A journey of self-discovery, within and beyond

On International Volunteer Day, tales of hope & optimism.

- TRINA CHAKRABARTI

When we think of volunteers, we think of individuals who choose to work for and contribute to a larger cause. As a child rights practitioner, I have witnessed from close quarters the impact this work/contribution has had on the multitude of campaigns and movements that echo through the annals of the development sector in our country. While highlighting the tangible impact of such contributions, it is perhaps also wise to reflect on the impact volunteering has had on the volunteers themselves. There lies strewn all around stories of courage, conviction, despair turning to hope, a slow but steady change of mindsets – personal stories that get lost in the milieu of larger causes. 

Tales of self-discovery For 23-year-old Ritwick, a corporate employee living in Kolkata, lazy Sunday afternoons are not merely a break from the daily hustle but also an opportunity to immerse in the joy of teaching slum kids basic English and Maths. When he had started out six months ago, it was merely for a mention of social work on his already illustrious CV, he admits with a coy smile. But six months of interaction with the children, lessons and games with them and celebration of special occasions have changed the person within. The realization that not everybody is as privileged as he is and that a couple of hours from his end can bring change in several lives is overwhelming, yet utmost fulfilling. “Why didn’t you come last Sunday? We missed you so much, we want to be like you and learn more from you,” one of students told him one day. This trivial moment triggered a tsunami of emotions. Ritwick has decided that volunteering would remain an integral part of his future plans henceforth, wherever life takes him. Never for a mention on the CV anymore, but for the sense of purpose and meaning it has infused in his hitherto mechanical life.