Recently I interacted with Siddhant Mohite, an energetic and a vibrant youth, Founder-President of a renowned organization OYE – Organization for the Youth and Elderly. Here are the excerpts of that interview.
Hello Siddhant, and welcome to Spectralhues.com. Beginning the interview, I would like you to tell us a bit about your organization and how did this come about?
Dhagaa – The Cloth Donation Campaign of OYE
‘OYE-Organization for the Youth and Elderly’ was established on 28th November, 2012, in order to aware every Indian citizen about their social responsibilities and involve the youth in our selfless and genuine efforts of serving the human race.
What inspired you to pick and choose this route of social service?
I, as a citizen of India, personally feel that every other citizen is liable to the nation who has given us so much to be proud about, which has provided us with a shelter. And hence, I came up with the idea of ‘OYE-Organization for Youth & Elderly’,that not only provides the youth like me with a platform to come forward and do their bit, but also aims at spreading awareness about our responsibilities toward the nation.
It takes a lot to set up an organization and indulge in it completely. Besides you’re a teenager, and society often tries to raise questions and dig out inefficiencies, if one tries to do something new out there. What hurdles did you face while setting up OYE?
In the beginning, OYE was nothing but a thought. Bringing it into existence was an assiduous task since no one would easily believe in a teenager who sees India as a developed nation in future and has taken an initiative for the same. From 0 to 3000+ volunteers, from a thought to a nationally registered NGO, I’ve come across people who support and admire me for my work and motivate me to keep giving my level best irrespective of the difficulties that come along the way.
When did the idea of establishing OYE first strike your mind?
Cleanliness Drive at Gorai Beach Jetty in Mumbai
The thought of doing something different struck me at the age of 15, and I spent the next three years in planning strategies. In 2012, I came up with the name ‘OYE’ and finally, on 28th November, 2012, OYE came into existence.
How is your organization contributing in bringing about a change in the society?
India, as a whole, is still in the developing stage. For India to be fully developed, new bulletproof ideas by the massive population have to be encouraged in order to make different yet healthy changes, literacy has to be boosted and poverty has to diminish. OYE aims at providing free education to every kid who might someday take India’s development to a whole new level. Also, OYE works for the welfare of those who’ve lost all hopes and encourages them to keep going by providing them with essentials such as food, clothes and education.
Could you tell us about the activities that your organization initiates?
Ever since OYE has started functioning, it has been focusing on eradicating social issues & spreading social awareness.
The two rallies involving a huge population protesting against the Delhi Rape case made a great impact on the society. One of our initiatives also included collecting funds for the Uttarakhand relief through conducting a Celebrity football match, along with raising funds for the Maharashtra drought relief through collecting newspapers.
Siddhant Mohite
Our long term and on-going campaigns include Campaign ‘AbPadhega India’, encouraging the less fortunate fellow mates of our society to educate themselves by providing financial and moral support, and Campaign ‘Dhaaga’, the clothe donation drive, aiming at providing the needy with good garments to wear.The Beach Cleaning drives held in order to maintain the neatness of the beaches & the society clean up drives successfully pooled in genuine youngsters wanting to decontaminate the town.
How does OYE restore lost smiles and hopes in the society?
OYE, through its dynamic events and campaigns, has set its own benchmark and promises to deliver service to humanity considering it to be our religion.
How do you take care of your activities financially?
Sometime back, we succeeded in launching our own day-to-day use merchandise to raise funds so as to carry out OYE’s events and campaigns.
Your organization is growing rapidly in the city. Not just teens but also adults have joined it in large numbers; and many are joining it even now. What do you think is attracting them towards your organization?
Autism awareness campaign
OYE, as an NGO, stands out of the crowd due to its peculiarities and exquisite uniqueness that includes an additional effort of involving the massive youth population into its activities and through its on-going events and campaigns, OYE continues to triumph in earning a positive response from people of all age groups and feeds in the need of being a part of OYE into every individual with a perspective of being a socially aware and responsible citizen of India.
How do you think can today’s youth emerge out on the path of dynamism and work hand in gloves for development?
I believe that the youth should not just talk or criticize the Government, but bring its aggression towards the social issues of our nation into action, with respect to the law and order of India. A youngster must utilize his energy in the right path so as to see a change and make proper use of the rights he’s been rewarded with.
What is your vision at present, and where do you see your organization in a year or two from now?
Siddhant Mohite distributing books among kids during their Ab Padega India initiative
We’re currently working on strenghtening the backend side of OYE. We plan on kickstarting the newer campaigns in January, 2015. I firmly believe that OYE will spread nationwide in a year or two and we’ll be having our teams in every niche and corner of India to serve the common man.
Is there any message that you wish to send out to the masses through Spectralhues?
I would like to convey a message to the masses asking them to know their rights, strive to become a responsible citizen of India and do their bit towards the society.
Siddhant – thank you so very much for interacting with Spectralhues. It was indeed a pleasure to interview you. We wish you all the very best for your future endeavours. Thank you once again!
Thank You!
Readers can visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Oye.org
Tags: OYE Siddhant Mohite Siddhant Mohite interview
