A memorable Task

“If you have plan for a year plant a seed, if you have a plan for 100 years plant tree, and if you have a plan for generations educate people”. This was the founding theme of our first social service venture Navajeevan Club (a student’s organization started in 2008). Beyond education inculcating values and imparting special skills was the agenda of this club. Even though I was the Mentor, the concept we envisioned was a ‘children led’ organization.

Students were eager to take up plans and to execute projects with their heart and soul. Along with character development, we considered personality development and social service activities. Fund generation was the only difficult task that we found through public campaigns and from some generous philanthropists. We organized awareness programs, medical camp, clean drive and art festivals, book publishing, orphanage visit, festival celebration, observing national and international days, carols etc.

Still I remember two stories. We decided to clean and decorate a public bus waiting shed in our area. I had a little doubt in my mind about the success of the project because of two reasons; 1) that structure was very dirty and to clean that place was a rigorous task 2) majority of our members were girls and their comfort level to work in a common/public place was a concern. Anyhow with certain inhibitions I reached the place at the decided time, I wondered about the unity, commitment and participation students to work for a cause.  Second is the BIO HARVEST Organic Farming Program. Around 25 students developed their ‘Homestead’ and among these two of them honoured with a district level first and second prizes and on selected for State Level Competition.  I feel proud whenever I see them with a ‘success smile’ in their faces.