Mumbai resident Faraz Ansari's monthly initiative,'Gift A Meal', feeds street children living between Colaba and Bandra
In a time when the top news stories are usually about things that depress us, it is easy to believe that goodness is a thing of the past. But then, there is a balance that ensures that the world isn't a bad place after all. Goodness comes in all forms and in most cases, it outshines the evil. The story of Churchgate resident Farnaz Ansari's 'Gift a Meal' initiative is one such story that makes us believe that people are genuinely good.
What started it all
Ansari told dna that he came up with the idea after a series of internet forwards had begun to annoy him. He elaborates, "The initiative was to buy a book for a friend; then you become part of a chain and eventually you end up with 36 new books. I found the entire drive superficial because books are expensive and it was a case of people who have things giving gifts to other people who were well off."
Last December, Ansari decided to do something about it and along with a few friends planned to feed street children between Colaba and Bandra. "We feed them a plate of vegetable biryani, potato cutlet, dry fruits, cake or muffin, banana, chocolates and some juice—all for Rs. 100. My friends have also helped a lot. One of them bakes, another gets chocolates and dry fruits at a wholesale rate and we make the biryani at home," said the 29-year-old good samaritan.
Presently, the drive is a monthly one, but Ansari wants to eventually make it into a weekly affair. "Currently, along with my friends, I have help at home to make the biryani, but the few days before we distribute the food turn a bit crazy. But giving out food to feed the street children gives us a great high," he said.
Long-term plans
As part of the long-term plan, Ansari wants to contribute to the education of these children. A filmmaker by profession, he says that he has worked with children in the past, thanks to his association with Amol Gupte, the brain behind films such as Taare Zameen Par and Stanley Ka Dabba. "I've held a few theatre workshops wherein children have learned the importance of acting as well as the role of the behind-the-scenes staff. Given that most of my friends are in the media, a number of them have also volunteered in training the children," he added.
Ansari also recounts a tear-jerker of a story. "I regularly frequent Lal Mitti, a slum pocket near Bandra Reclamation. A child named Seema lives there, who didn't go to school because her parents said there was too much work to do at home. I offered to finance her education and when I went back there a few months later, she came up to me and said,‘I have something to say to you. God bless you,’ all in chaste English. The feeling was overwhelming,” he said.
The drive has gathered a lot of success amongst Ansari’s friend circle, particularly his batch mates who studied with him in the United States. "I befriended some people who live across the border and they plan on having a similar initiative that will begin in Karachi this October. Another friend, who lives in California, wants to do something similar in her hometown," he said.
To know how you can contribute, get in touch with Faraz at farazarifansari@gmail.com
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 "Faraz Ansari with street kids")
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