Chennai's global shapers launch revamped volunteer guide to boost citywide engagement

CHENNAI: The Global Shapers Community of Chennai, a youth-led organisation, launched its online platform, Volunteer Guide, on Saturday at IIT Madras Research Park to streamline access to volunteering opportunities for students, young adults, professionals, and residents across the city.

The platform now lists more than 100 non-governmental organisations, providing detailed information on their missions, contact details, and volunteering needs. The group plans to expand to tier-two cities like Madurai, Trichy, and Salem to onboard more NGOs and social enterprises by February 2025.

“This platform bridges the gap between willing volunteers and organisations needing support in a city where volunteering opportunities are often saturated but scattered. By centralising information, we aim to make it easier for individuals to find causes they’re passionate about and for NGOs to connect with the right people,” said Sharath Balasubramanian, a representative of the Global Shapers Community.

Among the over 100 NGOs featured on the platform are Bhumi, Sukha Education Foundation, Pagir, Yein Udaan, Pudiyador, United Way of Chennai and Penn Trust, which cover causes such as education, sustainability, health and welfare. The youth group also called for volunteers to support ongoing initiatives like Sustainable BagXchange, a paper bag project in Chintadripet that empowers low-income homemakers.

Other initiatives include See, Believe, Become, a peer mentorship programme for first-generation female earners, an envelope-making collaboration with the Lions Club for individuals with visual impairments in Medavakkam and a bilingual children’s book project focusing on enhancing financial literacy in underserved communities.

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