A Tata Initiative - Giving Hope to the Children

On 26th January 2010, an elocution competition was organized at Janvi Trust as a feature of Hope Activity. 20 children participated. Prizes were given to best three speakers.Tata Interactive distributed educational kits comprising school bags, lunch box, water bottle etc., to all the 50 children. Tata salts gifted drawing books, colours etc., to the children.

A Dream Run

For the Mumbai Marathon our dedicated volunteers were there in high spirits ready to run for SOSVA. They were a contingent of 10 volunteers...seven for the dream run and three for half marathon.

SOSVA has run for three years now. In the coming years we expect the number of participants to increase and are sure that the volunteers will come out in full strength in support of SOSVA.

Kudos and many thanks to the volunteers who put SOSVA on the mumbai marathon map.

Sachin Patel (Half marathon)
Devendra Kamble(Half marathon)
Amey Thakur(Half marathon)
Jyoti Shah ( Dream Run)
Sakina Gadiwala( Dream Run)
Ashsih Ambasta( Dream Run)
Sakshi Chadha( Dream Run)
Girish Kaimal( Dream Run)
Debashish Kotoky( Dream Run)
Meenakshi Phukan( Dream Run)

A Tata Chemicals Limited initiative

HOPE activity, is primarily a CSR initiative by Tata Chemicals in partnership with SOSVA.

It is held twice a month at Janvi Chartiable Trust,Saki Naka.The TCL employees take sessions for 50 children in the community. Topics like health and hygiene, examination tips, effects of junk food,seasons vegetable,fruits,environment,personal hygience are taken up and implemented through games,puppet shows,group activity,slide shows and short films.

Also,TCL has initiated a library for the children. A three day workshop on Art of Living for the children at TCL office was held.In their last session a fun activity was put up by an international group named Clowns without Borders for the children.

The Joy of Sharing

SOSVA wishes all its volunteers a very happy and fulfilling 2010. May the tribe of selfless volunteers increase multifold in the coming year.

We want to share this beautiful experience with all our readers. Albeit it is a bit late in the day, but anytime is a good time when it is something wonderful that you are sharing.

This is what Rajiv Ranjan one of our volunteers had to say:

"On 14th of November when the entire Indian population was celebrating Children’s Day with their respective children to mark the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru – the first Prime Minister of independent India; SOSVA displayed a kind gesture with the celebration of Toys Library Day for underprivileged children across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

The entire event of the Toys Library Day was planned well in advance with the SOSVA volunteers working with many NGOs spread across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Volunteers were provided with posters and instructed to inspire people in their reach to donate indoor games and soft toys in order to be distributed to the children in various NGOs.

Our volunteers did a commendable job during the entire process of collecting the toys from people located in their societies, offices and buildings. They not only collected toys from other people, they also made a tremendous contribution on their own. The toys were collected at SOSVA centers from volunteers and divided in appropriate proportions to be given away to the identified NGOs.

On the day of event, the collected toys were taken to the respective NGOs. Many volunteers participated in the event while distributing the toys. It was a sight of joy to see the children receiving the toys with paramount happiness on their faces.

It is a great privilege to have such opportunities to serve people without any selfish motto. Thanks to volunteers for showing so much interest in the entire process of organizing and executing the event on time with so much of perfection. Last but not the least - thanks to SOSVA for arranging such an event and giving opportunities to volunteers to be part of this noble activity."

A Season for Giving

Its the holiday season. A season for spreading cheer and love, a season for giving and sharing.

And this is what Abilin Mukherjee our volunteer is doing. He is presently teaching a group of children mathematics at Mumbai Mobile Creches (MMC), in Andheri West, every Saturday morning.

Abilin sees huge potential in volunteering and the social sector in general, but he does feel that the NGOs could work more effectively.

We joined Abilin one Saturday to watch and learn about his work with Mumbai Mobile Creches. He is presently teaching a group of 8-10 children mathematics. The children are on different levels and call for a lot of attention from the devoted volunteer. Further more the children speak Marathi, a language that Abilin doesn’t know very well. Teaching them without access to a common language for communication is indeed a great challenge which Abilin has accepted without any grouse. Kudos to him.

International Volunteer Day

In today’s world of global challenges, the work of volunteers to change the fabric of society for the better may seem very insignificant. But when volunteers in large numbers devote their time, skills, knowledge and energy, they make a significant difference. December 5th each year is observed as International Volunteer Day (IVD) – designated thus by the United Nations since 1985. The declared aim of this activity is to thank the volunteers for their efforts and increase public awareness about their contribution to society.
This year on December 5th, SOSVA held celebrations to acknowledge the contribution of its volunteers who have volunteered for many years,devotedly and professionally, for volunteering is serious business. The meet also provided a forum to the volunteers to share their experiences, both good and bad. It was heartening to note that the volunteers unanimously agreed that volunteering had actually helped them grow as an individual and in fact they had received more than they had given.
It will be SOSVA’s continuous endeavor to increase the number of volunteers with each passing year and help build stronger communities.

Just Another Volunteer Story...

Dear Usha, I hope this did not turn out too cheesy and hypocritical for your taste :) Thank you for a nice time in Tea Centre!

---Anna

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Usha Thanawala holds a Masters Degree in English Literature and worked as a University Lecturer in the past, but these days spends more time volunteering to teach under privileged students.

From Lecturer to Mother to Chairperson of National Association for the Blind to now working with underprivileged children, Usha has worn many hats. The common thread among all these roles has been her undying determination to make a difference.

Usha’s life wasn’t very different from the thousands of well educated and secure housewives in the city who have given up their professional careers for the sake of their children. But once her kids were older she chose to divert her time, attention and money towards volunteer activities beneficial to society.

Her firm beliefs in the institution of volunteer work were imbibed by her mother and her grandfather, who in their time have done a lot for the less privileged.

She started volunteer work with National Association for the Blind, and then later taught children at the Fellowship for the Physically Handicapped in Worli. These days she is associated with SOSVA and working with Hamara Foundation at Bombay Central.

Usha loves working with children and finds them very engaging.

“A person needs to be aware of their blessings in life and want to share them with others”, is her belief. Usha´s knows that as a volunteer it is difficult not to get emotionally involved, and sometimes seeing the pain of others is hard. But on the other hand it makes your pain look much smaller in comparison, says Usha, who has had her own share of difficulties in the past.

She feels that she learns a great deal from the people she meets and that sometimes her students wonder why she keeps thanking them, but she believes that they give her much more happiness than they realise.

Usha helps people on her own capacity as well, not only through organizations. She has never flinched in directly financially supporting an underprivileged person, if she finds it necessary. Her friends and relatives who trust her judgement have also been happy to contribute towards the same.

In general Usha believes that people want to help, but the conditions are discouraging. Life today is hectic and tiring and sometimes you feel helpless in the middle of all the chaos surrounding you. Still she wants to encourage people to volunteer because helping others gives you so much in return.