my name is annum Sinha I’m the co-founder and trustee for Robin odami
co-founder and trustee for Robin odami
co-founder and trustee for Robin odami i’ve also co-founded another startup
i’ve also co-founded another startup
i’ve also co-founded another startup called press play
called press play
called press play but today obviously you know we will
but today obviously you know we will
but today obviously you know we will talk about Robin Hood so Robin out is a
talk about Robin Hood so Robin out is a
talk about Robin Hood so Robin out is a volunteer driven organization what we do
volunteer driven organization what we do
volunteer driven organization what we do is very very simple we collect excess
is very very simple we collect excess
is very very simple we collect excess food from restaurants and we try and
food from restaurants and we try and
food from restaurants and we try and distribute it to people to
distribute it to people to
distribute it to people to underprivileged people so we realize
underprivileged people so we realize
underprivileged people so we realize that you know the problem that’s
that you know the problem that’s
that you know the problem that’s entually the problem that we were trying
entually the problem that we were trying
entually the problem that we were trying we are trying to solve is of hunger
we are trying to solve is of hunger
we are trying to solve is of hunger right doesn’t we realize that there are
right doesn’t we realize that there are
right doesn’t we realize that there are so many people out there who don’t know
so many people out there who don’t know
so many people out there who don’t know where their next meal is coming from
where their next meal is coming from
where their next meal is coming from and so that’s what we have taken the
and so that’s what we have taken the
and so that’s what we have taken the first step towards you know trying to
first step towards you know trying to
first step towards you know trying to sort of solve that problem we are now
sort of solve that problem we are now
sort of solve that problem we are now you know we started two years back we
you know we started two years back we
you know we started two years back we are now in ten countries
are now in ten countries
are now in ten countries me and my co-founder started it and now
me and my co-founder started it and now
me and my co-founder started it and now we have more than seven thousand
we have more than seven thousand
we have more than seven thousand volunteers across these ten countries so
volunteers across these ten countries so
volunteers across these ten countries so it’s been a good ride it’s only been two
it’s been a good ride it’s only been two
it’s been a good ride it’s only been two years and obviously we are learning as
years and obviously we are learning as
years and obviously we are learning as we go but it’s been a good ride so
we go but it’s been a good ride so
we go but it’s been a good ride so today’s topic right ignite when I was
today’s topic right ignite when I was
today’s topic right ignite when I was just trying to sort of prepare for my
just trying to sort of prepare for my
just trying to sort of prepare for my speech I try to remember you know how I
speech I try to remember you know how I
speech I try to remember you know how I went back in time two years back in time
went back in time two years back in time
went back in time two years back in time I was just trying to remember how things
I was just trying to remember how things
I was just trying to remember how things came together for us and I I realized
came together for us and I I realized
came together for us and I I realized that you know most of us here including
that you know most of us here including
that you know most of us here including myself we’ve had a very privileged sort
myself we’ve had a very privileged sort
myself we’ve had a very privileged sort of upbringing right doesn’t beef never
of upbringing right doesn’t beef never
of upbringing right doesn’t beef never had to worry about stuff like here at oh
had to worry about stuff like here at oh
had to worry about stuff like here at oh honey my gammy leg hockey in the
honey my gammy leg hockey in the
honey my gammy leg hockey in the Himalaya
Himalaya
Himalaya nobody ever obviously you know we have
nobody ever obviously you know we have
nobody ever obviously you know we have been lucky enough to have our parents
been lucky enough to have our parents
been lucky enough to have our parents sort of support us through the journey
sort of support us through the journey
sort of support us through the journey but the during this upbringing also what
but the during this upbringing also what
but the during this upbringing also what about I realized you know now now I’m
about I realized you know now now I’m
about I realized you know now now I’m crying 9 now when I look back at my
crying 9 now when I look back at my
crying 9 now when I look back at my younger years I I sort of realized that
younger years I I sort of realized that
younger years I I sort of realized that there was always this layer of society
there was always this layer of society
there was always this layer of society which coexisted with us right or people
which coexisted with us right or people
which coexisted with us right or people who are living on the streets of people
who are living on the streets of people
who are living on the streets of people who living under the flyovers but
who living under the flyovers but
who living under the flyovers but somehow we just never chose chose to you
