One of my readers made mention, in a recent comment, of all the instances of charity work with the less fortunate that go unreported and uncelebrated. Indeed, India’s problems are often more obvious than the organisations and people who are selflessly working behind the scenes, helping to overcome these problems.
I came across an article in the Mumbai Mirror newspaper a couple of weeks ago about the Teach For India initiative. It’s an initiative of an NGO (a non-profit, non-government organisation) called the Akanksha Foundation, which helps provide education to underprivileged children. The organisation gives college graduates and young professionals the opportunity to spend two years teaching full-time in under resourced schools.
The article featured a number of professionals who were working with the initiative. One person in particular caught my eye. Aditi Ray, a former personal banker. It was the recession that prompted her to start teaching. Now, she’s certain that it’s what she wants to do for the rest of her life. Her story resonated with me because, like myself, she’s discovered a purposeful new direction in life away from her original profession.
An American friend of mine has found a similar life purpose in helping India’s underprivileged children. She was a mortgage banker for 10 years, with the last five of those years spent in New York. Then, she came to India on missionary work, married an Indian guy, and they established Tender Hands. Their organisation rescues and rehabilitates street children, and commercial sex workers, from the streets of Mumbai. It’s very inspiring stuff.
It was volunteer work, with underprivileged women at Ankur Kala in Kolkata, that brought me to India too. I didn’t find it to be my life’s calling, but I still intend to offer my time to worthy causes in the future. Being able to help make a difference in someone’s life is so rewarding. You just never know what impact it may have. Something that you consider to be a small contribution could mean ten times more to the recipient.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
All’s well that’s for a good cause. If only youngsters like us understand that a bit more.
Back in high school we used to get points if we joined in the literacy mission. After the point system ended, we all lost interest.
Uh… Er… Nothing really, just felt nice to think of myself as a youngster for a moment back there…
Thumbs Up to the article
))
Brilliant article Charell
Hats off to all who do charitable work for less fortunate folks all over the world, without them there would be a lot of suffering. Some times it is not all unfortunate people’s fault that they are in that dreadful situation, many would earn a living if they could and restore their pride. This is also in one area a lot of charities take pride in doing (our unsung Heroes……. that’s what they are)
”Give a man one kilo of fish he will feed his family for one day”
”Give the same man means to fish he will feed his family for lifetime”
Cheers
Mac
This is awesome, Sharell!
That is great glad to hear of something good going on in the world today. I have been asking my employer if we have programd where we can go over to India to help hospitals or clincs but we don’t have anything like that
none the less I’m not giving up as to where I can find medical/nursing program like this, I would love to be able to travel over their and be able to do good help people out do some good.
Hi tamara,
Let us raise our glasses for our ‘UNSUNG HEROES’ for the work they do for the humankind.
cheers
Mac
Ashraya Initiative for Children (AIC) is yet another ray of hope in Pune and my favorite charity.
We cannot speak and share enough awareness about the important work that these folks do.
Check out AIC at http://www.ashrayainitiative.org
and their inspiring Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFa4cAAMrRM
emm_and_emm, thanks for sharing.
It’s always good to learn about worthwhile charities.
The International Justice mission has also been doing some great work in India against human trafficking, child prostitution, and child slavery
Here’s a question… Why aren’t Shaunak & Abdullah (text) fighting in this post? They seem to be doing a good job of it in all the others!
Surely at some stage, they must realise that they have much in common. Shaunak loves Russia and Abdullah has a Russian Serb mother.
Hahahahaha! Oh my God, is that true?
HAHAHA…you two stop….didnt your mothers tell you that its not nice to place match maker in posts online?
We have entirely different thinking styles. The only thing we possibly have in common is what I have in common with every commenter in this blog – we belong to the same species (and perhaps the same gender as well).
I am rather concerned that Ramit is ready to give his partner away. Whats the catch?
Perhaps the catch is that Ramit also comes as part of the deal?
The biggest punishment to a man who steals your wife is to let him keep her.
Abdullah, when did I say I want to give my partner(?) away?
(Pssssst, who’s my partner dude?)
By partner, I meant your lunch date, Shaunak Goshwami.
My sympathies go with you, for having such a punishing wife.
Meh! I thought Ramit was trying to dump Shaunak on me.
Nothing against my wife dude. Don’t.