Your Compassion is your Strength - Our Strength!

 

“Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch” 

 ~Judy Blume

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. Rithika” 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. Rithika, 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. Rithika’s words on travel with us…

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hey! I'm Rithika, a former student of Journalism and currently a UPSC aspirant. As brainy as it sounds, I like to have fun as much as I love to study. I love learning new languages. I know 4 languages so far - English, Malayalam, Tamil & French - and learning another one right now - Korean. Yes, I'm a K-fanatic. I spend my leisure time singing, dancing, or exploring new fields of interest. Again yes, picking up new hobbies is one of my favorite hobbies!

  

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

As I was looking for NGOs that could give me hours of community service, I ended up in LTL. But I did not join LTL just because I was in need of a certificate, it was more than that. LTL's motto of serving the visually impaired and their consistency in their service is what prompted me to join the organization. Anyone can start an NGO with just an idea, but carrying it forward for a long term without deviating from the main objective is definitely a big deal!

 

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

The best part of being a volunteer at LTL is that I never felt like a volunteer. It felt like family. There was no such thing as a superior-volunteer relationship rather there was mutual respect. I wasn't compelled to do any task out of willingness. No arrogance, no drama! - LTL likes to keep it simple and subtle. Not only did I feel comfortable, but I also got an opportunity to meet good people and build my contacts. The organization helped me hone better networking and socializing skills. Most importantly, the satisfaction you get when you contribute to the betterment of the society you live in is something that is eternal and cannot be explained with words.

  

4.  What is your most memorable experience volunteering here?

I'd say I have many, especially when I go to collect testimonials. I once had to go meet Mr. Manoharan along with another volunteer, Nivetha, to have a short interview and get his testimonial. It was a long ride to his place, it was worth the exhaustion. Manoharan is one of the beneficiaries of LTL and a Para-Judo player. He has partial vision and teaches Judo for kids and adults. When we went there, we were treated with so much hospitality. He was a gentle, down-to-earth person and made sure we were comfortable. That made me feel warm inside. And as we were shooting questions, he was calm but confident in his answers. He was so inspiring and his words were encouraging. We were so grateful we had the opportunity to meet him. That was certainly the best experience for me.

 

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

The message that I wanna share is that LTL is a great place for altruistic people and people with shared beliefs. If there's one thing that makes humanity stand out, that would be helping fellow human beings when they are in need and LTL serves as a platform to channel your thoughts and helps you perform your duties in a better way. So if you're interested in giving something in return for what society has given you, then LTL would be the right choice to begin your journey with.

 

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

 

Article by Nandita Vaidyanathan, LTL Volunteer