Bangalore Reach Organisation essentially raises funds, primarily through bake sales and in turn donates the proceeds* to a home or shelter that is in need of it.

HOW WE DO IT

*We believe in giving in kind not cash, so that we can see first hand what difference we make.

For example, a part of our proceeds from our first project, went to SKID(Sheila Kothavala Institue for the Deaf) where we reinstalled their windows, bought uniforms and books for the students there.

We believe that the amount of hardwork we put in should be directly proportional to the difference we make in the lives we touch.

Bangalore Reach Organisation is a group of students who are working together to make a difference in our community.

We are not perfect. Far from it. Society is constantly plagued with issues that we often only discuss at great lengths.

We got tired of debating and discussing these s and sitting around waiting for someone to do something about it, when we could be out there, doing everything we can, to combat these issues ourselves. It is time for us to make a move and leave a mark. Driven by the lives we touch and the addictive rush we get when we reach out to others, we are determined to make our world a better place.

Many often say that teenagers are the leaders of tomorrows world. But ask yourself, why should we wait till tomorrow when we can make a difference today?

December 2015: Coming up next!

Now that November Boards have ceased to torment our overworked souls, it's time we hit you, full swing.

With a little coaxing, we've agreed to return to the site of last year's venue; The International School, Bangalore, for another installment of their renowned Model United Nations Conference!

https://www.facebook.com/TISBMUN/?fref=ts

The MUN itself, is hosting a plethora of stimulating committees; ranging from the time-travelling discussions about the Cuban Missile Crisis in the HJCC: USA and USSR, to the more upbeat debates about the security and ethics revolving around the preparation of the 2018 Russian World Cup and the 2022 Qatar World Cup!

For more information and registration details, please head on to their website: tisb.org/mun.

Register quickly and you will see us outside, near the courtyard selling some delectable delicacies:

Bye,
Ruchika
xx.

No Excuses.

There are absolutely no valid excuses for our inactivity on social media for the past couple of months.

We are truly sorry for that.

Keeping in mind that I DID promise no excuses, I WOULD urge you to remember, that we still attend school, and all stand at an average of 17 years.

With mocks in January, pre-boards in March and board exams currently on-going in the months of April and May, to say we were and are swamped would be an understatement.

Even with the hectic workload that AS level demands, we haven't forgotten the objectives we had in mind when the organisation was initiated, and we SURELY haven't neglected our responsibilities toward society.

We just haven't posted about it online, for the world to be aware of.

In the month of November (21st to 23rd), we were given the opportunity to tie up with IIMUN, the Indian International Model United Nations Association that stands to provide a platform for young MUNners to showcase their debating talents, as well as critical thinking in high pressure situations that the event demands of its participants.

If you've ever attended a MUN, either as a contestant, or as a logistics member, you know how rigorous the day is, and the intensity each session entails. We decided to release some of that pressure of the students. Spice things up, because after all, MUN, as challenging as it is, is still meant to be a fun, memorable experience, and we hoped to facilitate just that.

Curious to see how?

Our next post will tell you all about it.

Also want to hear all about our TISBMUN, Bangalore adventures? 

You will, sooner than you think.

But here's a couple of sneak peaks, to keep you guessing. ;)

 The baked goods that were available at IIMUN, Bangalore.

Santa's little helpers, without whom, we would've never 
gotten half the things done in time, to be honest. 
Thanks, guys. :')

Satisfied MUNners, at the TISBMUN, Bangalore?

 Rosegrams. As cheeky as they come, I assure you.

Patience, grasshoppers.
All in due time, I promise.

Bye,

Ruchika

xx.

Project #1: The Cupacake Carnival.

Stage 1: The Prep.

Date: 29^th August, 2014, Friday.

Our grade + their friends honestly deserve the biggest shout-out for helping make these two days an absolute success. It would’ve been a nightmare without those extra hands around to pick up our slack.

From making posters to folding boxes to sticking logos to filling patty pans with batter to just wiping the sweat off a baker’s brow, we are forever grateful for your contribution to the event’s consummation.

Also a big shout-out to TTK™ for lending us their kitchen and chef for the day.

Ayushi, Ashna & Veda completing another batch of cupcakes.

