Winning Aspirations

My experiments with volunteership

2010-11-20T17:09:00.000+05:30

Do something, anything – a recurring question, which, I’m sure, surfaces amongst many of us belonging to the ‘entitled’ generation. Of course, everyone brings in their fair share of bills to pay, families to take care of, loans to pay off – but, every once in a while, there’s some time when a little bit of guilt finds a way into our lives. A guilt, which is held at bay, probably by making a charitable donation, relenting to a beggar’s open palm, or adopting some other convenient mechanism. More often than not, such actions only beget a temporary reprieve.

Are you really sure you helped someone have a better time, if not a better life?

Help, can be a tough word to deal with. Where does one draw a line? Is it enough to ‘help’ someone delay the inevitable with a bit of money, is it enough to work actively for a week, a month, or a year with the disadvantaged, is it enough?

As you’ll find out, enough might be of no significant use or purpose to gauge the change you’ve brought about.

I was doing my job, happily leading my life full of benefits – some which I surely appreciated, some I wasn’t aware of. The guilt-trip would often surface within me as well, and during that time I’d witness a spurt in charitable intentions. Intentions, which might result in some donation or lead me to read on what’s going on in the UNESCO, Cry or some other socially driven organisation. Soon I’d get over the feeling and be back to normal. The cycle would repeat itself, and each time the gratification derived from my actions would seem to diminish. Discussing with my friends, I’d often encounter the word – Volunteer.

On one of the guilt-trips, I was listening to the radio when I heard about iVolunteer. The person online – Prarthana Unkalkar – seemed to be just the kind of person you’d like to listen to talking about everything with sublime optimism. There was a sense of hope in everything she said, and her message was simple – if you don’t try it, how would you know? – The core motivation for a volunteer. Besides, she also addressed another important topic about how everyone can help in his/her own way. You don’t really need to be an arts or social-works major to make a difference, you could just be yourself. And it might be that you try something which doesn’t work, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something else. The need was to be open to working with others to contribute your bit – when the time comes.

Prarthana guided me to Makkala Jagriti – a centre for learning and recreation for underprivileged children. I was to start working with one of their branches, by co-ordinating with the centre supervisor/care-taker. All my enthusiasm to finally get involved faced a major hurdle in the form of communication. Kannada being the dominant language spoken, I was all at sea. The centre supervisor helped me understand most of the things the kids said, while encouraging me to be patient. So it was a solemn start in understanding the meaning of patience all over again, patiently.

Week after week, I’d drop by on one of the weekends to spend a couple of hours with the kids. Soon I realised there were some other volunteers visiting the centre as well, but since I was mostly focused on familiarising myself with the new environment, I never really reached out to the other volunteers. On one of my visits, 2 other volunteers, who I’d bump into occasionally, approached me. After introducing themselves to me, Saurabh and Dikshak, began explaining WinningAspirations to me. Frankly speaking, I was a bit sceptical about all that they had to share. WinningAspirations sounded too much like what I’d like an organisation to be, so of course, it must be something else.

WinningAspirations, came into my world in a short 5-10 minutes introduction. A loosely held group of working professionals, out to do something, anything, to benefit some NGOs meet their goals. No joining fees, no membership journals, no elaborate group practices. If I were to agree to work with WinningAspirations, all I had to do was to align my efforts with other volunteer’s efforts in driving well-directed activities. These activities could be thought-up and worked out by us volunteers, or could be an effort by the NGO wherein we pitch in with our efforts. Overall, we were to be a highly spirited bunch of volunteers, who’d be willing to have a good time together while ensuring a great time for those we intend to help.

My first grand experience at doing something remarkable came with the ‘Green Day’ we helped organise at the Makkala Jagriti centre. It was a hard task, but with WinningAspiration volunteers pitching in from various ends of the cities, I soon realised the true potential of a loose, and yet well-knit group of genuine volunteers. ‘Green Day’ needed to be a fun day. It needed to be a day of learning. It needed to be a day when those who are hardly cared for, learn to care for something else – the environment.

