Project Trishna - Youth group providing clean drinking water

Project Trishna is a volunteer-driven social venture created by Footsteps Foundation, a youth-based social enterprise. Its aim is simple: to provide free access to clean drinking water for the general public, especially the low income groups. 

The project appeals to businesses and homes who may buy one of Project Trishna's customised water filters. They are then responsible for its maintenance. These filters are then set up on the sidewalks or right in front of office buildings, and you have a source of clean water for all who need it. The buyers become the owners of the water filter, which becomes branded with their logo on it. Footsteps Foundation ensures that the filters are working smoothly and achieving their purpose. Using this method, the project has successfully set up around 50 water filters in 30 different locations all over Dhaka. 

Through this initiative, Footsteps Foundation has effectively reiterated the concept that it doesn't take big efforts to initiate change. All one needs is a great idea, a little bit of investment, and hardworking volunteers to drive home the cause. 

Each of the volunteers is called upon to rise to a certain level of professionalism. It isn't enough just to make a post about the project; volunteers need to personally call up businessmen and women, convince them to schedule appointments, and then deliver a presentation that would get them on board. Needless to say, every volunteer who committed to the project came out with stronger social and professional skills. 

Project Trishna provides over a thousand litres of clean drinking water to pedestrians daily. The simple yet effective concept of combining a business' social responsibility and the project's easy contract works wonders. 

Project Trishna turns to address one of the nation's many pressing, yet relatively unnoticed issues. Ironically, the volunteers that sold the most filters were actually the youngest ones in the group. Despite a lack of knowledge on the working world, they brought determination and commitment beyond anyone else. Really, what more would a volunteer need? If anything, this is proof that the youth may just be the change-makers this country needs.

The writer is a Class X student at Sunbeams School.