.....that I thought made a difference to someone's life.... and nothing else matters..

Chotti Si Asha - (A Ray of Hope)

Recently, I came across this enlightened individual who is a part of organization called Chotti Si Asha. This small organization serves a noble cause of supporting children with a means to life. Their mission statement on the blog is quite interesting (chottisiasha.blogspot.com).

“Chotti Si Asha” is an endeavor for children/adults who eke a living on our street - asking for alms, polishing shoes, selling magazines or imploring you to buy that inexpensive Indian flag as your car waits on the traffic signal. Here, we try to create a space of love and acceptance for these children and are trying to expose them to new alternatives via education, craft work, meditation etc.

They do marvelous work in teaching these children how to make an earning of their own.

Contribution: Chotta sa (Little Financial) Support for Chotti Si Asha.

Wish: I personally participate for the upliftment of these children

G I S O- Pay it Forward Culture

I had very close ties with this organization for roughly five years. This is a voluntary non-profit organization created for, by the Indian students at the University of Houston. Its mission is "to make Indian students feel at home". I have myself witnessed this organization establish a great culture of Pay it Forward. GISO offers an amazing pickup and temporary accommodation service for the students who arrive to the U.S and UH for the first time. Obviously for free. The student members of the organization coordinate and volunteer for their fellows (so called juniors) to pickup and accommodate them until they settle down in their own apartment. Each year we received 60 or more requests from new students in a span of twenty days or so. Believe me, its a hassle especially when you are a student. The culture is Pay it Forward in the sense that the new students picked up this year continue this great legacy for the new students coming following year.

Contribution: Have coordinated these pickups for five years and never missed out on any request

Wish: I could continue my ties with this culture again..

.