Assignment 4... My little contribution to “Our Om Ashram”

I am so called Trustee at Om Ashram but I hardly find time to go there... Proud of Geeta Shankar who single handedly manages the show with support from our dedicated staff members:)

I had decided to dedicate last week of my Sabbatical to Om Ashram... It was so happy feeling to get so many blessings and My Baba accompanying was a huge topping. I took few biscuits for each Elderly and am remembering how every Granny Grandpa were asking if it was my Birthday on distribution of the same. Surprised to see this misconception that we only go to Old Age homes etc to celebrate special occasions and not otherwise... It’s only when more and more people join hands and volunteer regularly that this misconception would be cleared. Nothing wrong in it but it’s strange that mostly it’s only on special occasions that we take this special step...:) I had lovely time chatting with all Granny and Grandpa’s... All were very happy to see me visiting and were curious to know when I would visit them next. Unfortunately due to All India Bund and ill health I couldn’t go for 2 days and when I went there the next day again everyone had so many questions and stories to shareJ Everyone wanted me to have lunch with them, checked if I ate breakfast and cameJ I spent some time with Geeta understanding some future plans for the organisation. Based on our discussion we then decided to start a project in partnership with iVolunteer... And the project was “Grandparents Wish Collection and Fulfilment” We hadn’t yet finalised dates but just felt why not do a Grandparents Wish Collection and Fulfilment not just for collecting or fulfilling wishes but also so that then many of us will go there, spend time with them and chat with them for a whileJ Next day I decided to be in Om Ashram office to understand ECS system and any other urgent requirements of the organisation. I am happy to have taken a step to enrol for ECS where once we give standing instructions automatically some amount (we commit) would get donated to the organisation (hassle free at the same time some commitment to the causeJ)... I thought many a times we spend so much on movies/pop corns/food at restaurants (do waste food too and end up paying much more than required;)), so why not commit a small sum to organisation where I can’t give as much time as required.... Today while I am blogging this I checked my Bank Statement and saw that my first transfer is done todayJ What a day to blog thisJ

While on my way in bus to understand more about requirements I thought why delay the Wish Collection and Fulfilment because life is so unstable and we mustn’t regret for have unfulfilled few most cherished wishesJ We rolled out the email to volunteers and got good responseJ This was my last day of Sabbatical break... There were many who showed interest and turned for the event. Grandparents were sleeping as soon as we reached so I took this opportunity to brief volunteers on collecting wishes. Few wanted to leave bit early. Very interestingly the Auto Driver Murali (about his story on how I met him could be found at Experience of kindness from strangers (Super Auto Driver Murali)) And to my surprise he infact collected more wishes than any of usJ Also at end I found that all those who wanted to leave early were so engrossed in their discussions with Grandparents that they totally forgot they had to leave earlyJ Finally we collected and compiled all wishes and believe me wishes were as simple as sweets like (Chirote, Doodh Pedha, laddoos, orangeJ) fruits like (jamoon, banana, pineapple, Watermelon etc), headphones, a Telgu movie, a walk to temple or garden close by and so onJ What a lovely end to the Sabbatical break of one month with many small little take aways like learnings and loads of blessings and happinessJ J Thanks a ton Geeta and all staff for your dedicated service and passion to the cause of Elderly... Not many can do it...

Few captured memories:

My Sabbatical’s little contribution to “Our Om Ashram”

Wish Collection Part 1

Wish Collection Part 2

Thanks again to Shalabh Sahai and Rahul Nainwal for allowing me to take break to Volunteer for whole month and to all who were part of this super memorable journey actually or by giving moral supportJ J Thank you!!! Means a lotJ

Assignment 3 Value of Small little things ignored for in life!!!

