Currently, we live in a tech-savvy world, where when new versions of technology come, it is instantly purchased and the old ones are disposed of, especially during holidays. Considering that Black Friday is in a few months, there will be various promotions on new phones, computers, and other devices, in which old devices will either be handed off to younger members of the family or will be disposed of. However, there are many environmental implications of this. Considering that our initiative tackles the issue of e-waste and encourages people to donate their devices for reuse, it is important for our initiative to be aware of the consumption patterns of devices as well. This issue is not only a local issue in Singapore but a global one, as globally, devices are disposed of in an environmentally unfriendly manner, hence producing harmful fumes and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, it is important to not only raise awareness locally but globally to combat the issue of e-waste and the associated environmental implications.

Kolkata GC is a service that works with Voice of World (VOW) in Kolkata to support the underprivileged community with a special focus on the mentally and physically disabled. Through this service, I have not only learned that there are 30 million physically and mentally disabled people in India, but I have also learned that 15% of the world’s population is disabled and half of them cannot afford health care. This is a significant issue because more than half a billion people cannot afford to support themselves financially and medically due to their disabilities.

Every year, the GC plans a dance showcase called Kahaani to fundraise for the cause, additionally, the GC fundraiser by selling Indian products during Family Festivals and other school events. However, this year, the process has become tougher because there are only a limited number of people that can be in space and therefore, we cannot have a large audience. As a result of this, it is highly likely that the GC will not be able to raise a lot of money. Since I am the head of the Finance Department in the GC, it is my responsibility to ensure that we raise as much money as possible through different strategies. As a result, I believe that my contributions to this GC as a finance officer will have a large impact on our goal of supporting the community at VOW.

Picture of the Finance Team