Sharing quotes, viral posts and so on as an Instagram post is the norm, but what if a post you share as your IG story could directly result in a street dog receiving a good meal? This is the story behind Chennai-based Thaagam Foundation's post that went viral a few days back, wherein, they asked their followers, and Instagram users in general, to share the post they had designed and tag them.
The number of shares that post received was over 5.5 lakh. So, Thaagam Foundation, keeping their promise, have started feeding street dogs, full throttle. They even share an Insta story of every dog they feed and the plates the dogs are fed in has the name of the screenshot-sharer. Now that's some level of dedication.
Raja Monsingh, Founder of Thaagam Foundation, and Co brainstormed and came up with this idea. Talking about how they are arranging for funds to achieve the big, audacious goal of feeding 5.5 lakh street dogs, Raja says, "Even if out of 100 people who have shared the story, 10 people donate, we can use it to carry out our operations." And donations are coming in, he adds with a smile. They are partnering with other dog lovers and organisations which can help them achieve the target and offering their partners the resources to carry the activity out. And if you are a dog lover, you can sign up on their online portal.
But, of course, such virality comes with its cost. Some fake pages have cropped up which claim to be Thaagam Foundation. "We have taken legal actions and have informed the Instagram team as well," says the 21-year-old. Thaagam Foundation was started one-and-a-half years back with the intention to focus on the 'unidentified sector'. Explaining the meaning of this sector, Raja says, "Many visit orphanages or old age homes to celebrate their birthday, which is a great initiative. But we also want to concentrate on those who go unnoticed," and feeding street dogs is a great way for them to advance towards their goal.
They have also conducted art competitions and law awareness workshops in Chennai as well. Raja emphasis on the point that every NGO needs to have a social media presence. "It helps with credibility and showcases what you have done so that more people can join in," he concludes.
Other activities they have conducted:
- Provided food to the needy via Food Runs
- Gifted saplings to young kids
- Conducted workshops like How to Manage Your Emotions
For more on them, visit: instagram.com/thaagamfoundation