My journey with Jeevarathni angels along with Poornima where I learnt value of small little things we ignore or don’t care for much as and how we move in life and  to smile from heart (Dil se haso, giggle from heart), bread, butter and jam and a small little sticker... It was super worth travelling 100+ kms on the day with Poornima Muniraj and being her pillion:) Visited 2 extreme places and with 2 extreme causes... Our journey to one extreme Jeevarathni at Nallur (in Tamilnadu:)) post Sarjapur for spending time with little ones to Vishranthi Trust at Hoskote that works on 2nd Childhood, the Elderly WelfareJ

Learnt to value "the so called taken for granted things in our life" While I am writing this blog after a month of visit I am remembering those lovely memorable moments and lessons learnt during those days... We started our day by engaging kids in games, storytelling using puppet (finally inaugurated my little hand and finger puppetsJ) How excited the little ones were to hear stories and speak to the little finger-puppet. We did some drawing after storytelling and not to forget here the happiness on everyone’s face when they received 3D stickers as gifts, just can’t forget those smiling facesJ Those were smiles and happiness from heartJ Especially Kavya’s just check her Smile (Poornima is her major fan) We then did face painting on little ones faces, this was my first experiment of face paintingJ Our artist Poornima was in super demandJ Wow, all kids enjoyed the day just like we did... Left the place by 4 pm with lots of memories and many Chikoo’s and beans that were grown in their gardenJ J And ya just before we left we decided and planned a picnic for next dayJ We were super excited and eagerly waiting for next day. On our way back home we decided to visit Vishranthi Trust at Hosakote that works on 2nd Childhood, the Elderly Welfare and also works on Community Development. They go get youth from surrounding areas and the elders at Ashram engage themselves in teaching the youth and children on various topics like life skills, spoken English etc etc. They also are self sustainable wrt food as they grow all vegetables and fruits in their compound itself. Lovely concept and great work. I would soon volunteer there. Happy that we could visit the place and know more about themJ We were gifted diyas made by rural peopleJ

Memories of Colourful Day

Next day we went to Jeevarathni for a small little picnic planned in Chikoo farms close by. Meena said she wuld make and get juice, bananas and bread butter jam and bread butter chatniJ Wow, it was super yummieJ J I suddenly remember every now and then, how a kid Sanjay was super happy seeing bread butter and jam, sitting on my lap he ate the sandwich and was opening the 2 breads and seeing butter and jam in between them and giggling and smiling so much as though he found heaven and I just can't express that moment in words... Poornima and I just became so emotional seeing his happiness... How peacefully another kid who had just come into the organisation a day back, slept off as soon as we reached our spot under the shadow of trees:) How all kids were happy playing games and being part of picnic that was few miles away from their home Jeevarathni:) I for sure learnt to "Value things and people I have in my life" And ya not to forget none of the little one cried asking to lift him or her or cribbing about leg pain.... They walked more than 2 kms enjoying every step and doing masti at each step by either pricking small jungle fruits or by climbing small mountains or by murmuring little rhymes and songs I had taught them...:) Super super super time spent with  the kids who have gone through hell in life as major as suffering from eye cancer and beatings at home and selling them... Am happy that now they are getting a little privileged lifeJ Will try my best to visit them as and when possibleJ

Memorable picnic day with little angels

Thanks so much to all little ones Poornima Muniraj, Meena Prochaska and Roland Prochaska for making my 3^rd assignment so memorableJ J

Smiles,
Prarthana

Assignment 2 Bringing Inclusiveness with Enable India and a short little one day activity with Makkala Mane...

Pre-story... Why I chose Enable India:

It has been over 2 years that I have been volunteering for Enable India by 1.) Teaching 2 subjects “Basic Accounts” and “Volunteering” to the Hearing Impaired students who are part of non voice BPO training for past 3 batches. 2.) Have been interpreter for a couple of times:) Today I can proudly say that along with Hindi, English, Kannada and Marathi I also know one more language that is “Sign language”:) I am proud of myself to have worked closely with Visually Challenged by reading books for them, People with Mobility problem or a Hearing Impaired or a Mentally Challenged... All this wouldn’t have been possible if I wouldn’t have taken that step to sensitize myself to this issue of DISABILITY...

My 2 week journey:

As part of my Sabbatical Break of Volunteering for 4 weeks I chose to volunteer for them for 2 weeks with them... I completed my 2 week assignments and as part of my Volunteering journey with them I was part of Registration process of candidates (Disabled where I was specifically working with HI’s), I did post placement survey for 1 week of Physically Disabled candidates and their line managers at 2-3 Corporates and had a memorable end of my 2 weeks by doing a Disability Awareness Workshop.

