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| Fousia Yunus, Thiruvananthapuram |
Someone who wins a cash award for academics is likely to spend it on celebrations or even buying books for oneself. But when Fousia Yunus won a prize of Rs.50000 from Ratan Tata Trust for her brilliance in medical education, she had a definite plan: to buy books and gift them to orphanages.
With her talent in elocution, drawing and literature, she was the state president of Balajana Sakhyam in her childhood. Even while in school, she published a book of poems, ‘Through The Open Window’. This was followed by another three anthologies of poems in English and Malayalam, which enabled her to win the Madhavikkutty award for 2007.
It was her trip to China as part of a student exchange programme while doing first year MBBS that gave her concrete idea on the modus operandi of gifting libraries. Her discussions with like-minded friends resulted in ‘Prakruti’, an organization for youth education and environmental protection. Her scholarship was the capital for the venture.
Their first library was opened at the Ananda Nilayam orphanage at Kuryathi, Thiruvananthapuram, where most of the inmates are small children. They appreciated her gesture much more than if they had been gifted sumptuous food. The second library was at Kukkikatta in Karnataka. There are now Prakruti’s libraries at the Yatheemkhana at Vallakkadavu, and Ekalavya Ashram at Thiruvananthapuram, Enayath in Tamil Nadu etc.
Initially, she had a tough time convincing the authorities of the orphanages that the books wouldn’t spoil the children. But now the success of other libraries is her answer to such doubters.
It is not a few books alone that she gifts. The almarah to keep them and a ledger to not down the transactions too is provided. Later she would follow up via email with the secretaries of orphanages on the status and future needs of the libraries.
Her desire is to start 100 libraries in different parts of the country during the next 5 years
Courtesy:
Seena Tony Jose (text), Vanitha, July 15-31, 2010
Contributed by: Administrator
