"If you love Snehalaya, it will love you right back"
Each year we welcome hundreds of volunteers to support the work in our Indian projects. While some have decades of experience, others include young people hoping to gain new insights and develop their personal and professional skills and those conducting internships or research as part of their studies. Our Volunteer of the Month blogs aim to shine a light both on the range of volunteers we host and a small glimpse into the endless opportunities we can offer.
This August, it was impossible to pick out one of the three sets of volunteers we welcomed so we are sharing more about our seven amazing Volunteers of the Month.
First to arrive was Ash from the UK. Ash is a trustee of Snehalaya UK, working with our UK charity to promote and fundraise for our projects in India. Her first experience of Snehalaya was when she was volunteering as team leader for a team of students for Leeds Beckett University in 2018. Working then as Societies Manager she came with four students. She now works as a special needs teacher and has since returned as an independent volunteer a further four times.
We always look forward to Ash’s return as she has created meaningful relationahips with many fo our children and her observations of the changes she see each year serve to remind us of our progress. This year she was invaluable in providing support to newer volunteers as well as our resident, long-term Snehalaya UK volunteers, Joyce and Nick!
"I don’t really know where to start with how much Snehalaya has changed my life and made it richer. I have learnt so much from my time here. I have been involved with so many great events including sports days, games days, Bingo, Pride, a pop up cafe, craft club, chess club and English classes.
"I have visited many of the current projects and have been blown away by the work of the project leaders and staff and the warm welcome they have given me and their patience in taking time out of their busy days to talk about the projects and answer questions.
"As well as meeting so many wonderful people, Snehalaya also influenced in my career change after leaving Leeds Beckett. Meeting the young people here and the support workers made me realise I wanted to do a role to support vulnerable groups in society. It helped inspire my current job in education supporting young adults aged 16-19 at a SEN school which I have done for the last three years.
"I would recommend anyone to volunteer, fundraise or visit Snehalaya. To paraphrase one of my friends, if you love Snehalaya it will love you right back."
We have recently expanded our reach in USA with the Bhanap family playing a key role in our west coast team of Indians with long-standing relationships with Snehalaya and our founder, Girish. The Bhanaps have been great practical supporters and volunteers. Vyoma, now a student at University of California Davis (UCD) went the extra mile this year by securing herself a Strauss Scholarship to come and deliver dance therapy to our girls. She was joined initially by her father Anil, Mother Bilwa, brother, Anvay, and Pune-based cousin, Anusha.
Bilwa, Anil and Vyoma also visited previously in 2022 when they joined a team from Indians for Collective Action (ICA) and we were thrilled that they were able to return for longer this year. Between them they have conducted a range of activities with our children including craft and tutoring sessions and games and Anusha, a clinical psychology student spent much of her time in our Manasgram project. It is Vyoma who has truly shone as she has secured funding and developed a dance therapy project, Dance Bhoomi, in collaboration with our Family-Based Care counsellors.
Expression through dance, music and movement is the focus of the year-long program to help our youngsters manage their mental health and wellbeing. The response has been mixed so far but we are confident that over the next 12 months, with Vyoma’s support from the US, our children will become better equipped to deal with their teenage years and emotions.
"Since 2018, I have been volunteering with Snehalaya through book translation projects, virtual English classes during the pandemic, and dance therapy inspired sessions! I had the opportunity to visit Snehalaya in person twice now and I have been deeply touched by the kindness that all the children and staff embody, as well as the depth of the transformative work being done throughout the organization.
"As an avid dancer, I noticed how the students were drawn to Zumba and dance as a release, which inspired me to apply for the Donald A. Strauss Scholarship and kickstart the Dance Bhoomi program. This program aspires to give students a movement vocabulary with which to understand their emotions, practice self-compassion and express their ideas – all while tapping into their innate love of dance."
Our final volunteer is Caroline, a music teacher from the UK. She too has been delivering activities to our women, children and Manasgram residents. Using movement, sound and music she has really engaged with all, creating lots of excitement with her keyboard and drums while also introducing African music from her previous volunteering there.
"Organising a 24-hour Pianothon to raise funds for Snehalaya was very hard work, but it was extremely worthwhile as it brought together a community of 33 piano players who raised almost £3,000.
"Volunteering at Snehalaya has been a very profound experience. I have so much admiration for everyone who works here, bringing security and a sense of belonging to the most vulnerable children and adults. I've been bowled over by the friendliness and kindness of everyone here - staff and residents. I have been particularly moved by the way that the older children look out for the little ones - supporting and protecting them.
"I have been profoundly affected by my visits to some of the other projects around Ahmednagar. Even though it has been difficult to learn of the hardships of so many, I have been incredibly impressed by the determination and courage of the staff in their enormous efforts to alleviate suffering and to change people's lives."
All of the above have also thrown themselves into the programs we have enjoyed over the past month, including our children’s birthdays as well as working with our 10 std students to improve their English skills.
We hope they have enjoyed being here as much as we have enjoyed hosting them and that we look forward to seeing them back here again soon!
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