The Gift of Giving by Riya

The Gift of Giving by Riya - January 2017 Scholarship Essay

Prosperity. Infrastructure. Poverty. Industry. One of these words doesn’t fit with the the others: poverty. All the other words are characteristics of a developed country, the environment that I grew up in. As a child, I was aware that poverty existed and its prevalence in the world, but it was just some abstract concept that didn’t affect me. I didn’t need to worry about it because I was happy with what I had. But that all changed when I took a life-changing trip to India, where poverty isn’t just present; it’s everywhere.

The second I left the vicinity of the international airport, I knew I was in a developing country. Not only could I see the beggars on the side of the road, I could also feel their struggle for survival. This moment will be branded into my memory forever as an epiphany. My eyes were opened to the reality of life outside of my privileged and sheltered one. I resolved to do something small that would improve the life of someone, even if it was just one person.

During my last week in India, I bought hundreds of small packets of biscuits and distributed these cookies to the beggars on the road. I knew that it was a very insignificant act, but I was surprised to see the positive impact that it had.

As soon as the first packet of cookies left my hands, I was surrounded by twenty or thirty children, their eyes shining brightly as they looked at me. These kids were so happy to get something so small. I am glad that I could bring a glimmer of joy into these kids’ lives. As I passed out the cookies, I noticed the abysmal state of their living quarters, if they could be called that. There were four to five people living in one small, cramped tent. As I progressed onwards, I noticed a group of children surrounding a teacher who was teaching them how to read and write. And these kids, kids who had barely anything, were so absorbed in their learning.

I was surprised at the cruel nature of poverty. My entire life I had been living in ignorance and now I was gaining awareness. But that wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to take action. I wanted to attack the problem at the root.

In India, there are many citizens living in poverty that try to support their family by making meager amounts of money off of roadside shops. These people include barbers, tailors, and blacksmiths. Their income provides the very basic necessities for their families. With India's ever changing weather systems, it becomes burdensome for these people to conduct business. In the summer, the temperatures can become very high and harsh. In the monsoon season, with the rain crashing down upon them, they need some type of shelter.

I wanted to provide an avenue for these small business owners to continue their business in this harsh and unpredictable weather so that they could continue to support their family. I contacted my family in India and we began a charitable non-profit organization called “Visamo.” Visamo is a Gujarati word that roughly translates to asylum. In the summer and monsoon season, Visamo equips the owners with a weather-proof tarp that is specially designed and riveted to shelter against the burning temperatures and rain.

During my last trip to India, I personally went to help distribute these tarpolines to the shops on the side of the roads. I wanted to see the impact that my work had on these people. As I went around the city giving out these tarps, I could see the sheer happiness and gratefulness in these people’s eyes at receiving these gifts. I knew that this was something that I may never receive recognition for, but this experience is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

These experiences have had a profound effect on me. I learned of the many things that I take for granted. My home, my clothes, and the food I eat. These petty needs pale in comparison to the struggle for survival felt by impoverished people. Even my seemingly insignificant act of passing out cookies made a difference. And yes, I did my best to help them in the interim, but my charity will continue to create a lasting impact. Charity is not only an action, it’s an idea. Any act that leaves all involved with a sense of wellbeing is true charity.