About 1,200 youths participated in 28 cities across India on the Day of Service on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and the Joy of Giving Week Celebrations by Bakul Foundation in association with Young Indians (Yi), State Women and Child Development Department, Humara Bachpan and Purvi Bharat Steels. The volunteers had the joy of bringing smiles and giving pleasure to about 12, 000 kids and elderly.
The event happened in 28 cities, but was coordinated by Bakul volunteers from Bhubaneswar. The activities in other cities were coordinated by Bakul volunteers, who had moved to other cities. In Bhubaneswar, the activities happened in nine orphanages, 18 Anganwadis and five slums in which about 600 volunteers participated. Activities also happened in Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Brahmapur, Paradip and Dhenkanal. Many youth groups such as Enactus, Aisec, Souls for Solace and Aasra joined hands. Many homemakers and retired professionals also participated.
One of the highlights of the event was stunts by a group of bikers of the Satya Sai Seva Sangha in Khandagiri. Sasmita Mohanty of Humara Bachpan Child Club in Salia Sahi said that it was exciting to meet so many educated and cheerful young people who played many interesting games and did activities with them. Usharani Patra of Sikharchandi similarly said that they loved the weird games they played and loved getting messy with colours. Debsha Patnaik, a Bakul volunteer and student of KIIT, who volunteered at Sikharchandi said that since the slum was close to her college, she and her friends hoped to keep coming back to work with the kids. The event was coordinated by Pooja Mishra.