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Day 276: Go. Eat. Give. A Giving Movement fuelled by Passion

I think I found a great give today, one that is a giving movement fuelled by passion. I recently came across a site call Go.Eat.Give. This site takes all three of my passions and ties them into one great site. Travel, food and philanthropy – I had to read more.

Go. Eat. Give. was created from one women’s passion for food, travel, writing and giving. Founder Sacheta Rawal had an early experience volunteering at an orphanage in Russia that has shaped her life. Through her work as a writer, Sacheta explores the world of food but also has started a movement we should all join. The Go Eat Give Movement is about exploring the world through food and community service. I have talked often about how you can give and vacation. Giving doesn’t have to stop because you are on holidays or exploring the world. Quoted by Sucheta “This can be done by doing volunteer work for as little as two hours a day.”

Day 276: Give 276 Guest Post by Sucheta Rawal

Life Lesson

When I was a child growing up with my grandmother in India, I would accompany her to the Mother Teresa’s orphanage every once in a while.  I clearly remember one of these visits. I was 10 years old and the nun who managed the orphanage took us around for a tour of their facility. I saw cradles full of babies and my heart went out to them. She told us that for every 99 girls in there, there was only 1 boy. It is because the boys get adopted quickly. Here I must mention that it was a belief in Indian culture that a boy is an asset to the parents, sort of like a retirement policy. That day, I decided I would adopt a girl instead of having kids of my own when I grow up.

Volunteering

A few years later, I discovered that India and Russia account for the largest number of orphan children in the world. At 29, I decided to go to Russia for a volunteer vacation program. It involved working in orphanages and boarding schools through a non-profit, Cross Cultural Solutions. I spent a week in a small town roughly four hours east of Moscow, called Yaroslavl. Because of the language barrier, there were limitation to the kind of work I could do with the kids but I soon realized that love has no language. The children were excited to know that someone travelled all the way around the world, and took time out, just to be with them. There were children of all ages, from 4-14. Some of them had living parents who were unable to take care of them, therefore put in government sponsored “boarding houses.” Communism and poverty left a lot of women as prostitutes and addicts in Russia, leaving their kids to suffer.

I really enjoyed engaging the children in sports, arts and crafts activities. They were curious because I looked very different from them. “A Bollywood actress, Princess from Asia” they exclaimed amongst themselves. In one of the classes, we (the volunteers) took pictures of each child individually and made foam photo frames. Most of those kids had never seen a picture of themselves and were overly excited to have one in their possession. During another afternoon, a young affectionate boy wanted nothing more than to be hugged. There were other little ones who seemed to have a look of loss and I felt very sad when I couldn’t reach their hearts to make them smile. One thing I noticed was how nice these kids were to each other. They were helpful, courteous and loving. Perhaps they had learned to create their own family in this new environment.

The Impact

It was hard to leave them after my short visit. I felt guilty of not spending more time, not giving them more attention, not making a bigger impact. I did not come back with any adopted babies (although I considered it) but with a broader perspective on life. I wanted to share their story with others and make people realize how many kids are out there who could use love, resources, a family or a home. I don’t feel one person can change the world, but one person can change another person’s life forever.

Sucheta Rawal is a freelance writer, foodie and travel enthusiast. Born and raised in India, she is a home grown chef who is an expert at many cuisines. Sucheta has taken her experience into food and travel journalism. Sucheta is also a philanthropist, actively involved in serving the community, locally and abroad. She has been involved with a number of organizations in Atlanta, including Community Consulting Teams, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Refugee Family Services, Southern Center for International Studies and many more. Her volunteer vacation trips to Russia and Morocco led her to form Go Eat Give, a movement that brings people from around the world together, through food and community service.

www.crossculturalsolutions.org

www.goeatgive.com

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)