With no overriding ‘committee’, nor a governing group in existence, I witnessed and participated in one of the best orchestrated acts of community efforts of my life. Tasks were identified, hands were raised to ‘own’ tasks, and everyone went their own ways. Cometh the day, cometh the power of a ‘group’ – nearly 40 kids were divided into smaller, manageable groups. Concurrent sessions guided the groups through lessons where the focus was always on the kids to find their own way to participate and learn. As each session had an innate connection to some aspect of the environment, we were able to sensitise them, bereft of any didactic approach, to the goodness of recycling, reusing, conserving and caring. At the end, we all assembled for a march through the neighbourhood. With kettles rattling, high-decibel choruses about saving the environment, and finally a skit at the market centre, we came to an end for the day. The kids loved it; The Makkala Jagriti faculty loved it. And we got to believe that much more in ourselves, in WinningAspirations.

The success of the Green Day did a world of good – volunteers got to know each other, a new sense of unity was forged, everyone believed in each other’s abilities and that much more in their own – WinningAspirations as a group, exhibited the virtue of ‘strength in unity’ beyond expectations. The momentum generated helped us bring in some really useful initiatives at the centre. Sessions aimed to assist children prepare well in their academics, yoga training, reading sessions, carom games, computer games, were a general mix of serious and fun efforts aimed to attract the kids. As there was no binding for the kids to visit the centre, it was important to make them feel excited about the things that could be done.

Meanwhile other volunteers would be working with some or the other NGO establishment. Most of the volunteers I knew of, worked with child support groups. A couple of months later, an idea was floated to organise an event which would bring together all these kids. This event would give the kids a feel of how it was with ‘Annual Day’ during our school days. It would consist of a series of extra-curricular events like dancing, singing, enactments, solo performances, etc. The event would also provide a platform for these kids to earn recognition, and most importantly, a whole lot of self-belief.

The nobility of the event was equally matched by the odds stacked against successfully putting together the pieces together. Logistical issues, monetary needs, training the kids for the events [considering they had absolutely no access to any faculty who taught them any extra-curricular activity], arranging for judges and chief guest, were some of the daunting tasks that needed to be sorted out. The group would get together on weekends in a community park, sit in a big circle to discuss, delegate and take ownership of tasks. It was heartening to see that the circle would keep growing with every passing week. From a situation where everything seemed a long shot, we toiled and worked together over a period of 2.5 months to feel confident about pulling off the event successfully.

Starting off at around 5 in the morning, WinningAspirations volunteers began mobilising at different corners of the city. To simply sample the various tasks undertaken – flowers, decorating the auditorium, guiding buses to NGO locations, co-ordinating with the caterers to prepare quality food, arranging for the judges and guests to be brought, getting the costumes and dressing up the children, were some of the important tasks at hand. Teams of volunteers associated with different tasks and aspects of organising the event performed their responsibilities with utmost focus. The result – an incredible event with lots of light, music, dance, and most importantly, an environment electrified by super-charged, super-excited children – took us all by utter surprise.

Volunteers headed back after a long and fulfilling day. The marathon day had no dampening effect on the positive exuberance everyone felt. Soon enough a flood of mails and pictures was unleashed and each one of us got to relive the wondrous moments with our own friends and family. Break Free – I was an incredibly uplifting experience for me. It made everything seem worthwhile, the perfect reward for my act of volunteering.

Many a times, it’s been mentioned by people - what a wonderful job WinningAspirations did with Break Free – I, but little would they know how much Break Free – I did for WinningAspirations. I feel that when working for a cause, the sense of purpose needs to be reinvigorated at times. And it’s only heartening to see WinningAspirations carrying forward the spirit – conducting Break Free at the same time every year. The structure [of the event] changes a bit, the deserving kids get different rewards, but the joy and the enriching feeling remains the same! Last time round, we decided that instead of simple rewards, the deserving kids will earn scholarships. Scholarships, we put together from the funds collected from sponsors and donations from volunteers. It’s a great way to re-affirm the belief in the kids and their families that opportunities are there to be taken, provided the effort and support exists.

Volunteering has often been described as act of selflessness. I believe that’s how each one of us starts off. However, in the long run, the sense of earning a lot in the form of love, respect and the knowledge of having played a role in some way to bring about a positive change, keeps us going. We strive to spread this infectious thought amongst many more. It’s been a fabulous journey. A journey which perhaps will never will have a destination, because there’ll always be something to do as a ‘volunteer’. But the stops on the way have been incredible. All at WinningAspirations have been an incredible bunch of co-passengers, and we’ve celebrated so much in each other’s company.

To the spirit of Volunteering, WinningAspirations remains indebted, and we all salute!

Cheers,
anirvan
volunteer, WinningAspirations.

