Hello All,
Welcome to Lit the Light's Coordinator aka Leads Blog Series, here we want to hear from our coordinating team about "What?... How?... Why?...and few more questions" as it comes...directly to our leads. This can be considered as an assessment of our performance, and any improvement suggestions (if any) from our Leads, who have been with us during our ups and downs. To start with... Here's our Core Team Member, a senior coordinator, our Audiobook recording and Audio Library lead Karthik, and his experience with Lit the Light.
1. 1. Can you
tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, I’m Karthik, an engineering graduate
working in Eaton as a scheduler. I’m a Planning Engineer, currently staying in
Pondicherry. I’m passionate about planning and executing projects on time. I’ve
always liked meeting new people and hearing their experiences, their life story
and what they’ve been through.
2.
How did
you hear about Lit the light and why did you decide to start volunteering here?
I had found LTL through a Facebook post by the
founder, Barath, and went on to partake in my very first volunteer project of
scribing for college students. I further went on to record audiobooks for
students pursuing a degree in M.A English Literature for a month, and after
that, I have been committed to volunteering and coordinating activities ever since.
3.
What
aspects of being a volunteer do you like the most?
Coordinating and being associated with Lit the Light is my passion. Having said that, I am able to balance passion and my
professional work at the same time felt fulfilling and assisting the
visually-impaired students with their exams and other academic work was a
challenge we were able to overcome together. I was also able to relate my time with Lit the Light as a form of relieving my work pressure as it helped me divert my
energy towards serving the community. Doing my part to make a difference in our society has enabled me to work towards a better cause and I couldn’t be more
thankful.
4.
What is
your most memorable experience volunteering with Lit the Light?
The day I finished recording my first audio
book for Ravi, a student pursuing M.A Literature, I was filled with a sense of
satisfaction and purpose. Also, being part of the team that started the Lit the
Light-ACT in Porur, a training center that equips the visually impaired with
special education that provides them with the necessary tools required to
navigate their path towards employment taught me a lot about their perseverance
and determination to make it in today’s fast-paced world despite their
disability and motivated me as an individual as well.
5.
Do you
have any message for anyone who wants to join us at LTL Volunteer team?
If you want to be part of an initiative that
not only celebrates the talents of the visually impaired but also promotes
inclusion and accessibility, Lit the Light Trust is exactly what you’re looking
for. Work with the students by trying to connect with them on a personal level
by understanding their needs to gain a soulful experience. Most importantly, to
be part of this team, you should understand these students' needs your empathy, and never your sympathy. It’s not about holding their hand and pushing them
forward, it is about putting our hand on their shoulder and guiding them along
their side.
Lit the Light thanks Karthik and appreciates him for his time and support for the upliftment of the Visually Challenged community in every possible...Lit the Light takes the opportunity, rather proud to brag that Karthik is one of the indispensable backbone of our organization and a role model for many other volunteers. Thanks again Karthik.
Article by Ms. Nandhita Vaidyanathan
