Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
Thiruvananthapuram to host Koottam 2025, the two-day volunteering carnival

Thiruvananthapuram to host Koottam 2025, the two-day volunteering carnival

The Hindu
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 10:50 AM GMT

Koottam 2025: India's biggest volunteering festival with workshops, stalls, concerts, and fun activities for all ages.

“Koottam 2025 is a celebration where volunteering takes centre stage,” says Gautham Ravindran, CEO and co-founder of Volunteer For India (VFI), the NGO organising the festival in association with the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation. The fete is set to take place on April 26 and 27 at the Tagore Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram and will be inaugurated by Kerala Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs minister GR Anil.

Touted as the biggest volunteering festival in the country, Koottam was born out of a conversation between the co-founders of VFI, Ramalingam Natarajan and Gautham, about how “to make volunteering more accessible and interesting for people.”

“Our discussion led to the concept of a volunteering carnival. At a regular carnival, everyone has fun with entertainment, games and so on — bringing the community together. We wanted to add the idea of volunteering to this setting, especially with people shying away from volunteering without understanding its true meaning and making it too serious. We want to make it fun,” says Gautham. VFI, he adds, is an organisation aimed to bring social change through structured volunteering programmes.

The venue is divided into two sections — while one is focused on volunteering, consisting of workshops, stalls by NGOs, and so on, the other will have elements of a carnival with a pop-up market, game and activity zone and Kutti Koottam, a designated space for children, where storytelling sessions, improv, origami workshop, open mics and so on will take place.

The festival will also have a volunteering station, where people can engage in 20 to 30 minutes of volunteering activities to get a hands-on experience of volunteering. “These activities can be as easy as upcycling a T-shirt into a cloth bag or making a seed ball you can take home,” Gautham adds.

“This time around 34 NGOs have booked the stalls to introduce their work through engaging activities. We will also have panel discussions around politics, content creation and its impact on society,” says Gautham. There will also be workshops related to sustainability.

The carnival has two fundraising concerts by the Sufi band, Mehfil-e-Sama and Jassie Gift on April 26 and 27 respectively. These are the only ticketed events at the carnival and the money will support a project called Gift a Story run by VFI, focused on building libraries for the underprivileged.

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Microsoft introduces small language model Mu to change settings in Windows 11

Microsoft has unveiled its on-device small language model, Mu, that allows users to change settings through natural language queries.

Ahead of local body polls, Jana Sena puts special focus on north Andhra districts

Jana Sena Party focuses on North Andhra districts for local body elections, emphasizing training, policies, and public issues.

Lord Murugan devotees’ meet: AIADMK leader Udhayakumar condemns playing video ‘defaming’ Periyar, Anna

Lord Murugan devotees’ meet: AIADMK leader Udhayakumar condemns playing video ‘defaming’ Periyar, Anna

BJP demands Karnataka CM’s resignation over corruption charges by Congress MLAs

The fact that a senior MLA like B. R. Patil, who is close to the CM, has said that it is not possible for the poor to get houses without paying bribes shows that MLAs of the ruling party are frustrated, alleged State BJP president B. Y. Vijayendra. 

Tribal Ministry urged to delete 'Any Kuki Tribes' category from Manipur's ST list

Manipur organisations urge Ministry of Tribal Affairs to remove 'Any Kuki Tribes' from ST list to protect indigenous rights.

Devotees carrying are more important than VIPs: Ponnam Prabhakar on Bonalu

Hyderabad Minister Ponnam Prabhakar reviews Bonalu festival preparations, emphasizes importance of local support and said that devotees are more important than VIPs

Nilambur bypoll: IUML leader M.K. Muneer says never had any pact with Jamaat or Welfare Party of India

UDF leader M.K. Muneer denies seeking help from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind in Kerala bypoll victory.

Rare antique lamp, believed to be of 15th century, found in Perdoor Anantapadmanabha temple in Udupi district of Karnataka

The artefact was examined by T. Murugeshi, a retired Associate Professor of ancient history and archaeology, Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty College, Shirva, Udupi district.

U.P. govt. to give ₹30 lakh each to families of two sanitation workers who died inhaling toxic gas

Families of deceased sanitation workers in Vrindavan to receive ₹30 lakh compensation; arrests made in culpable homicide case.

Rainforests: The lungs that keep earth breathing

Discover the importance of rainforests, Earth's life-support system, and how you can help protect them for a sustainable future.

Search for two more persons resumes after landslip hits Yamunotri trek route in Uttarakhand

Search and rescue operations resume after landslip near Kainchi Bhairav Mandir, with one rescued, two bodies recovered.

At SCO Defence Ministers’ meet in Qingdao, Rajnath likely to discuss regional peace, anti-terror cooperation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to lead Indian delegation at SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in China, discussing peace, security, and cooperation.

Why the Anna University sexual assault case must be a wake-up call for stakeholders of women safety | Explained

Why the Anna University sexual assault case must be a wake-up call for stakeholders of women safety | Explained

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Cancer patient abandoned in Mumbai’s Aarey; National Cancer Institute volunteers to treat her

National Cancer Institute in Nagpur steps up to treat abandoned elderly cancer patient from Mumbai's Aarey area.

Water level in Mettur Dam stands at 113.37 feet

Mettur Dam water level at 113.37 feet, inflow 11,137 cusecs, discharge 18,000 cusecs on Tuesday.

Madras High Court orders notices to five IAS officers and a Joint Commissioner of HR&CE dept. in contempt plea

Madras High Court orders notices to five IAS officers and a Joint Commissioner of HR&CE dept. in contempt plea

Kerala backs off from enacting black magic law, cites policy decision in High Court

Kerala government decides not to enact law banning black magic, sorcery, despite recommendations from Law Reforms Commission.

Smitha Madhav reimagines Veturi’s lyrical classic, ‘Sirikakolanu Chinnadi’

Experience the revival of 'Sirikakolanu Chinnadi', a lyrical tale set in Sri Krishnadevaraya's court, in Hyderabad

Israel-Iran conflict | 18 flights cancelled at Hyderabad airport after airspace closure in Qatar

Hyderabad airport faces international flight disruptions due to Qatar airspace closures, causing multiple cancellations on June 23-24, 2025.

Safeguarding the windows to the soul Premium

Stay informed on health matters with Zubeda Hamid's newsletter covering cataract surgeries, maternal health, and medical advancements globally.

Telangana govt integrating AI into TG-iPASS industrial system to enhance transparency, speed of approval

Telangana government is in the process of integrating AI into TG-iPASS to attract investments

Protests in north Malabar over Railways’ decision to extend Kannur-bound trains towards Palakkad instead of Kasaragod

Rail users protest as Railways extend trains to Palakkad instead of Kasaragod, ignoring passenger demands in North Malabar.

Hike in entry ticket prices for monuments and museums in Telangana

Entry ticket prices for monuments and museums in Telangana were doubled, but mobile phone and camera charges remain unchanged.

Opposition from staff hits transfers from Gulbarga University to new universities in Bidar and Raichur

A former Academic Council member pointed out that only the transfer of posts will not serve the purpose as the majority of posts are vacant.

All polls held as per law: ECI tells Rahul on Maharashtra poll rigging allegations

Election Commission responds to Rahul Gandhi's rigging allegations in Maharashtra polls, emphasizing adherence to laws and procedures.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us