At The Great Generation volunteers come from all backgrounds, with different interests & experiences, and with a passion to make change happen! In September 2009, a group of volunteers teamed up with The Great Generation to collaborate on a community development 'Arts' project in India for disadvantaged children. Neetu Soniya Sharma, one of the volunteers, talks about her experience and why she found it so rewarding.
In 2009 I decided I wanted to do charity work in India as part of my CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). I realised that I did not know much about India, nor did I have a contacts base there so I found myself exploring unknown territory.
Then one day as I logged onto Facebook, a thought came to my mind to search for voluntary organisations working in India, and that's when I discovered 'The Great Generation'. I was amazed to find out that they offer a whole range of volunteering opportunities in India and Africa and as I looked more closely I saw that that they had an upcoming arts based project working with disadvantaged children at a day centre in New Delhi, India. I decided to register for the project and was invited to attend regular briefing sessions where I had the opportunity to meet the other volunteers. In our discussions and brainstorming, I suggested the idea of teaching the children about the world map through a range of creative assignments - these were then, along with many other ideas, written up to be implemented in India. Upon arrival at the project in India I was overwhelmed by the innocence of the children - some of whom were orphaned and/or disabled. Every day started at 8:30am and finished at 4pm - just like a regular job. As I was with these children everyday, it became easy to begin to understand their needs, their challenges - as well as their dreams.
One child in particular caught my eye - she was Megha, a little 11 year old girl who had cerebral palsy and so she was not able to easily coordinate her movements. During the first few days - I noticed that when all the children were singing and dancing, Megha had great difficulty and very little support. At that moment, I felt that she was for me to look after and so, everyday I lifted her and gave her support as she tried to get up and walk. I stood behind her as she danced and sang at her pace. Megha's confidence in herself started to become more visible - she started to feel part of the group, felt involved and she was happy.
How do I know this?
One morning that week she began to cry and I got very worried. I asked her what was the matter and she gave me a huge smile with tears rolling down her face and told me she was happy! She then said she wanted to go to the toilet and I said ok, and whilst I was standing in the courtyard she went to the window inside the building and knocked on it to get my attention, I looked at her and she pressed a kiss on the window to me. That is a feeling millions would treasure and I achieved it!
To be touched by a child like Megha is a privilege, an inspiration and an honour.
I am very grateful to the Great Generation for providing me with the opportunity to experience this. It happened to me and it could happen to you, to experience and really understand something like this, you will just have to DO IT!