MJ Workshop

2008-10-03T13:17:00.007+05:30

Some snaps of the Workshop that was held in MJ on 29th Sept 2008.

In short, this day bought us - the volunteers of WA more closer to all the children, staff of MJ and even closer to each other. A great event organized by WA volunteers and a fantastic co-operation from MJ Staff. Thanks to one and all. :-) Cheers, Su

> Planting activity:

> "Making a paper bag" activity:

> Enthu kids/staff/volunteers:

> A walk in the neighborhood - spreading environment awareness:

> End of the day - tired but still enthu - taking back lovely memoirs back home:

Ecology - A Priority

2008-05-18T21:44:00.000+05:30

Today, 12th April 2008, We, The Winning Aspirations team, visited the Bio-diversity Park and Ayurveda/herbal Park at Bangalore University, along with the eminent environmentalist Dr. Yelappa Reddy.

We did a holistic study of ecosystem at the park with the help of Dr. Reddy, which included study of various plants, the hydrological system and other components. The realization of various aspects of environmental balance, its pros and cons gave us a food for thought. The study initiated the need and importance for understanding and usage of the word "Balance and Priority".

We know the availability and homogenous usage of land plays an important role in the growth of the nation and the world. We can obviously, see the importance of the land for the priority humane needs "Food, Shelter and clothes" as land is required for farming and construction.

In the view of today's world, we see health, education, industrialization, communication and power as the next level of needs. No doubt, the land is important here too. What most of us miss to ponder is the necessity and priority for the balance of the ecosystem, along with those mentioned above? I see the risk in the availability to all of the above-mentioned needs, if the priority for the balance of ecosystem is not reckoned, isn't it?

It's a high time for us to start pondering about the ecosystem and environment too. There's lot to think and implement. I'd leave it to all of us.

Little things we do

2008-03-17T16:52:00.003+05:30

Little things we do –

Today I got a mail from one of my colleague asking for employees who have done little things that inspire people around – and I remembered what I did yesterday.

Since just a week old in WA, I accompanied other volunteers to a place called as Makkala Jagruthi – a home for destitute children – who come to learn, to be free from all the worries.

These are the children from the nearby slums – basically not orphans – but who cannot afford things - which we all could in our childhood.

The feeling of entering such places is totally different. That’s the feeling one should go through in their lives.

We have always had everything – starting from our childhood – yet we feel and (some even say it loud) that we haven’t been that lucky in our lives, not got what we have always wanted. I would say please go to one of the destitute homes for orphanages or institutions that help the needy. Then I bet you will have a different statement all-together.

Yesterday I had been to Makkala Jagriti and I was happy to see that still goodness in humans isn't EXTINCT. Few months back I had this clear in my mind that the kindness/goodness in humans has diminished and there are a very few people left who are willing to help others without any second thought, but I was proved wrong. The humanity still exists. :) And that could be seen in Makkala Jagriti.

A different kind of world exists in MJ - there are computers where computer classes are been held for these children, dance/yoga is being taught in full fledge, tuitions on various subjects are being given, toys – books, all provided and most importantly the love from the volunteers is always present in abundance.

My fellow-volunteers introduced me to the staff there and to some of the kids present and trust me, I felt so good – so content with life. My first experience with something like this.

Since exams have started, some of the kids who attend school are busy - so only tutions along with dance and yoga is being taught by some of the talented volunteers.

We have few activities that are lined up for all the kids for summer this year. And I am looking forward for the same. :)

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count – it’s the life in your years.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

So take an opportunity to do those little things that you have always wanted to since a long time and that you could cherish for the rest of you life.

Best Wishes...! :)

(I blog at http://sunayana18.wordpress.com/)

Let go. . .

2008-03-12T23:37:00.000+05:30

Winning Aspirations

2008-03-10T19:10:00.003+05:30

Winning Aspirations

News flash – 13 year old student kills herself due to exam pressure…
What do you do after reading this?
a. Just read the article and push it aside thinking this is a normal issue and nothing can be done.
b. Feel shocked and do nothing about it thinking why this happens to the kids and think to yourself the parents should be a moral support – only think?
c. Get up and do something about it?

You see kids in the streets begging or rag-picking or even doing small tiny jobs, instead of being in schools?
What do you seeing this?
a. Ignore the scene.
b. Crib that India is like this itself and no one can do anything about it. Curse the parents who send their kids to do such things. Blah blah blah…
c. Go to a school/voluntary development organization where you could do some voluntary work?

