Hello All,
Once again...Welcome to Lit the Light's Coordinator aka Leads Blog Series. Today we want to present the testimony of our coordinator “Mrs. Bhahirathi (aka) Rathi” sharing her experience and moments with Lit the Light in simple words. She is here to express herself on "What?... How?... Why?... and few more questions on dedicating her time, volunteering with Lit the Light"…in her own words.
These testimonies are considered as an assessment of Lit the Light’s performance and work on improvement suggestions (if any) from our Leads, who have been part of us during our ups and downs. To continue with... Here's our Rathi, a dedicated Audio Book recording coordinator, supporting us as a valuable team lead for our Bahrain recording team.
Lit the Light's Coordinator Rathi’s words on travel with us…
- Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi, I’m Bahirathi, a senior HR officer at
Rahim Holdings in Bahrain. I moved to Bahrain when I was 20 years old to stay
with my mother and have settled here ever since. I’m now happily married to my
husband and have a 6-year-old son. I don’t have much time to pursue my hobbies
after marriage but I do enjoy reading a lot!
- How did you hear about LTL and why did you decide to
start volunteering here?
Right from school, I was always a part of
volunteering programs. I was raised by a single mother, so I know how difficult
it is to not have something. When I moved to Bahrain, I felt like people
labeled NRI citizens as financial support and I didn’t like the identity that
people put on me. So apart from financial support, I started findings ways to
support people even though I lived far away. I saw a Facebook post about Lit
the Light and started helping them out with recording audios for the visually
challenged, but over time I felt a level of satisfaction and a drive to do more
grow in me. I still remember a college-going student who I had helped out for 6
years who now has a senior managerial role in a Bank!
- What aspects of being a volunteer do you like the
most?
Through Lit the Light I was able to make
beautiful friendships and bonds with people I have never physically met before.
To continue to support these students, I expanded my role by finding
like-minded people in Bahrain and created a team of 30 people. I am amazed by
the help and support we receive from the senior citizens who are a part of our
team. When you give them an assignment, they finish it even a day before the
deadline. I was able to learn disciple and how to handle commitments from my
team members. We have a 60-year-old couple on our team who record and scribe
for students to this day. Their son even equipped them with the necessary
equipment for them to record audiobooks comfortably! Lit the Light is very
close to my heart and I enjoy being part of a positive circle of people who
support and appreciate each other.
- What is your most memorable experience volunteering here?
I am able to make a difference in somebody’s
life without knowing what they look like; they don’t know me, I don’t know them
but through this medium, I feel like I can completely feel another soul. We
create a face, an identity just like how the students create one as they listen
to our audio. It’s like supporting them through their own way of living and I
think that’s beautiful. These students live in different corners of the world,
but when they send me and my family members voice messages wishing us on
festive days, I somehow feel a deeper connection just by listening to their
voice notes.
- Do you have any message for anyone who wants to join
us at LTL?
My message is simple. If you just have the
right intention, you can support another in so many different ways. People
assume that just because they don’t have the money or the time to help they
can’t make a difference, but they don’t realize that there are so many
different ways to help. If you can’t record a book, you can scan it. If you
can’t scan a book, you can scribe. If a person who is miles across can do it,
so can you! If you put one positive act out into the universe, I believe it’ll
give back to you in ten folds. However, It’s not only about getting anything
back, it’s the fact that I’m able to give back something so positive among all
the disasters and bad things that are happening in the world. I am so grateful
for being a part of Lit the Light and being able to do something that has added
so much value to my life.
Lit the Light thanks Rathi and appreciates her for her time and support for the upliftment of the Visually Challenged community in every possible way...Lit the Light takes the opportunity, rather proud to brag that Rathi is one of the indispensable backbones of our organization and a role model for many other volunteers. Thanks again Rathi, for your time…support…and most of all, for being part of Lit the Light’s Team.
Compiled by Nandita Vaidyanathan, LTL Volunteer
