Bengaluru: Sneha Raghavan and Shloka Ashok, two Class X students of Greenwood High International School here have raised over Rs 2 lakh in 24 hours to donate 300 pulse oximeters to city-based NGO, Sampark, which works with vulnerable groups. The oximeters will be distributed to slum-dwellers in Bengaluru and rural women in Koppal in North Karnataka, The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported.
How did they do it?
The duo designed posters and created a fundraiser page on the GiveIndia website for the project. They also reached out to various oximeter manufacturers to get a better deal. “I spoke to at least five manufacturers, but because of the shortage, some demanded high prices. We had set a goal to raise Rs 2 lakh, but we exceeded it by Rs 14,000. We increased the number of oximeters to 300,” Shloka was quoted as saying by TNIE.
A social worker, Anupama Parekh, had approached the two girls to know if they were interested in raising funds for a social project and suggested oximeters for early diagnosis. Their crowdfunding campaign got a big response in less than two days. “We had never thought our initiative would get such immense support and response. We are extremely grateful to all the donors. This has encouraged me to take up more such social initiatives,” Sneha was quoted as saying by TNIE.
“As our board exams are cancelled, we have more time for social initiatives. Now, I am making posters to spread awareness on the pandemic and vaccination, because that is of prime importance,” said Shloka, the report added.
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