The Yoddhas
Yoddhas – Indians Fighting Against Cancer is a non-government organisation dedicated to the well-being of cancer patients throughout India.
It was founded in January 2014 by Rahul Yadav, in the wake of his own diagnosis with multiple myeloma.[1][2] Initially, the patient-to-patient group consisted of Yadav and other patients he had met at the hospital.[3][4] As of April 2015, the group has a support base of about 4,000 members.[5] Yoddhas was created as a means to overcome a deficit of strong online support systems in the country.[6] It is a peer-to-peer support group where everyone discusses about their illness and support each other that mainly consists of cancer patients as well as close friends and relatives of people fighting cancer.[7]
Objective
Yoddhas offers a platform for patients, doctors and Caregivers to connect and help each other.[8] The program also tries to explore and talk about the best ways to help each other.[9] They also promote awareness about Stem Cell Donorship.[10] The Yoddhas support group also focuses on aiding patients with emotional, factual and psychological support.[11] The patient group motivates and inspires each other by sharing health tips, personal stories and initiating discussions.[12] Apart from this, it tries to generate cancer awareness among the youth by involving them in its social campaigns.[3][13]
Activity
The NGO tried to bring awareness to cancer through a social media campaign called 'Happiness Week', campaigns like their hashtag #YspreadHappiness[14][15] attempt to generate awareness for the cause which had a reach of 60,000 people across India. It has also collaborated with well-known institutes such as IIM Indore, Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS) and Delhi University to carry out social awareness activities such as Nukkad Natak (street play).[16] The group has its presence in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata as of January 2015.[17]
Recognition
Yoddhas – Indians Fighting Against Cancer was awarded the second prize in the Best Project category of the UNESCO Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition in the year 2014, in Berlin.[18] It also received the People's Choice Award under the Best Project's Category in the same competition.[19]
References
- ^ "1mg Kicks off a Massive Cancer Awareness Campaign "Jaankari Hai To Jaan Hai"".
- ^ Sukanya Banerjee. "This Guy Is Not Only Battling Cancer Himself But Also Helping Other Patients Fight The Disease". ScoopWhoop.
- ^ a b "Techie's cyber battle with cancer wins UN prize". The Times of India.
- ^ "Techie's cyber battle with cancer wins UN prize". World News.
- ^ "Rahul Yadav". The Next 100.
- ^ "One Man Sitting In His Room For Years Is Showing The Rest Of The World How To Fight Cancer". The Better India.
- ^ "Yoddhas' Battle". Citizen Journalist.
- ^ "1mg Kicks off a Massive Cancer Awareness Campaign "Jaankari Hai To Jaan Hai"". newsR. 17 August 2015.
- ^ "cancer patients helps other patients through yoddha group: जरूर देखें: आज तक". aajtak.intoday.in (in Hindi). Retrieved 2016-01-23.
- ^ "What's it like to donate stem cells?".
- ^ "Yoddhas – A Forum For All The Brave Indians Fighting Against Cancer".
- ^ Altaf Hussain. "1mg Kicks off a Massive Cancer Awareness Campaign "Jaankari Hai To Jaan Hai"".
- ^ "1mg kicks-off cancer awareness campaign 'Jaankari Hai To Jaan Hai' – The Financial Express". The Financial Express. 18 August 2015.
- ^ "FIGHT AGAINST CANCER- Help and support Rahul Yadav". Indiegogo.
- ^ "'Jaankari Hai To Jaan Hai': Cancer Awareness Campaign launched by 1mg". www.oneindia.com.
- ^ "Health App 1mg Launches Awareness Campaign on Affordable Cancer Medication". International Business Times, India Edition. 17 August 2015.
- ^ "Rahul Yadav wants to help people fighting against cancer www.yoddhas.com". Causes.
- ^ "WINNERS 2013/2014 Announced!". Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition.
- ^ "People's Choice Award Winners 2013/2014 Announced! - Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition". Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition.