“You have got turned my life round,” Mr Gul Punjabi informed Shantanu Naidu, the co-founder of a companionship startup for the aged. Mr Punjabi was referring to the rollercoaster of happiness and love he had skilled within the months that he was part of the startup, The Goodfellows’ ‘grandpal’ neighborhood. 

Although he handed quickly after, his phrases stay etched in Shantanu’s reminiscence. On days he wanted to be reminded of the startup’s bigger goal, they served him properly. 

Tracing again to the way it all formed up, he credit a pure affinity for the “silver-haired, gold-hearted folks” as he fondly calls them. “As quickly as I enter a room, I are inclined to gravitate in direction of the senior residents,” he says. 

In 2021, decided to alchemise this love into one thing concrete, Shantanu put out an Instagram story which marketed the thought of connecting the aged people of Mumbai with town’s youth.  His DMs (direct messages) have been quickly flooded with responses. Two stood out for his or her enthusiasm. 

Niki Thakur and Gargi Sandu appeared equally passionate about Shantanu’s concept. Because the latter brainstormed with them, he was oblivious to the truth that he had simply stumbled upon his two co-founders. 

And time ticked quick. 

Right now, because the three chat with The Higher India on spearheading a mannequin which is one in every of its sort, they speak concerning the quite a few aspects that accompany operating a enterprise of this scope. However their diversified experience is a bonus. 

Every of them brings to the desk one thing distinctive — Gargi together with her background in company legislation, Niki with a background in filmmaking and Shantanu who’s the final supervisor on the workplace of Mr Ratan N Tata. 

Collectively they envision a social enterprise with the potential to change the lives of thousands and thousands of aged throughout India. 

Rekindling distinctive bonds 

Senior residents are fast to select up on the power of individuals round them; Shantanu’s interactions with aged neighbours and family led him to this conclusion. So, when it got here to designing ‘The Goodfellows’ mannequin, the three determined to deliver collectively two polar reverse generations. 

This might guarantee the aged have been surrounded by enjoyable and full of life youth. “We needed to create a wealthy combine,” explains Shantanu. 

With this crux in place, the beta part of The Goodfellows mannequin was rolled out in August 2021. 

The spirited and empathetic youth members are known as ‘the goodfellows’, whereas the aged who require help with duties or companionship are known as ‘ the grandpals’. 

Niki, who was a goodfellow throughout this part, and likewise an integral a part of designing it, says, “We needed the bond between the grandpal and the goodfellow to be much like the connection shared between a grandparent and grandchild. We requested folks we knew to appoint senior residents searching for firm.”

Preliminary scepticism about whether or not the mannequin would work was quickly changed with confidence. 

Talking about her personal expertise of being a goodfellow, Niki calls it transformational. “Dadu  (the senior citizen she was paired with) cherished watching motion pictures and performs. We had a number of shared pursuits.” 

Shedding his spouse in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic meant Dadu was lonely. However he quickly had firm to stay up for. “Generally he’d ask me to accompany him to look at a play. Different occasions he’d need to go on a stroll,” shares Niki, who cherished obliging. 

Having grown up and not using a grandfather herself, she got here to cherish the connection she fashioned with Dadu. “He nonetheless introduces me as his granddaughter after we exit,” she smiles. 

Together with Niki, the beta part noticed quite a few different youths additionally construct particular bonds with the grandpals assigned to them. In August 2022, after a 12 months of success, The Goodfellows was formally launched. 

Are you trying to be a goodfellow? 

What’s fascinating concerning the social enterprise is the human method to every little thing they do. Synthetic intelligence (AI) has no place right here. And rightly so. 

Shantanu, who leads the recruitment and pairing course of, says, “AI wouldn’t be capable to decide up on nuances in the course of the introductory visits to the grandpals’ houses. There’s a lot to be taken observe of aside from the circumstantial and demographic parameters. This takes a eager eye.” 

“Generally we see these senior residents repeating a bit of data often. Different occasions they cease mid-sentence trying to carry again saying one thing. These parameters are evaluated throughout our visits,” Shantanu provides, who then works with the workforce to give you a fundamental character body. 

The grandpal is then paired with a youth who shares the identical pursuits as them. This a part of the method too is very meticulous. “In any case, the purpose is to not merely fulfil the necessity for fundamental companionship however reasonably to make it a wealthy expertise for each,” notes Shantanu. 

