“The gift of Service leads to a life of Love”
~Mary White
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. Kaviya Anbalagan” sharing her experience and moments with Lit the Light in simple words. She is here to express herself on "What?... How?... Why?... and a 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. Kaviya Anbalagan, a dedicated coordinator, a valuable team lead, supporting us with various volunteering activities for the betterment of Lit the Light.
Lit the Light's Coordinator Ms. Kaviya Anbalagan’s words on travel with us…
Tell us a little bit
about yourself?
How did you hear about LTL and why did you decide to start volunteering here?
When I was in my 11th standard I had gone for a competition and there I came across a young visually challenged girl named Preethi performing on stage. I befriended her and talked to her about anything and everything and got a glimpse into the fascinating world of the visually impaired. This interaction with Preethi is what ignited my passion to volunteer and help the visually impaired in every way that I can. Later, in my first year of college, my friends had forwarded a post from Lit the Light and I had contacted Barath. He connected me with Meenakshi ma’am, another LTL coordinator, and we were in charge of coordinating the branch in Coimbatore. We would help with connecting the student to scribes, help with exam requirements, and have conducted Spoken English training too. Now, we are working towards helping and training graduate students to find employment through skill development training programs. In 2018, I was part of the team from the Seersei Charitable trust that came up with an application software called ‘Yesabled’ which helps connect visually impaired individuals with the public and help them navigate the world around them. In 2020, I was awarded the ‘Women Achiever’ award by Avinashilingam University for developing the application.
What aspects of being a volunteer do you like the most?
I have always enjoyed volunteering and believe in the importance of spending my time meaningfully. Volunteering makes me feel very fulfilled and makes me feel like I have spent my time fruitfully. Volunteering is more than just a way to give back to society, it allows you to connect with your community and brings fun and fulfillment to your life.
What is your most memorable experience volunteering here?
I have many wonderful memories with Lit the Light. Lit the Light was a turning point in my social work journey. They had made me realize my vision to be a part of a mission to better the lives of the visually challenged and guided me to organize and structurized my vision. I have immense respect for Barath and see him as my mentor.
Do you have any messages for anyone who wants to join us at LTL?
Forming a connection with the visually impaired individuals is crucial when it comes to volunteering. You need to realise that their world is different and try to understand it even a little bit. Whether you are recording an audiobook or scribing for them, try to be cognizant of their needs and what they’re comfortable with and you will really be making a difference in their lives.
Lit the Light thanks Ms. Kaviya Anbalagan 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 Kaviya is one of the indispensable backbones of our organization and a role model for many other volunteers. Thanks again Kaviya, for your time…support…and most of all, for being part of Lit the Light’s Team.
Article by Nandita Vaidyanathan, LTL Volunteer
