The brainchild of Dr. Raj Warrier, former Vice Chancellor of MAHE, the Volunteer Services Organization of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, now in its decennial year, is the official social upliftment umbrella of Manipal University spread across the Manipal and Mangalore Campuses. With its volunteers having students and staff from all colleges of Manipal, staff children and spouses as well as the general public in Manipal, it is one of the most active social clubs in university town. Under the guidance of Dr. H Vinod Bhat, the Vice Chancellor of the Academy who is the organization’s Chairman, many projects such as visits to orphanages, schools for the specially abled, pediatric ward, old age homes, slums, Blood Donation Campaign, Clean Manipal Campaigns, and other activities happen on a weekly basis all year round.
Aside from this, VSO volunteers are sought after for smooth coordination of all of the University’s biggest events. The Manipal Marathon, the IBCA Asian Chess Championship Tournament, Manipal Research Colloquium, Academy of General Education National Science Day Program, Utsav – Intra MAHE Cultural Fest are some of the university’s events VSO lends its hands in. Apart from these, VSO also has regular collection and spot fixing drives in Manipal and Mangalore alongside its flagship events, DaanUtsav – India’s Festival of Giving, Tarang – Annual Kite Festival, Sparsh – Bi-Annual Cultural Event and Carnival de Manipal – Sports and Fitness Festival.
VSO aims to develop the spirit of selfless service by responding to the community’s needs, addressing the issues of society, and developing the leadership and learning skills of the volunteers. Students, faculty, and staff strive to ameliorate the conditions of the impoverished and the less fortunate. We come together in hopes of forging a path to a better society.
PROJECTS
- AARAMBH – Weekly Educational Visits to Srikrishna Balaniketana Orphanage
- KHUSHI– Fortnightly Educational Visits to Nittur Balamandira Orphanage
- AASHA – Weekly Visits to Vishranti Dhama Old Age Home
- JYOTI – Weekly Visits to Aasare, Home for the Mentally Challenged
- HOMBELAKU – Weekly Visits to Hombelaku, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre
- CLEAN MANIPAL CAMPAIGN – Spot Fixing the Manipal Streets twice every week
- BLOOD DONATION DRIVE– Weekly Blood Donation Drives at Kasturba Hospital Blood Bank
- VIDYA – Monthly Educational Visits to Namma Bhoomi Village in Kundapura
- MUSKAAN – Weekly Visits to the Bijapur Colony, Manipal
- PARIVARTANA – Weekly Visits to the Beedingudde Colony, Udupi
- AKSHARA – Educational Visits to the Academy School, Manipal thrice a week
- HEALTH CAMPS – Monthly Dental and Health Checkups/ Awareness Camps at various schools/localities/slums in and around Manipal, Udupi and Mangaluru
- SANJEEVANI – Weekly Visit to the Pediatric Ward, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal
- MINUGU – Fortnightly Visit to the RAPCC Pediatric Ward, Govt. Wenlock Hospital Mangaluru
- TARANG – Annual Kite Festival Fundraiser Event at End Point, Manipal
- SPARSH – Biannual Cultural Extravaganza Fundraiser at Valley View, Manipal
- SWAAD– Annual Food Fest during Utsav at KMC Greens, Manipal
- CARNIVAL DE MANIPAL – Annual Sports & Fitness Festival, KMC Greens, Manipal
- SPOKEN KANNADA CLASSES – Semesterly Spoken Kannada Training Sessions Open for All at MAHE, Manipal
- THE MANIPAL MARATHON – Manipal’s Biggest Running Event Annually
- CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP – Annual National/Asian Championship hosted by Sports Council, Manipal
- NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY – Academy of General Education’s Annual Science Day Celebrations for School Students
- DAAN UTSAV– Manipal Celebrating India’s Festival of Giving Annually
Volunteers at Manipal 