somehow we just never chose chose to you
somehow we just never chose chose to you know booze anything about it we we were
know booze anything about it we we were
know booze anything about it we we were sort of coexisting but very
sort of coexisting but very
sort of coexisting but very indifferently right as if there is
indifferently right as if there is
indifferently right as if there is nothing much that at least while growing
nothing much that at least while growing
nothing much that at least while growing up in my this thing there was nothing
up in my this thing there was nothing
up in my this thing there was nothing much that I did not contribute in any
much that I did not contribute in any
much that I did not contribute in any way so and also then I thought that why
way so and also then I thought that why
way so and also then I thought that why is that right as and why why is it that
is that right as and why why is it that
is that right as and why why is it that we we were just talking about the sort
we we were just talking about the sort
we we were just talking about the sort of gap which is widening between the
of gap which is widening between the
of gap which is widening between the rich and the poor
rich and the poor
rich and the poor in India and why is it that we have not
in India and why is it that we have not
in India and why is it that we have not been able to do anything and then the
been able to do anything and then the
been able to do anything and then the usual usual sort of reasons came to mind
usual usual sort of reasons came to mind
usual usual sort of reasons came to mind which are not excuses by the way right
which are not excuses by the way right
which are not excuses by the way right those are genuine justified reasons that
those are genuine justified reasons that
those are genuine justified reasons that we all have crazy working arse we have
we all have crazy working arse we have
we all have crazy working arse we have relationships to manage we have 10,000
relationships to manage we have 10,000
relationships to manage we have 10,000 things going on in our lives but
things going on in our lives but
things going on in our lives but unfortunately just not able to take out
unfortunately just not able to take out
unfortunately just not able to take out time for stuff a lot of fast people
time for stuff a lot of fast people
time for stuff a lot of fast people donate some money which is obviously
donate some money which is obviously
donate some money which is obviously great but not easy to take out time you
great but not easy to take out time you
great but not easy to take out time you know to actually help someone as such so
know to actually help someone as such so
know to actually help someone as such so we’ve all seen people you know we’ve all
we’ve all seen people you know we’ve all
we’ve all seen people you know we’ve all seen kids begging on the roads people
seen kids begging on the roads people
seen kids begging on the roads people living under flyover as people sometimes
living under flyover as people sometimes
living under flyover as people sometimes dying you know of accidents of drunken
dying you know of accidents of drunken
dying you know of accidents of drunken driving with people living or dying on
driving with people living or dying on
driving with people living or dying on the roads but as I said unfortunately
the roads but as I said unfortunately
the roads but as I said unfortunately just not have been able to take out the
just not have been able to take out the
just not have been able to take out the time so how it all started was that you
time so how it all started was that you
time so how it all started was that you know couple of years not couple of years
know couple of years not couple of years
know couple of years not couple of years actually now now seven years back when I
actually now now seven years back when I
actually now now seven years back when I was in my first job that’s when I met my
was in my first job that’s when I met my
was in my first job that’s when I met my Robin Hood co-founder Neil and a very
Robin Hood co-founder Neil and a very
Robin Hood co-founder Neil and a very simple writers and so what so we had
simple writers and so what so we had
simple writers and so what so we had both just quit our jobs and there was a
both just quit our jobs and there was a
both just quit our jobs and there was a tradition in the team that you know the
tradition in the team that you know the
tradition in the team that you know the team will buy you a farewell gift so
team will buy you a farewell gift so
team will buy you a farewell gift so they all pulled in some money and
they all pulled in some money and
they all pulled in some money and ultimately the Ostrowski I’ve gone again
ultimately the Ostrowski I’ve gone again
ultimately the Ostrowski I’ve gone again or what do you guys want and so I
or what do you guys want and so I
or what do you guys want and so I thought of the usual things right and I
thought of the usual things right and I
thought of the usual things right and I thought of a watch wallet maybe tickets
thought of a watch wallet maybe tickets
thought of a watch wallet maybe tickets to go out and all of that all of the
to go out and all of that all of the
to go out and all of that all of the usual suspects sort of came to my mind
usual suspects sort of came to my mind
usual suspects sort of came to my mind but I don’t know how or what sort of
but I don’t know how or what sort of
