Since being part of the Race to Embrace programme, which is operated by Parag Shah Sir and Tushita Gupta Ma’am, a chosen group of students meet every month to engage in discussions like “coming alive,” “nurturing relationships,” “success,” and “kindness.” We are also able to meet a ton of new individuals who motivate us in every way imaginable. The topic of the first session of the race to embrace was “coming alive,” and that’s where we first met “Nimesh Patel,” also known as “Nimo.” He helped establish the Ahmedabad non-profit organization, ‘Manav Sadhna’. After conversing with Nimo about his upbringing and his desire to work as a full-time volunteer with this Organization and encourage generosity and unconditional love via music. Some of the volunteers in the race to embrace decided to travel to Manav Sadhna and serve together for two days. We left Surat on September 15 and returned home on September 18. Throughout these two days, we took part in a variety of activities, connected with children at Manav Sadhna, and visited ashrams and community centres. At approximately five in the morning, we accompanied rack pickers.
LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process.
the biggest challenge was that we were going to visit the NGO during the weekend, but before that, there was already an assessment announced on Tuesday, so studying for the assessment and also learning from the NGO was different. But after coming back to Surat, everyone from the team studied for the assessment during the night and then attempted the test.
LO4: Show commitment to and perseverance in the CAS experience.
During the trip, I was nervous talking to the children there, and also afraid that would they understand what I’m trying to say. The biggest doubt was, how would I approach the children, what would I talk about? etc. but shockingly, the children came and approached all of the volunteers with a handshake and “Hi, Didi. Tame kya thi aiva cho?” and many more questions. I was very happy to see their enthusiasm and their energy. Having spent 2 days with them was not enough, and leaving them made me sad, but I knew I was going with a lot of memories made with all of them.
