Just you and the man in the mirror. That’s all it takes. Granted, you might not succeed in ridding the world of its many evils, but you will definitely spread hope where there is none and that is as great a deed as any. Satish and Jennifer Manikchanti stumbled onto their calling — at least that’s how they tell their story. Entrepreneurs living in Bengaluru, it struck them one day that their office was lying unused every evening and that putting it to better use might be a good idea. So they brought in 30 children from off the streets and taught them English. Their fate was sealed.

U & I was born through the efforts of the Manikchantis and their friend, Ajit Sivaram. “When we were coming up with a name for the organisation, we realised that all it took to make a change was you and me,” says Satish Manikchanti. The name stuck and the organisation grew in leaps and bounds, from one rung of social work to the next. Roughly speaking, U & I deals with non-formal education projects, and works with orphanages and slum communities and also conducts a weekly English class. They cover about 400 children in the city and send volunteers out to teach.

“We work with state homes besides NIMHANS. They usually house kids and women from poor backgrounds,” says Satish. Much of their work is centred on a home for special kids, some of whom were found abandoned on the streets by parents who couldn't afford to raise them. “Lack of staff is a big issue at this home, there were about 80 children and only five nurses. We hired five more nurses to work full time and take care of the kids,” he adds.

U & I is working to improve the living conditions of the boys in this home for the mentally challenged. Medical care, infrastructure and basic hygiene need to be met. The nurses take care of these things besides providing the boys with occupational therapy and physiotherapy. The organisation also works with several colleges in the city, pushing their Vote to Volunteer campaign. “Voting is a good thing, but if you want to make a change, you can’t want it once every four years,” says Satish. “You need to be involved all the time.” The Vote to Volunteer workshops are aimed at creating awareness about different needs in society and inspiring people to be the change they want to see.

With about 50 summer interns volunteering with U & I this year, the organisation is happily expanding its reach. The Department of Women and Child Welfare Development has recognised their work this year, appreciating their mix of private and public partnership in doing social work. “You can either work with the system or work against it, we prefer to work with it,” says Satish. Women who have been rescued from being trafficked, or who work as domestic labour or are victims of violence were put through their board exams last year, coached by the team of volunteers. In June, they will also begin a dedicated English class, to increase the women’s employment prospects.

“If they know English, their employability goes through the roof,” explains Satish. “Take a guy from a department store who earns Rs 3000 a month. Teach him how to speak English and he can work at a mall, where they will pay him twice as much.” Having run an HR company together, Satish and his wife understand the value of being well spoken and the vital role the English language plays in today’s world.

They delve into the heartbreaking lives of India’s vast underbelly, doing everything they can to clean up the mess around them and help these people to realise, at least a little bit, that life can be worth living.