but I don’t know how or what sort of took over us but we decided that let’s
took over us but we decided that let’s
took over us but we decided that let’s use that money and take some kids for a
use that money and take some kids for a
use that money and take some kids for a movie write a very simple sort of idea
movie write a very simple sort of idea
movie write a very simple sort of idea so what we did was you know so this this
so what we did was you know so this this
so what we did was you know so this this is a seven year old picture oh that’s my
is a seven year old picture oh that’s my
is a seven year old picture oh that’s my profound O’Neill in green and I’m the
profound O’Neill in green and I’m the
profound O’Neill in green and I’m the one in yellow so we just took out we
one in yellow so we just took out we
one in yellow so we just took out we took six kids two for a simple movie and
took six kids two for a simple movie and
took six kids two for a simple movie and a meal so what happened that day
a meal so what happened that day
a meal so what happened that day actually I think you know changed our
actually I think you know changed our
actually I think you know changed our lives quite a bit right and that was our
lives quite a bit right and that was our
lives quite a bit right and that was our aha moment we must do we must act so
aha moment we must do we must act so
aha moment we must do we must act so what we realized was the lot of things
what we realized was the lot of things
what we realized was the lot of things that we actually take for granted that
that we actually take for granted that
that we actually take for granted that as for something as simple as our next
as for something as simple as our next
as for something as simple as our next meal right but it’s a luxury for all
meal right but it’s a luxury for all
meal right but it’s a luxury for all these guys and for a lot of people in
these guys and for a lot of people in
these guys and for a lot of people in India so so we will be thought kay I’m
India so so we will be thought kay I’m
India so so we will be thought kay I’m at the beam we must do something we must
at the beam we must do something we must
at the beam we must do something we must you know take out whatever time that we
you know take out whatever time that we
you know take out whatever time that we can and try and make a difference so
can and try and make a difference so
can and try and make a difference so this this actually you know III saw this
this this actually you know III saw this
this this actually you know III saw this on social media a few days back and just
on social media a few days back and just
on social media a few days back and just made
made
made or sense you back you guess it’s a good
or sense you back you guess it’s a good
or sense you back you guess it’s a good quote but if you just take out two
quote but if you just take out two
quote but if you just take out two seconds to actually think about it it
seconds to actually think about it it
seconds to actually think about it it made a lot of sense to me that there are
made a lot of sense to me that there are
made a lot of sense to me that there are actually people who would love to have
actually people who would love to have
actually people who would love to have our bad days right and we we crib and we
our bad days right and we we crib and we
our bad days right and we we crib and we cry about a lot of things but they might
cry about a lot of things but they might
cry about a lot of things but they might a lot of people will actually treasure
a lot of people will actually treasure
a lot of people will actually treasure that as well so yeah so also coming to
that as well so yeah so also coming to
that as well so yeah so also coming to the problem right and so what is the
the problem right and so what is the
the problem right and so what is the problem that we are trying to solve when
problem that we are trying to solve when
problem that we are trying to solve when we talk about hunger yes there are
we talk about hunger yes there are
we talk about hunger yes there are millions of things that are on the
millions of things that are on the
millions of things that are on the millions of people who are sort of going
millions of people who are sort of going
millions of people who are sort of going without a meal but these are just some
without a meal but these are just some
without a meal but these are just some you know stats that I actually threw in
you know stats that I actually threw in
you know stats that I actually threw in this so that we can actually understand
this so that we can actually understand
this so that we can actually understand the gravity of the problem that we are
the gravity of the problem that we are
the gravity of the problem that we are trying to solve
trying to solve
trying to solve so there are 795 million people across
so there are 795 million people across
so there are 795 million people across the globe which are undernourished out
the globe which are undernourished out
the globe which are undernourished out of which a myth out of which almost
of which a myth out of which almost
of which a myth out of which almost hundred I think number is missing out
hundred I think number is missing out
hundred I think number is missing out which almost 150 million comes from
which almost 150 million comes from
which almost 150 million comes from India so it’s a huge huge chunk right
India so it’s a huge huge chunk right
India so it’s a huge huge chunk right and hunger kills more people each year
