‘Last year’ was the year of giving back
Looking back at a few moments of engaging in social work. From donating my hair to conversing with enthusiastic youngsters.
2020 has come to an end! That’s crazy! But I’m not going to say things like, “ I know how hard last year had been for everyone amidst a pandemic, it was the worst year, the entire year was a waste for everyone” etc. We all know for a fact that each one of us went through something, and as told, — this too shall pass.
Last year, I couldn’t give back as much as I wanted to. You may say that it was the most crucial year where people required help more than they ever needed. I beg to differ. There’s no particular timeline or year when people need help. There are people out there who will always require help. No matter when or how you help, it will do wonders for them.
Donating my hair (2018)
This is a rather unusual way of working towards the betterment of society, although a much-needed one. The idea flashed my mind when I was desperate to get a haircut and didn’t know what I would do with the chopped lot. I did my research and found an organization based in Mumbai, India named Cope With Cancer. A surprising fact is that not only women but also men have donated their hair! Another shocker came when I read that it takes at least six to seven people’s hair to make one wig! So, if you’re wondering what to do with your long hair after a (hopefully) nice haircut, consider giving this a thought.
Climate change protest (2019)
To this day, I remember that I was unwell back then. In the crowd I saw aspiring school students, children, teenagers, and young adults shouting witty slogans and holding posters that read “We are in the end game now”, “The world is hotter than Tom Holland” (my personal favorite), “Change is coming whether you like it or not” etc. Some people had creatively painted their faces in support of the protest. Along with this, another talking point, “Veganism” was also being propagated.
Youth Council Bangalore South (2019)
Currently, the Youth Council is not functioning due to the pandemic. It focuses on educating regional school children about the environment and other social concerns.
In the pictures below, we were educating these children on the importance of reuse, reduce, and recycle. We also spoke about the importance of reducing the use of plastic.
The smallest gesture of help doesn’t need to be in monetary form. You can start by donating an old device to a student (especially now because we’ve entirely become dependent on electronic devices), donating your old clothes, or even volunteering at an NGO.
Well, I have more such stories, but it’s not possible to sum it up in one Medium post. We don’t get an opportunity to engage in social work very often, considering our busy lives. Nonetheless, when we get an opportunity, we shouldn’t shun it.
I was very skeptical about joining the Youth Council. I thought I would be short of time and won’t be able to devote myself to the work wholeheartedly. After the work started, I realized that these experiences matter in life. Interacting with those children opened my mind to new perspectives.
I want to keep helping people and be there for them as often as possible. I am looking forward to doing more such work in the future!
Cheers!
