Make A Difference


Make A Difference is an Indian non-profit organisation, working to ensure better outcomes for children in orphanages and shelters across India. Make a Difference works with nearly 3460 children in 67 shelter homes across 23 cities in India, delivering impact through a fellow-managed volunteering model of 4,250 young participants. It is currently run by Jithin C Nedumala. Make A Difference is registered in Cochin, with a core team based in Bangalore, and operations spread across over 23 Indian cities.

History

Make A Difference was founded by Jithin Nedumala and Sujith Varkey, together with Kavin K K, Santosh Babu and Jithin John Varghese,Gloria Benny. These Six founding members fleshed out the concept of Make A Difference and formed a founding team with friends, peers and members of the community.
The first generation of Make A Difference, started with the recruitment of teachers via a presentation made by Jithin, Sujith and Kavin to friends and peers in 2006. Approximately 20 volunteers signed up, and the first chapter of MAD was set up in Cochin, soon after which the organisation formally registered as a non-profit society.
From that point on, Make A Difference grew exponentially. Others to have played seminal roles in the growth and success of Make A Difference have been Samarth Agarwal who served as CEO from 2011–12, Sanjana Kuruvilla who has been on the board since 2008;
Make A Difference remained completely volunteer driven until 2010, when the size and complexity of operations drove the need for a full-time workforce to provide strategic and operational support for city teams around the country. This was the same year that Michelle Obama chose Make A Difference to be one of the four non-profits she visited on her trip to India.

Events

Back-a-thon is an event organized to create awareness among public. In this, the participants would walk back indicating illiteracy should be removed from a child's life.
Dream Camp is an event organized periodically by the organization. The camp is intended to provide the kids, a stress free environment where they could explore the world, understand and develop confidence towards achieving their dreams.

Awards and recognition