and hunger kills more people each year
and hunger kills more people each year than AIDS malaria and tuberculosis
than AIDS malaria and tuberculosis
than AIDS malaria and tuberculosis combined so even that’s a pretty
combined so even that’s a pretty
combined so even that’s a pretty staggering fact now the problem is that
staggering fact now the problem is that
staggering fact now the problem is that the problem food production has such a
the problem food production has such a
the problem food production has such a lot a problem right doesn’t we have we
lot a problem right doesn’t we have we
lot a problem right doesn’t we have we have so much wastage which happens
have so much wastage which happens
have so much wastage which happens everywhere all around us even inside our
everywhere all around us even inside our
everywhere all around us even inside our homes the problem as such is that the
homes the problem as such is that the
homes the problem as such is that the the you know the food was not reaching
the you know the food was not reaching
the you know the food was not reaching the poor what we did was we started
the poor what we did was we started
the poor what we did was we started dreaming right doesn’t be we realized
dreaming right doesn’t be we realized
dreaming right doesn’t be we realized that there’s a huge problem that needs
that there’s a huge problem that needs
that there’s a huge problem that needs to be solved there are millions of
to be solved there are millions of
to be solved there are millions of people who are who don’t know where the
people who are who don’t know where the
people who are who don’t know where the next meal is coming from so we started
next meal is coming from so we started
next meal is coming from so we started dreaming and we thought that you know we
dreaming and we thought that you know we
dreaming and we thought that you know we actually wanted to make a difference so
actually wanted to make a difference so
actually wanted to make a difference so this is again this is a two-year-old
this is again this is a two-year-old
this is again this is a two-year-old picture this is how it all started for
picture this is how it all started for
picture this is how it all started for the Robin Hood I mean we you know what
the Robin Hood I mean we you know what
the Robin Hood I mean we you know what we did Neil and I what we did was we
we did Neil and I what we did was we
we did Neil and I what we did was we called a fifteen of our friends back in
called a fifteen of our friends back in
called a fifteen of our friends back in August 2014 and we planned like a
August 2014 and we planned like a
August 2014 and we planned like a get-together where we’ll all come and
get-together where we’ll all come and
get-together where we’ll all come and we’ll pull in some money and we know we
we’ll pull in some money and we know we
we’ll pull in some money and we know we buy put and then we will just go to and
buy put and then we will just go to and
buy put and then we will just go to and distribute that to people living under
distribute that to people living under
distribute that to people living under fly overs so five people out of the 15
fly overs so five people out of the 15
fly overs so five people out of the 15 showed up right and and you can see
showed up right and and you can see
showed up right and and you can see there’s there’s some food in the boot of
there’s there’s some food in the boot of
there’s there’s some food in the boot of my car so so we we drove around near
my car so so we we drove around near
my car so so we we drove around near Green Park IIT all those areas in Delhi
Green Park IIT all those areas in Delhi
Green Park IIT all those areas in Delhi and we started distributing food so we
and we started distributing food so we
and we started distributing food so we realized that so after that the problem
realized that so after that the problem
realized that so after that the problem another problem came in was that we
another problem came in was that we
another problem came in was that we started the even our close friends right
started the even our close friends right
started the even our close friends right not and not everyone started showing up
not and not everyone started showing up
not and not everyone started showing up people started losing motivation
people started losing motivation
people started losing motivation he has some people at least hearted
he has some people at least hearted
he has some people at least hearted blaming us that we are making the needy
blaming us that we are making the needy
blaming us that we are making the needy dependent on us so we should empower
dependent on us so we should empower
dependent on us so we should empower them with you know education and all of
them with you know education and all of
them with you know education and all of that so a lot of these sort of debates
that so a lot of these sort of debates
that so a lot of these sort of debates started happening but then we realized
started happening but then we realized
started happening but then we realized that you know we have we have a
that you know we have we have a
that you know we have we have a challenge in front of us which you know
challenge in front of us which you know
challenge in front of us which you know money or even more food actually could
money or even more food actually could
money or even more food actually could not solve and now I’m talking about
not solve and now I’m talking about
not solve and now I’m talking about motivation so we then we stumbled upon
