Rama Krishna Sangem
Spandana Eda International Foundation (SEIF)’s campaign against suicides touched a crescendo as its message reached close to 1,50,000 students and youth in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on September 9, Friday. SEIF held these meetings in as many as 83 colleges and educational institutions on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, Saturday.
Excel India in June 2022 issue carried a detailed story on the activities of SEIF to stop suicides particularly among the youth. Even in this website pages you can find a story on SEIF founder Samuel Reddy’s mission started in memory of his late beloved only daughter Spandana. In the last two years, this foundation commenced with a handful of people grown to over 400 volunteers and spread the message against suicides and depression among thousands of youth.
“On September 9, we held meetings in total 83 colleges – 78 from Andhra and 5 from Hyderabad in Telangana. We reached close to 50,000 students directly and another one lakh people, mostly youth, through online,” said Samuel Reddy, talking to Excel India on September 16, Friday. “I am happy that as many as 350 people, mostly youth told us that they changed mind from ending their lives,” said Reddy.
Samuel Reddy was personally addressed a meeting at Nellore on that day. Simhapuri University Vice-Chancellor Prof Sundara Valli was the chief guest on the occasion. The programme went on for four hours. At the same time, the foundation held meetings in other colleges and institutions. Students, teachers, parents and experts from related areas were present. “So far we have reached around 10 lakh people in this journey,” said Samuel Reddy.
In Hyderabad, SEIF conducted a programme at Indira Priyadarshini Government Degree College for Women on the occasion. SEIF national committee member and women’s wing coordinator T Usha Giri who was coordinated the meeting said: “Close to 500 girls attended the programme and the feedback was super. Some of them were in tears while listening to our songs against suicide and depression”.
Abhigna Bharat Organisation (ABO) founder chairperson and advocate Sridevi Gade was the chief guest at the Indira Priyadarshini Government Degree College for Women programme. Spandana Eda foundation and ABO have some common goals of empowering women and the needy. The need for confidence building among the youth has become all the more important in the post Covid times, said Sridevi Gade.
