While most 10th graders are striving to cope with the sudden upset in their school schedule due to the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rohan Mecheri and Tejas Narayan of Chennai emerge as shining examples of a hopeful new generation. In their own capacity, they have kicked-off a thoughtful and pertinent initiative called “mAsk Around”, which aims at the distribution of masks and PPEs to those without the access or resources to buy or make them.
Rohan, who is managing to co-run the initiative despite his board exams being underway, says “We saw the disruption all around the world, and were looking for any avenue where we could pitch in to help the situation. We decided that masks and PPEs were the need of the hour, and that was where we could play our part in ensuring the safety of those in dire need, as well as the community at large. Our intention is to help anybody who is in need of safety gear, including frontline workers, the vulnerable and elderly in homes or NGOs, and others who would require our assistance.”
mAsk Around was started with the initial goal of raising funds through a Ketto fundraiser, where the donations would be used to buy masks and distribute them to those in need. Since then, owing to the overwhelming support from family, friends, and even complete strangers, they were encouraged to broaden the scope of their activities. Driven to help, and determined to make a difference, these two 15-year-olds are now partnering with individuals, enterprises, as well as organizations in an effort to help people receive masks and safety equipment. Apart from the monetary donations for masks, they now accept and distribute store-bought safety gear, home-made masks, and fabrics for stitching masks, among others.
Tejas, who has always harbored a passion to give back says, “Our parents have put us in touch with a few enterprises who are donating to us from their CSR budgets. We were also pleasantly surprised by the traction that our initiative gained on our website and on social media. Getting the word out has been one of our main challenges and social media has truly been a boon to us in reaching out to more and more people. It’s a nice feeling when people who we don’t even know are stitching 50–100 masks and Dunzoing it to us. Dunzo has made our lives a lot easier. It lets us procure and distribute masks much more conveniently.”
Asked about the reason behind them picking this as their cause, Rohan says
“We are in a position of privilege, and we wanted to utilize that. Just the fact that we’re able to help and protect even one life, is rewarding. We recently distributed 7000 masks to a village, whose citizens didn’t have any form of protection. They needed to be helped urgently, and we were able to do it. Whether it’s the organizations, communities, or individuals, everyone has been contributing wholeheartedly, and that makes us feel like we’re doing the right thing.”
This is indeed an unusual time, and in all the darkness that surrounds us, a few heartwarming glimmers of compassion, kindness, and hope from young samaritans like Rohan and Tejas certainly brighten gloomy days.
If you wish to make a contribution to mAsk Around, please visit: www.maskaround.org