motivation so we then we stumbled upon
motivation so we then we stumbled upon something which which you know again
something which which you know again
something which which you know again looking back which I call passion right
looking back which I call passion right
looking back which I call passion right which is great and by that I mean that I
which is great and by that I mean that I
which is great and by that I mean that I actually just never giving up not taking
actually just never giving up not taking
actually just never giving up not taking no for an answer and not giving up in
no for an answer and not giving up in
no for an answer and not giving up in the time you actually hit your goal so
the time you actually hit your goal so
the time you actually hit your goal so what we did was very simple we actually
what we did was very simple we actually
what we did was very simple we actually thought we let’s reach out to more
thought we let’s reach out to more
thought we let’s reach out to more people right that’s what social media is
people right that’s what social media is
people right that’s what social media is it has enabled us to do so we started we
it has enabled us to do so we started we
it has enabled us to do so we started we started recently measuring everyone that
started recently measuring everyone that
started recently measuring everyone that we knew in our in our networks that you
we knew in our in our networks that you
we knew in our in our networks that you know please let’s just get together and
know please let’s just get together and
know please let’s just get together and do something so the group became
do something so the group became
do something so the group became slightly bigger now we had more food
slightly bigger now we had more food
slightly bigger now we had more food coming in so all of that started
coming in so all of that started
coming in so all of that started happening we got some media attention as
happening we got some media attention as
happening we got some media attention as well we people we had a few events
well we people we had a few events
well we people we had a few events around Independence Day around the
around Independence Day around the
around Independence Day around the valley I mean an eminent personalities
valley I mean an eminent personalities
valley I mean an eminent personalities came forward so now all of this came
came forward so now all of this came
came forward so now all of this came together and suddenly the whole thing
together and suddenly the whole thing
together and suddenly the whole thing exploded right so last this is almost
exploded right so last this is almost
exploded right so last this is almost twelve months back when I think we were
twelve months back when I think we were
twelve months back when I think we were I think twelve months back when we were
I think twelve months back when we were
I think twelve months back when we were just in Delhi but I think within a span
just in Delhi but I think within a span
just in Delhi but I think within a span of you know a couple of months you were
of you know a couple of months you were
of you know a couple of months you were there in ten cities in India we had
there in ten cities in India we had
there in ten cities in India we had volunteer requests coming from all
volunteer requests coming from all
volunteer requests coming from all across the country and still it so it
across the country and still it so it
across the country and still it so it was we never had any formalized channel
was we never had any formalized channel
was we never had any formalized channel as such I really it was just again a
as such I really it was just again a
as such I really it was just again a Facebook page that we had which we
Facebook page that we had which we
Facebook page that we had which we actually you know which we created so
actually you know which we created so
actually you know which we created so that we could mobilize for support so
that we could mobilize for support so
that we could mobilize for support so then we actually stumbled on our next
then we actually stumbled on our next
then we actually stumbled on our next sort of you know point aside which is
sort of you know point aside which is
sort of you know point aside which is belief so no we started dreaming we
belief so no we started dreaming we
belief so no we started dreaming we started working hard we didn’t give up
started working hard we didn’t give up
started working hard we didn’t give up in the middle and then when all of when
in the middle and then when all of when
in the middle and then when all of when all of when everything’s aren’t coming
all of when everything’s aren’t coming
all of when everything’s aren’t coming together but then we actually started
together but then we actually started
together but then we actually started believing that yes you know we are weak
believing that yes you know we are weak
believing that yes you know we are weak even though it the movement started
even though it the movement started
even though it the movement started small and we had our struggles but we
small and we had our struggles but we
small and we had our struggles but we can actually make a difference and this
can actually make a difference and this
can actually make a difference and this I think not only in the social space
I think not only in the social space
I think not only in the social space even though I’m talking about you know
even though I’m talking about you know
