Storytelling for Good

Hi, I'm Shemeer, and I work at aikyam fellows.

A few years ago, I sat down with Ramya, who runs the WeLive Foundation in Bangalore.

At first, I was just trying to understand what her organization actually did. As we talked, a simple realization hit me. When I was sick as a kid, my parents took care of me. When I needed to choose a college or a career, my friends and family gave me advice. When I was looking for a job or going through a hard time, someone was always there for me. But what about the people who do not have any of these support systems? Who helps them? And that's exactly what Ramya's WeLive foundation has been doing for many years now.

As she shared more about her work, I couldn't stop myself from asking Ramya how she manages to care for over a hundred young people with such limited funding, when most families struggle to raise even one child. I will always remember her answer: "Shemeer, these are also society's children, right? "

That conversation started a deep friendship, but it also revealed a bigger problem. There are so many people like Ramya, but almost nobody writes about them. Most mainstream media often excludes them. They have no visibility and no quiet spotlight. So, a group of friends and I got together to start writing their stories. That is how Storytelling for Good started. Today, we have published 48 stories, welcomed over 8,100 visitors to our site in 2026 alone, and built a community of over 500 newsletter subscribers who eagerly wait for these stories.

I also learnt more about myself through the conversations with people like Ramya. I can barely write. But I realized that telling a story is not really about elegant writing—it is about being a great listener. If you are curious about people, and if you want to sit down with someone like Ramya to learn about their day and share a laugh, you already have everything it takes. You do not need to be a professional writer. You just need to listen with an open heart, ask good questions, and listen some more. The writing will follow on its own.

Your journey with us starts by filling out the form below to tell us a little bit about yourself and what kind of causes inspire you. Once you submit it, our team will reach out to guide you and introduce you to a fellow. You will get to connect over WhatsApp, email, or a video call—or even in person if you live nearby. You will have a relaxed conversation to listen to their story, write it down, and choose a few photos together. After you both review the draft and make sure the fellow approves how it is told, our team will give it a quick final editing and post it.

Welcome to Storytelling for Good. We are so happy to have you with us.