I have often been asked this question, especially after a full day workshop. Recently a young student asked me “You have recorded your ELearning programs and put them up. What else do you need to do? Why do you need more funds?”
It always reminds me of the fact that many believe that women who are home makers have nothing much to do. In fact the term “sitting at home” is often used, to talk about this population! No one knows how much a home maker does.
Rarely do people see the efforts that precede “any success, achievement or even an event”
And then, the efforts do not stop even AFTER a success story, an event or more. Maintaining anything – an organization, a relationship, several events – all these take time, effort, sincerity and lots of hope.
I thought it would be nice to put down a bunch of stuff that we do at QMed.
Training: For our lectures and workshops – we are constantly trying to see how we could make them better. When we do not see great post-test scores for one of them, we see which question had the most wrong answers. And then try and see how we could teach that better to ensure that majority learn them right.
Communications: The content for Social media posts plus our YouTube channel, Newsletters, Annual Reports, Blogs, Donor updates and the Promotional material to let the whole of India know about our courses.
Fundraising – it has to be a mix of grants, individual donations and income from institutional subscriptions. (When we reach a day where all institutions pay the reasonable annual amount, we do not need to engage in this activity)! Each avenue of fundraising comes with its own set of challenges.
Marketing / Promotions: Apart from letting all healthcare institutions know about our courses, the challenge really is to find out who is the right person in an institution who understands the importance and need for literature searching skills and then convincing decision makers about this
Technology: We take great pride in the fact that both our websites have been designed and maintained by a qualified librarian (with no formal technology degree!). And yet – it is not easy that she has to handle the maintenance of both – single handed. (Just because we cannot afford an additional hand)
Administration. The toughest of everything. Today NGO’s are probably the institutions that have the toughest of compliance requirements! While I have a lot of help in this area, as the CEO, I simply have to be involved. It is my “responsibility”. And so – it is about ensuring that we have filed our annual returns, filed the necessary reports with the Charity Commissioner, the FCRA etc – ensuring that our NGO Darpan is active, our FCRA being renewed well in advance and lots more. Importantly since each of these is very dependent on external factors, our efficiency alone does not work!
There are times when crazy things happen. In mid 2024, our Foundation’s Income Tax returns got credited into our FCRA account. Which is technically equivalent of a crime 🙂 I had to spend a good time of my vacation in Canada – speaking with the SBI and the Home Ministry to sort this out. This to ensure that an approximate Rs 26000/- of IT returns into the FCRA Account did not make us pay a Rs 1 lakh fine (for no fault of ours!). The hours I spent to settle this, were hours we had not planned for, but just had to utilize.
And friends…. that is just a snippet of all that I have to be involved in – when I am not conducting a workshop or delivering a lecture.
Lectures, workshops and creating and sustaining our ELearning courses is what I love doing and want to do. My passion area. And each of my team members has their passion areas. If only I could spend 90% of my time here – I would be really delighted!
Doing a bunch of the other things eats up our time and money. Getting more employees / outsourcing more can happen if we get that kind of money. Chicken and egg situation.
If this makes you ask “Any way I can help”? Yes there are several. Write to us – info@qmed.ngo and we will tell you 🙂 Choose if you wish to help us with spreading awareness about our courses / fundraising or any other area.