I will be frank to you, few years back I was all B’s, thinking – cribbing – feeling sad and blah blah blah.
Then a year back I did a volunteering for an event for spastics society and trust me I felt good. Good as in really good – the best feeling one can ever get.

But tell me are you still B’s in the above questions? Then I would ask you something – imagine someone whom you know going through the same situation that I described here. Would you sit and think and crib? Now think.

On a lazy Sunday summer morning, I enter a park in Koramangala, Bangalore with a good friend of mine. I saw four youngsters – all in their twenties chatting and smiling and discussing about something. I get introduced to them and that’s where it all began.

Yesterday, 9th March 2008, is an eventful day to me – I joined a voluntary group called as Winning Aspirations.

Who we are? We are a bunch of crazy - 20’s odd some things – belong to software engineer community – different from the normal set of youths – dying to make a difference in society – touching the people’s lives – we are the Winning Aspirations…!

What do we do? JOINING HANDS, TOUCHING LIVES AND SPREADING THE SMILE. We are associated to two institutions – Makkala Jagriti and Asha Nilaya.

What have I done – nothing :) as of now since its just a day that I joined but I feel good already. Always I wanted to be a part of such a group which has a vision to help the needy, help for the betterment of the society.

We crib we fuss we wine around that the society is not doing anything; we curse the politicians, financial institutions for not doing much to the society.

Why don’t we get up and do something about it ourselves than totally depending on someone for it?

That’s what Winning Aspirations is all about. Doing something – whatever we can do – teach, console, counsel the kids who are the future for this country. Yes, we know we can’t make a huge difference, but I believe WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE and already making a difference…!

Links: http://winningaspirations.blogspot.com/; http://winningaspirations.com/

(I blog at http://sunayana18.wordpress.com/)

A beautiful day.. a new beginning

2008-03-10T17:38:00.003+05:30

Written on 26th Jan, 2008.

Worli sea face apartment: 87 lacs
Mercedes Benz E-class: 39 lacs
Durian recliner massage chair: 3 lacs
Sony plasma tv: 1 lac
Someone telling you 'I am there for you': Priceless

You know how there are days in everyone's life when one realizes that its the beginning of something new, something wonderful. It just happened to me yesterday. A friend from office asked me if I wanted to volunteer for a noble cause. I had always thought of doing something like this but somehow had never taken the initiative. At the end of the day, I realized that I owe bigtime to her.

We visited an orphanage named 'Asha Nilaya' where around 30 children stay. Various activities had been planned for the day. We had a flag hoisting ceremony where we all stood in lines similar to good old school days and sang the national anthem. It had been quite some time since I had saluted the national flag. It felt so great to do that as the morning rays fell on the fluttering Indian tricolor flag.

The children had prepared a couple of dances and a skit. There was a group of six little girls who had come dressed up in little baby pink dresses and danced to 'I am a barbie girl'. Gosh, they looked so very adorable. Then we had various games for the kids. We had a quiz, lemon-spoon race, running races, one legged race and a few others. At the end of the competition for the children, all the volunteers too lined up to outrun each other. I was standing in a corner as I watched adults become children once again. Its so very true that there is a child in everyone of us. As we were about to leave, the lady who stays with the children at the orphanage came up to us and told us 3 simple words which I will always remember - Don't forget us. You will sometimes hear those words from people who are close to you, but when a complete stranger tells you something like that, you will definitely feel just more than a lump in the throat.

And thats when it struck me. Life takes you through a lot of things. It is one hell of a roller coaster ride. And there will be times when things seem to be falling apart. And in times like these, you will need people to be by your side. Just to tell you that they are there for you. And realize it or not, but your parents will always be there for you. And that too in the most unique of ways. Because, your problem is their problem. It has always been like that. Ever since the first time you held your mother's finger in your tini-tiny hands, ever since you took your first step, ever since you uttered your first word, ever since your first day at school when you could not stop crying, and so many moments like that. Its because your mom loves you more than anything in the world. No matter how much you grow up, you will always be your mommy's little baby. You will always be her world.

You can always fall back on your parents. And that I have realized is the greatest luxury of life. A luxury that was missing from the lives of those little angels. And I cannot alter that reality but what I can try is to add to whatever happiness they have in their lives. Yesterday was probably the most meaningful day of my life. And I am glad that there will be many more to come...

