The Transformative Power Of Giving
Reader's Digest India|August 2018

A simple act of generosity can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life.

 

Aarti Madhusudan With Abha Srivastava
The Transformative Power Of Giving

What makes a young student initiate a collection drive for a retirement home? Why does a college professor start a fundraiser for needy patients? What does an ordinary railway employee get by creating a registry of blood donors? A sense of joy and fulfilment and a more optimistic outlook on life. Knowing that they are able to make a difference and bring a smile to someone’s face improved their confidence. And, they experienced a change within and felt deeply rewarded each time. Here, some life-altering experiences of people who are committed to a life of giving.

“I FEEL BLESSED AND CONFIDENT” For 18-year-old R. Rajeshwari, it all started with a collection drive of a fistful of sugar during DaanUtsav [a campaign that encourages giving] in October 2017. Then a school student, in Chennai’s Royapuram, she was a member of the Confederation of Arunodhaya Children Sangam (CACS)—a programme initiated by Arunodhaya Centre for Street & Working Children— when she and her friends decided to ask people in their slum in Tiruvottiyur to donate one cup or a fistful of sugar. Their idea was to donate the contributions to shelters and retirement homes in the area. The experience changed Rajeshwari’s life.

This story is from the August 2018 edition of Reader's Digest India.

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This story is from the August 2018 edition of Reader's Digest India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.