For me, nothing better captures the experience of the CMCA office than my first moments there. Entering the office, we were welcomed by the sound of laughter, the warm embrace of food, and the kind Bangalorean hospitality that made the space instantly feel familiar. Each individual exuded passion and energy for their role and the drive to make a positive impact was infectious.
My internship at CMCA has helped me personally by building an appreciation for non-profit work, as well as recementing and affirming the need to continue to take action to preserve and protect democratic values.
Firstly, seeing the organisation in action – its various programmes and their constituent parts – has helped me develop a deeper understanding of the processes that take place to translate ideas into reality. Where I previously thought non-profit meant under-resourced, over-stretched, and small-scale, CMCA broke those assumptions. Their huge reach across 23 cities and 350 villages has proven to me the impact that non-profit organisations can make in catalysing change. Going forward into graduate life, I will definitely reconsider my initial hesitancy towards the sector and explore what options there are for me to explore with non-profits – perhaps even with CMCA in the future.
In addition to opening my eyes to the potential of non-profit organisations, CMCA’s vital work in equipping young people with the skills to become active citizens especially struck a chord with me. CMCA helps remind us that we need to empower youth on how to engage with and become a part of the democratic systems that exist within our villages, towns, cities, and states. When these mechanisms are harnessed by passionate and driven people, real change can be made to everyday lives – something that is proven time and time again through the stories and testimonials of CMCA’s impact over the past 22 years. Overall, I find CMCA’s mission vitally important in these turbulent times and the organisation has given me hope that preserving democracy can continue to bring about peace and development.
Thank you for all the kind support that the team at CMCA provided during my time in Bangalore. I look forward to following the organisation’s journey, especially as CMCA progresses toward its 25th anniversary.
This blog was written by Cameron Humphreys. Cameron was part of a group of students who interned with us as part of a Common Purpose training programme
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CMCA has been accredited by Credibility Alliance under the category “Desirability Norms” – for good governance, accountability, transparency and continuous improvements. Credibility Alliance is a consortium of voluntary organisations committed to enhancing accountability and transparency in the voluntary sector through good governance.