I know it may sound cliche, but this world would be a better, happier place to live in if we all did little bits here and there. And remember, don't get too lost in the race for success. Take out time for people that are close to you - your parents, your true friends. Because, believe it, these are your most precious jewels. Here's one of my favorite lines from the novel 'The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari':
John, on your death bed, you will not wish that you had spent more time in office...

My intro to Winning Aspirations

2008-03-07T13:27:00.006+05:30

It’s more than 2 months now since I became a part of Winning Aspirations (WA). Looking back at a superficial level it feels like I am doing a good job of empowering/supporting kids. But at a deeper level it has taken me to a next level in life. I am growing with it.

Like any other person in their mid 20’s, there I was doing ‘ok’ in life. I used to work; I used to party; In short not many complaints from life.

One Saturday morning I get a call from a friend of mine Durgesh at 8:30 am!! That’s like early in the morning for me Anyway, he kind of told me to get ready and come to BTM fast by 9am. He also told me this is regarding some voluntary work that he is involved with.

As I had nothing planned for the first half of the day, I said ok. On the way to the place MAKKALA JAAGRUTI (a care center for emotionally and economically deprived children). He told me where we were going. I also learnt that they were working on a project called “MILAAP”. Under this project they were bringing elderly people from old age home to MAKKALA JAAGRUTI, to build a rapport between them. ‘Hmm.. Good thought’ is what I felt. I was prepared to be a spectator. But I was one of the two; who know Kannada there. So everyone kind of expected me to be an active participant and help them in communication. So did my part to the best of my ability. The whole time I was kind of feeling a little lost. New place, new environment and kids who were doing their own thing. Some playing, some talking, some yelling and some fighting! Frankly I was not impressed with the whole situation. Never once did it cross my mind that I will actually become an active member of the group on that day.

So then what made me to continue with WA? After the event Durgesh asked me that would I be willing to attend the group meeting that followed. It was on the way to home so I said ok. Meeting was the one that made me to continue with WA. The way the meeting was conducted and the way everyone there was participating in it was just inspiring. I mean they were this bunch of guys, all in their 20’s and unmarried. The only place that I knew, were boys get together like this is for a drink or for a cricket match. Commitment of this sort, for any thing is such a rare thing to see!! I was very impressed by this. At that moment I knew these people really are here in this group for a reason. I felt they are up to something big in life. I was sure of one thing; I wouldn’t want to miss a chance to be part of such a group and do things for society/community.

Each one of us always has this part in us that wants to do some thing for the country. But it ends there itself. So here was a chance for me to go to the next level of actually doing it.

Let me officially introduce you to WINNING ASPIRATIONS. It’s a voluntary group of people who have the drive in them to do something for community they live in. We invest 3-4 hours of our week (on weekends of course) on an average. Vision of our group is – “JOINING HANDS, TOUCHING LIVES AND SPREADING SMILE”. In the process to fulfill our vision we are attached to two institutions right now. AASHA NILAYA AND MAKKALA JAAGRUTI. We go there to teach them. We teach a lot of stuffs like curriculum subjects, yoga, craft, computers, spoken English and dance (This is my task ). We don’t do any kind of money business. Yes, we as a group put a little money monthly in group account, which can be used for some stuff that will help us in our activities. That’s it. It’s very simple. Although our group is still small (in its early stages) we have already got process in place. We have a leader for the whole group and also leaders for each institution. Leadership gets transferred from one person to other after a while. We have a schedule for all the activities that will be taken care by the leaders. If someone is not able to make it for a week, he just needs to inform this to the leader and a replacement will be arranged.

Bottom line is, it is a very simple group, doing simple things to bring noticeable change in the lives of kids whom we work with. I invite all the readers to join our group. More the merrier! It comes with no obligations. It’s up to you to decide what level of commitment that you can give to the group. I am telling you from my personal experience you will be happy to have spent your 2-3 hours in this manner. It’s a different level of satisfaction. Something like one feels after having food when they are really hungry. I feel so good when I see those kids waiting for me for dance class. I see every time the class strength is growing. They just come and hug me as soon as I go there. Unbiased love is what they offer you. Are we not looking for this kind of unbiased love?

So here is the place. Join us. Strengthen our group and have an experience of life! Here are the details through which you can join us. You can visit www.winningaspirations.com.