Self-confidence paves way for self sufficiency

The best and the most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt with the heart.                                                                         - by Helen Keller

We are delighted to share the inspiring story of the couple with visual impairment, Mr. Krishnamoorthy and Ms. Maniyammal. They hail from the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Krishnamoorthy has completed BA, B.Ed. and Ms. Maniyammal has completed a Diploma in Music and BA in English. Both lost their jobs during Covid.

The couple had initially received support from the Lit the Light team during Covid in the form of grocery supplies. When they heard about the start-up support program, they approached the founder, Mr. Barath, with the help of the coordinators in Dharmapuri. Within a week, their shop was set up and inaugurated by Mr. J. Sukumar, Special Tahsildar-Election, Dharmapuri.

We take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and coordinators for their incessant love, support, and commitment to the noble cause of uplifting the lives of the visually challenged community. We further seek the assistance of benevolent supporters to be able to reach out to many more deserving and talented people who are in need of some light in their dark lives.

As part of Lit the Light's Start-up Support, we have been providing financial support to the deserving people with visual impairment to set up their own bunk shop and to procure the supplies for the same. We are proud to have facilitated the setting up of a bunk shop for Mrs. and Mr. Krishnamoorthy, near their home in Guttampatti village in Dharmapuri. They are the second beneficiaries of the Start-up support Program in the month of October 2021.

The couple dared to dream big in spite of the physical challenges posed on them, and have now taken the first step forward in achieving their dream. They are confident of growing into a much larger enterprise that would cater to the requirements of the customers in their village. The couple acknowledged by stating that all this has been made possible due to the support of the Lit the Light trust and the sponsors. 

Click the link below and Watch the inauguration of the Bunk shop. Please do comment with your valuable thoughts and share the video with your contacts. 

Bunk Shop Inauguration video link:  

https://youtu.be/EyyMQbl5Pgk

We hope to continue the support for these deserving visually impaired families and reach more beneficiaries and help them through their journey to success. This would not be possible without the constant support of our sponsors, volunteers, and well-wishers. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors, volunteers, and beneficiaries for all their time and effort. 

To know further about Lit the Light and our activities, to contribute to these noble causes,  please call us on 98949-49878 and /or 98942-12102. Please know us better...visit our

Website: www.litthelight.org
YouTube: LTL Visions
FaceBook: Lit the Light
LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter: Lit the Light
To contact us, email us at admin@litthelight.org

Reach your heights with Zest - Congratulations Ms. Beno Zephine, IFS

 “I might not have a vision, but I have the vision to be a hardworking Civil Servant”

-        Ms. Beno Zephine

 

If people can see a possibility, someone who is the same as them living their dream, they can get the hope and motivation to keep working at their dreams. As part of our motivational series, Lit the Light has been bringing in inspirational leaders and achievers who can spark up motivation and provide guidance to our aspiring visually challenged friends.

 

Ms. Beno Zephine, IFS
Ministry of External Affairs
New Delhi

We had the opportunity to bring in, Ms. N. L. Beno Zephine, an acclaimed visually challenged achiever. Beno Zephine is an IFS officer at the   Policy Planning and Research, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. She has achieved what was considered almost impossible.  Scaling all the obstacles and difficulties on her way, Ms. Beno Zephine achieved her dreams and became India’s first Visually challenged Foreign Service Officer. She has also received the ‘First Women’s Award” from the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind in 2018.

 

She had been the topper and secured first place in the secondary level examination at the state level among the visually challenged category.  During her Higher Secondary level, she attended ‘Global Young Leaders conference in the US in 2008.

 

She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature. She has a high level of proficiency in the French Language as well. She then started working as a probationary officer with the State Bank of India.

 

After securing 343 rd. rank in all India Civil Services Examination in 2014 she joined the ministry of external affairs. Her life story is a lesson to even the abled individuals because what she has achieved despite her challenges could not be achieved by several abled individuals. Thiru.V.Nandakumar IRS, Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax & Our Chief Mentor for UPSC Aspirants moderated the overall session.

Thiru. V. Nandakumar, IRS
Addl. Commissioner of Income Tax
LTL Chief Mentor for UPSC Aspirants

  

Click...Watch...to be Inspired by Ms. Beno Zephine, IFS, and please do share the video with other UPSC aspirants and of course we are looking forward to your valuable comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2S4d2cRF_Q

The feedback to the session has been unanimously positive. During the session, she shared her life experiences and guided the participants into developing confidence, and insisted on the need to have their own goals and vision. Participants felt the session to be a wonderful experience and the interactive conversation during the session to be both interesting and illuminating. The motivational series of online interactive sessions have truly proven to be of use as participants find it a great way to connect with similar achievers and get inspiring mentorship. We hope to continue the series and reach more beneficiaries and help them through their journey to success. This would not be possible without the constant support of our volunteers and well-wishers. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors, volunteers, and beneficiaries for all their time and effort. 

To know further about Lit the Light and our activities, please visit our
Website: www.litthelight.org
YouTube: LTL Visions
FaceBook: Lit the Light
LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter: Lit the Light
To contact us, email us at admin@litthelight.org

Content is written by: Ms. Theofilla Paul, LTL Volunteer

Social Media compliments volunteering too - Lit the Light on Twitter

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the
 heart.” 

 ~Elizabeth Andrew

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 “Ms. Nivetha” 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 Ms. Nivetha, a dedicated coordinator, a valuable team lead, supporting us with social media promotions, like our Twitter account, and also in many other field activities as well.

Lit the Light's Coordinator Ms. Nivetha’s words on travel with us…

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m Nivetha and I’m a final year student pursuing Journalism. I enjoy traveling, photography, and spend a lot of my time reading books.

 

2. How did you hear about LTL and why did you decide to start volunteering here?

My college had asked for a scribe volunteer to help students at a school in Adyar, that is how I heard about Lit the Light. During the 2020 Read Fest, I helped with the promotion of the event through meme-creation and was also in charge of taking pictures of the event. Later, I was given the opportunity to handle the Lit the Light Twitter account and also lead the video testimonial series. I wanted to start volunteering here because I wanted to utilize my free time meaningfully, instead of just being on my phone. I also felt a great sense of personal satisfaction that I had never felt before and wanted to endure that feeling.

 

3. What aspects of being a volunteer do you like the most?

Being able to watch people from different walks of life come together for a common cause is truly magical. Even during the Pandemic, I’ve seen volunteers working relentlessly and selflessly to aid the visually challenged. Despite the uncertain times that we live in today, it is comforting to be a part of a community that actively works towards making the world a better place.

 

4.  What is your most memorable experience volunteering here?

The first-ever event that I had attended that was conducted by LTL was the 2020 Readfest. I spent the whole day interacting and taking pictures of the visually challenged individuals and was in awe of their talents and vibrant energy. Also, listening to the inspiring stories of those I interview for the LTL Testimonial video series is something I will cherish forever.

 

5. Do you have any messages for anyone who wants to join us at LTL?

LTL is a flexible organization and is very understanding of the volunteer's situation. They don't enforce anything upon you. So even if you feel you will not have the time to help, know that there is always something that you can do to be of service. Amid the challenges of the pandemic, now more than ever is the time to help those in need, so come join us at LTL and make a difference in someone's life!

Lit the Light thanks Nivetha 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 Nivetha is one of the indispensable backbones of our organization and a role model for many other volunteers. Thanks again Nivetha, for your time…support…and most of all, for being part of Lit the Light’s Team.
 

Compiled by Nandita Vaidyanathan, LTL Volunteer