Along with companionship, the mannequin additionally necessitates that the goodfellow be out there when errands must be run.  

Gargi pitches in right here saying that these errands might embody completely something a grandkid would do. “Some grandpals really feel intimidated to go to their physician’s visits alone. Most of us kids too, really feel the identical. So you possibly can solely think about how isolating it have to be for them.”

“Different grandpals would possibly simply want somebody to have lunch with them as a result of they don’t need to do it alone. Others would possibly need assistance with purchasing errands or travelling by public transport,” she provides. The duties may very well be each trivial or very important. 

As an example, one of many goodfellows, Soham Pawar (24) recounts having an journey together with his grandpal searching for sandals. “I seen he wanted new slippers and determined to tug him right into a purchasing spree.” Although hesitant at first, the latter quickly joined Soham and the duo spent three hours in pursuit of the right pair of sandals. 

“Although our mission didn’t precisely finish in victory, I look again on that day with a smile, grateful for the possibility to assist kaka and create some superior recollections,” Soham laughs. 

Whereas some conferences the duo spend collectively are full of enjoyable, different occasions they’re academic. As Aarohi Sawant (23) remembers, “Kersi uncle has been my grandpal for the final 5 months. We genuinely stay up for hanging out. He’s had his fair proportion of powerful moments, however he swears on specializing in the gorgeous bits. He has impressed me to carry onto the moments that make life completely happy.” 

It’s heartening to look at the bonds fostered between the 2 generations. However this additionally means grief when a goodfellow loses a grandpal. “However that is what makes the bond much more particular,” says Gargi. “The enjoyment or disappointment of somebody’s remaining years will depend on the goodfellows.” 

She provides that when one of many grandpals passes, the goodfellow is inspired to take day without work for his or her psychological well being. “There are additionally counsellors and psychologists on board who assist.” 

This additionally provides an concept of the sheer accountability of the goodfellows work — a cause behind the stringent recruitment course of. Whereas a sea of candidates apply, solely a handful are chosen. 

Shantanu interjects, “In different jobs, the recruiters entice you. However I do the other. I give them a blunt lowdown of the entire accountability that they are going to have. I then ask them to suppose it over and are available again with a solution.” This ensures that each goodfellow who’s a part of the workforce is aware of what they’re signing up for. 

Including life to somebody’s days 

Mukund and Madhavi Sule, a pair of their seventies, say that the spotlight of the week is their goodfellow Rupesh visiting them. Ever since Mukund was recognized with Alzheimer’s, Rupesh has been a relentless assist to the couple. 

“It’s with him that Mukund is completely happy, engaged and keen to stay life with enjoyable and mischief. We will belief Rupesh like our personal little one! Mukund seems ahead to Rupesh’s arrival and anticipates their classes collectively!” Madhavi shares. 

Whether or not it’s writing out passages from the Bhagavad Gita and chanting shlokas, or taking part in the keyboard collectively, Mukund and Rupesh are a riot collectively. 

In the meantime, one other grandpal, Rati Dady Wadia (81) calls herself the “luckiest girl on this planet”. 

The explanation she says is her sensible goodfellow. “She’s tech-savvy and is writing my memoirs. She is clever and reveals a eager curiosity in serving to me write my e-book. I typically overlook what I’ve written and each time I repeat, my goodfellow remembers and corrects me instantly.”

These tales are what retains Shantanu, Gargi and Niki going. With the appearance of nuclear household fashions, the aged are sometimes left alone with solely the pageant visits to stay up for. However this distinctive initiative is bringing hope to many.  

“We’ve come throughout so many grandpals who inform us they really feel alone. Except for a couple of utility folks, the bell by no means rings. However our mannequin is now altering issues. They’re hopeful and excited on the designated days of the week. They stay up for the bell ringing,” says Niki. 

With over 65 goodfellows aged 18 to 24 a part of the workforce, and over 400 grandpals being impacted, the trio sees the longer term as one full of hope. 

With each step they take, Mr Punjabi’s phrases ring loudly of their ears. “We’re trying to flip the world round for many individuals with what we’re doing,” Shantanu concludes. 

Edited by Padmashree Pande.