even though I’m talking about you know Robin up today but even when we went
Robin up today but even when we went
Robin up today but even when we went whatever career that we choose or in
whatever career that we choose or in
whatever career that we choose or in life I think this is this holds key
life I think this is this holds key
life I think this is this holds key right I think we must believe that we
right I think we must believe that we
right I think we must believe that we can make a difference even if we start
can make a difference even if we start
can make a difference even if we start to very very small so now all of this is
to very very small so now all of this is
to very very small so now all of this is combined and now we are we just launched
combined and now we are we just launched
combined and now we are we just launched Mexico a couple of days back
Mexico a couple of days back
Mexico a couple of days back latest country and now we are in tenth
latest country and now we are in tenth
latest country and now we are in tenth sort of ten countries across the globe
sort of ten countries across the globe
sort of ten countries across the globe so these are the sort of four or five
so these are the sort of four or five
so these are the sort of four or five points I have a very short talk but
points I have a very short talk but
points I have a very short talk but these are the four or five points and I
these are the four or five points and I
these are the four or five points and I want to leave you guys with that you
want to leave you guys with that you
want to leave you guys with that you know what started off as a simple movie
know what started off as a simple movie
know what started off as a simple movie and a meal for six underprivileged kids
and a meal for six underprivileged kids
and a meal for six underprivileged kids in you know seven years back has
in you know seven years back has
in you know seven years back has actually turned into a movement today
actually turned into a movement today
actually turned into a movement today which is spread across 10 countries and
which is spread across 10 countries and
which is spread across 10 countries and in terms of just another stat we on an
in terms of just another stat we on an
in terms of just another stat we on an average now serve 100,000 people per
average now serve 100,000 people per
average now serve 100,000 people per week which is a huge number right as in
week which is a huge number right as in
week which is a huge number right as in so and another very interesting this
so and another very interesting this
so and another very interesting this thing is that the Robin out army is
thing is that the Robin out army is
thing is that the Robin out army is actually when I keep saying I keep
actually when I keep saying I keep
actually when I keep saying I keep saying the tributing is right it’s
saying the tributing is right it’s
saying the tributing is right it’s volunteer-driven so there you will not
volunteer-driven so there you will not
volunteer-driven so there you will not find any rules no degradation in order
find any rules no degradation in order
find any rules no degradation in order to all nothing like that in fact no one
to all nothing like that in fact no one
to all nothing like that in fact no one actually does full-time I have a
actually does full-time I have a
actually does full-time I have a full-time job my co-founder has a
full-time job my co-founder has a
full-time job my co-founder has a full-time job it’s only that couple of
full-time job it’s only that couple of
full-time job it’s only that couple of hours on a Sunday that we can take out
hours on a Sunday that we can take out
hours on a Sunday that we can take out which initially be used to paper out a
which initially be used to paper out a
which initially be used to paper out a bit we are timing here you know we’re
bit we are timing here you know we’re
bit we are timing here you know we’re extremely tired we work five six days a
extremely tired we work five six days a
extremely tired we work five six days a week but now that we have more support
week but now that we have more support
week but now that we have more support we have more people so we have actually
we have more people so we have actually
we have more people so we have actually been able to make a difference and
been able to make a difference and
been able to make a difference and obviously when one of these when all of
obviously when one of these when all of
obviously when one of these when all of these points come together then you know
these points come together then you know
these points come together then you know we experience magic right as and that’s
we experience magic right as and that’s
we experience magic right as and that’s when that’s when everything becomes
when that’s when everything becomes
when that’s when everything becomes worth it all the struggle becomes worth
worth it all the struggle becomes worth
worth it all the struggle becomes worth it and in our case it’s you know it’s
it and in our case it’s you know it’s
it and in our case it’s you know it’s sort of these smiles and happy faces
sort of these smiles and happy faces
sort of these smiles and happy faces that make it work for us and of course
that make it work for us and of course
that make it work for us and of course the love also is very very important
the love also is very very important
the love also is very very important thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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