Rashmi, Akshatha & Trishika working on Posters&Signs outside the kitchen.

Shakshi working on Oreo tarts while I help Deepali make the quiches.

Ashna, Veda and I filling patty pans with Red Velvet batter. 

Some intense chocolate chopping.

Some more batter-filling.

An industrial kitchen.

687 cupcakes.

25 oreo tarts. (192 slices).

50 quiches.

40+ posters and signs.

9 hours.

NOT an easy task.

We were proud, to say the least.

The only challenge that lay ahead for us was the nightmare of people not showing up and buying everything we had made.

We had received an overwhelming response via text, email and other social media.

1.  But how many of those people would actually take time off their busy schedules to come for a bake sale?

2.  Would they find transport in time?

3.  Would they find the address with ease?

4.  Would they be disappointed when they arrived and leave?

SO MANY QUESTIONS.

And boy, were they answered the next day.

Answers:

1.  350+ people would take time off their busy schedules to come for a bake sale

2.  Yes, they would.

3.  With a little help from the number provided on promotional posters, they would.

4.  Absolutely not!

The "Cashier" booth. 

Some happy customers?

A little taste of what the merch was like. Flavour: Coffee Bean.

The box of direct donations that was filled with 10% of our "profit."

Stage 2: The Sale.

Date: 30th August 2014, Saturday.

We started the day out a little behind schedule due to arbitrary reasons like bad traffic and lack of muscle to carry more than 3 boxes of cupcakes at a time.

We arrived at the venue by 12 noon and started icing cupcakes in the library the minute we got there. I mean, people would be arriving in less than an hour! With only one piping bag (the other one had technical difficulties) icing almost 700 cupcakes, we had to rotate icers every 100 or so cupcakes. Speaking from first hand experience, your wrists hurt!

Our first customer:

Arrived: around 12:30. (1/2 an hour early).

Details: Resident of Sobha Suburbia, a middle-aged baker who has had her fair share of bake sales and was kind enough to rummage through her purse to give us exact change to help us with future transactions.She bid us adieu with words of advice and a “good luck girls.”

The next few hours were an honest blur.

You know how in the movies there are flashes of random memories?

Well here are mine:

Manning the juice station.

Running to go find knives to cut the tarts.

Helping pin up posters.

Icing cupcakes.

Making boxes once my wrists couldn’t hold the bag no more.

Answering questions for a journalism student’s article.

Clicking pictures to document the day.

Hauling iced cupcakes to the “vendors.”

But one thing I vividly remember is greeting the SKID kids who had graciously accepted the invitation to come see what the sale would be like. They hung up details about their school and had flyers that they handed out to customers shuffling in and out. When we finally convinced them to eat something, they clearly enjoyed the oreo tarts the most.It was great to have them see first hand where the money going to their school was coming from. As Ms. Jesse (their principal) rightly said “It’ll make them appreciate it a little bit more.”

Overall, the day ended with smiles on everyone’s faces and finally getting to sit down without the overbearing rush of expecting someone beckoning to go run and get something for them.

Later that day, at around 10 in the evening, Ayushi calls and says, “64,180.”

No hi, no hello, no “how are you doing, mate?”

“64,180”

So, naturally, I’m just like “what? You ok?”

She explains further, “We collected 64,180 today.”

Me, “No.”

Her, “Yes.”

Me, “No way, count again.”

Her, “I know EXACTLY how you feel, I’ve counted almost 10 times now, the number doesn’t change.” 

One thing you should know about Ayushi, she has OCD, so if she says “10 times” I could count on some meticulous counting from that woman.

So I say “Okay, so we have to remove the costs now.” 

She says, “Done.” 

Me, “Okay, how much is it now?”

Her, “64,180”

Me, “Oye, we have more than 20k as costs, this is why you’re going to fail math.”

Her, “Actually, I already removed the costs before calling you.”

Me, “You can’t be serious.”

Okay, I’m a bit embarrassed by the next part, but it has to be said.

For the next 10 minutes or so we squeal like baby pigs on the phone.

NOT EVEN EXAGGERATING.

Here it is.

And once I spread the news to 13 other girls, you can just imagine the near fan-girl-like screaming we did that night.

Bye,

Ruchika

xx