Ours is a closely-knit family. We have gone on holidays together, picnics, movies, dinner parties..........numerous happy occasions where we have bonded and grown to know one another.
Yes, we have also gone through some very turbulent times - losing a loved one, troubles, disputes. Yet, we have always managed to stay intact. In fact, the troubled times have made us grow closer and appreciate each one for what he / she is; and we have come to value each one for what he / she is.
We do not come from a privileged background...working class family. But, to return back to society has never been far. Our parents and older siblings have always been involved in doing some sort of charity work - be it for the boys of the Sri RamaKrishna Home or for the visually handicapped.
We grew-up in such an environment, where we were taught to care for those less privileged in society and not be self-centered.
We were told that we must not live just for ourselves, but remember to return back to society.........................such was our up-bringing.
So, it was during one such family gathering that the idea to do volunteer work as a family was mooted. All were in favour...but what should we do, where should we go, how are we going to do this charity work ? Numerous questions, with hardly any answers...but we knew that we had to do something for society.
And, it took us almost two years to get things sorted-out and our first family affair I project was launched in 2007.
Since then, we have fine-tuned many things and have amazed ourselves as to what we each are capable of.
It is now almost ten years down the road, and we have come a long way....a very long way...yet, the zeal and enthusiasm are still there, the want to do more grows each year and our lives have been changed forever - the things we have seen, what we have experienced, the love and warmth that we have received from the children in reciprocation - have made indelible marks in our lives. We are not what we were many years ago; we have come to appreciate live for all that it offers, love and cherish those around us and most importantly, grateful and thankful for our parents and elders who have ingrained in us, this important value of wanting to return, to return back to society.
Yes, we have also gone through some very turbulent times - losing a loved one, troubles, disputes. Yet, we have always managed to stay intact. In fact, the troubled times have made us grow closer and appreciate each one for what he / she is; and we have come to value each one for what he / she is.
We do not come from a privileged background...working class family. But, to return back to society has never been far. Our parents and older siblings have always been involved in doing some sort of charity work - be it for the boys of the Sri RamaKrishna Home or for the visually handicapped.
We grew-up in such an environment, where we were taught to care for those less privileged in society and not be self-centered.
We were told that we must not live just for ourselves, but remember to return back to society.........................such was our up-bringing.
So, it was during one such family gathering that the idea to do volunteer work as a family was mooted. All were in favour...but what should we do, where should we go, how are we going to do this charity work ? Numerous questions, with hardly any answers...but we knew that we had to do something for society.
And, it took us almost two years to get things sorted-out and our first family affair I project was launched in 2007.
Since then, we have fine-tuned many things and have amazed ourselves as to what we each are capable of.
It is now almost ten years down the road, and we have come a long way....a very long way...yet, the zeal and enthusiasm are still there, the want to do more grows each year and our lives have been changed forever - the things we have seen, what we have experienced, the love and warmth that we have received from the children in reciprocation - have made indelible marks in our lives. We are not what we were many years ago; we have come to appreciate live for all that it offers, love and cherish those around us and most importantly, grateful and thankful for our parents and elders who have ingrained in us, this important value of wanting to return, to return back to society.