While writing this blog I am just recollecting those moments especially the week where Kiran (Volunteer manager) and I as part of Post Placement process interviewed 9 Hearing Impaired candidates and 3 Physically Challenged and their Line Managers. It was such a different experience altogether to hear different views, the challenges they faced, their happy moments at work, help the candidates receive from co-workers and see things from everybody’s point of view. We were moved to hear few stories of struggle the candidates had gone through to reach where they are today in life, especially the Physically disabled candidate who was carried by her Mother till her 7^th standard and how she is independent today, earning her living by working hard in a big Corporate company and very important supporting her family as well... Other story was where I spoke to a girl from Indore who was so so enthu and positive in her approach and told me that I was a crawling candidate, wasn’t even aware of usage of Mobility devices like wheel chair, today she has won few awards in her Company for Excellent Performance, so was the case with few HI’s who have been performing well at the same time are part of team work, a good oneJ  I have always loved the work Enable India does and the values they believe in... They are doing excellent work on providing employment opportunities and consulting for persons with disabilities and am proud to be associated with them and would love to involve more and more as a Volunteer and am already committed to be part of few opportunities based on my availabilityJ

I suddenly remembered One of Hearing Impaired girl whom I met for first time during the Retention process volunteering work and how she was curious to know why I am helping and Working with Hearing Impaired or on Disability Issue? Is it that I have someone in my family who is/was disabled or if I had any vested interest in it??? Why??? why this question aroused, why do we need a reason to do something good, why can’t we just do something good  and change that mindset of everyone.... Have you ever noticed that We generally don’t take any step to even go and say “ Hi” to a Disabled around and have been major reason for them to create their own separate world or society away from ours.... I am sure many of you too would love to join me by working closely on Disability issue. Enable India with an objective to bring awareness about DisAbility and in turn build inclusive society conducts Disability Awareness Workshop. And I was lucky enough to do one for 5 participants on last day of my Sabbatical journey with EI, where I myself along with participants got to know our own InAbilitiesJ Individuals interested in knowing and spreading awareness about Disability to Public at large and enhancing their own knowledge can be part of the short training of 2.5 hours and know more how you can bring an inclusiveness around by contacting me anytime and I can in turn connect you with Enable IndiaJ

These 2 weeks taught me a lot personally, to never give up and the is the only thing what any DisAbled will be expecting and hoping  “Where there is a belief in my ability and Where I stand proud and independent”.... We must respect and include people with disability, actually respect and include everybody... Let us walk together and make it a reality. I am sure there are many alike who would want to join me in this journey of bringing Inclusiveness...

One day’s memorable activity with 15 angels of Makkala Mane while Volunteering with Enable India...

I wanted to spend each and every moment of my Sabbatical super actively to my best, so as one day there was not much to do at Enable India, I decided to go to a place where not many volunteers reach J Pavithra suggested that we go to Makkala Mane where we been planning to go since long time... had gone here almost 2 years back when I had great time with little ones and have been supporting them offline post that. Took few mins to decide whether to go or no at this place as place was far away... But then thought that we can anytime go to organisations inside city, will be different/hatke to go and do something different at some place where not many usually visit... We remembered our Shimoga trip and the colourful class rooms, so decided to go and make kids room little colourful (thanks to our idea master Pavithra) Reached there after a long travel by 11.30 – 12 types... Lovely day with 15 little angels in City Outskirts.... Played few games and segregated older ones with little ones below 5th standard... Below 5th were engaged in drawing whatever they felt like and over 5th with us in decorating room by making few charts on A-Z, Colours, Animals and Birds, Common Words, About Me, Month, Year, week etc and then pasting them... Wow, how happy we both were  seeing that “Before And After of little angels room”....  Pavithra then spoke to older ones on Health and Hygiene and then we played few more games and left the place with “Loaddddsssssssssss of Lovelyyyy Memoriessss”... Truly Lovely day with 15 little angels in City Outskirts.... Can’t express in words how it feels when you see bringing smiles around especially where people hardly reach to them as they are in outskirts of city and add on happiness on hearing from Care Taker that, “ Our kids are on vacation past 1 month, hardly anyone visit them and the kids did nothing much but sleep or play, but today was most fruitful and resourceful day with lots of creativity and learning, thanks to you both, can you plsss come again soon”

Few memories captured:

Lovely day with 15 angels of Makkala Mane

Disability Awareness Workshop