world where every animal is treated with love and kindness. This is only

possible if we are empathetic towards their plight. If people could begin to understand

how much these beautiful animals have to suffer, they would definitely help them,” she

says.
Chandani started her venture by building a shelter home for stray
dogs in Bhopal. Her passion for animals helped her attract a
team of volunteers, including Anil Sharma, a veterinarian who
offered his services for free. Together with her team and initial
support from her parents, she organised drives which included
vaccination, sterilization, deworming, and providing stray
animals with food and water. Soon, her entire community
began to take part in these drives as well.

Incidentally, Bhopal has had a problem with stray dogs attacking

residents. However, Chandani believes, a large part of the
problem lies in how these dogs are often treated. They are even
starved for days. Her initiative does not just help the dogs but
also makes them more docile and friendly.

Her organization aims to change society’s attitude towards stray

animals by educating and sensitizing people. At present, her
team of volunteers feeds over 70 strays per day. She has also
 MY THOUGHTS ON CHANDANI
GROVER

I THINK THAT CHANDANI IS OF COURSE A

GREAT CHANGEMAKER. SHE HOPES TO
CHANGE THE SOCIETY’S THINKING AND
BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS ANIMALS. SHE IS OF
COURSE WORKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
EVEN I HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS
CAUSE. SHE HAS INSPIRED ME TO FEED THE
STRAY DOGS AND CATTLE WHICH ROAM
AROUND MY HOUSE.
 ANSH HAPPINESS SOCIETY
[CHANGEMAKERS 2]
A youth led organisation called ANSH (Act Nonsense
Spread Happiness) came up with a one of its kind
summer internship opportunity. In the 30 day
program the interns were not only given an insight
into the various problems prevailing in the society
but they also met the people who are fighting against
all odds to make a difference in the society.
Moreover, the individual initiatives and ideas of the
interns were heavily promoted.
During the internship, the group visited many organisations who work
on various issues such as the LGBT community, women
empowerment, under privileged children, differently abled persons,
victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy, on rural and urban youth
empowerment and many more.

The interns gathered everyday at various parts of the city to brainstorm

about various issues and how they can be addressed. Once the group
came up with an idea of a street play which was targeted towards an
apt portrayal of the evils that persist in the society and generating the
solutions available and the steps that need to be taken to eradicate such
evils. Above all the 30 day programme brought home the idea of self
change and introspection and concretised the point that personal
transformation is the key to community and social transformation. The
basic motive behind designing such a dynamic internship was to
develop a sense of understanding for one’s own surroundings.
India is a country with the highest percentage of the youth
population. The youth in our country is expected to innovate
and harness the exemplary potential that is embedded in all
the spheres of our society. We are in dearth of good leaders,
everybody is waiting for someone else to take the first step
but hardly do we take time out of our drab schedules to
introspect that what is stopping us to take one. This
initiative by ANSH was taken to direct the energy of our
youth utilising numerous constructive channels that lead to
development and progress. Let us all collectively assume
the responsibility of constructively using the power of the
youth for the betterment of the nation and frame such
policies which aim at guiding our nation towards the
pinnacle of equality and peace so that we can be assured of
a better future with a brighter tomorrow.