I would like to recount my experiences in the volunteering sector in a Questions and Answers (Q&A) format which I find more effective.

1. Why did I choose to Volunteer?
Like many youngsters, I would also crib on the prevailing situation in India, abuse everyone including the Indian Government, watch Rang-De-Basanti with adrenalin flowing, but at the end of the day, do nothing about it. One day I met a distant aunt of mine who is not-so-educated but teaches poor children living in her locality free-of-cost. These are children of construction workers, hawkers who would have otherwise failed miserably in their exams but are now doing well. This meeting with my aunt made me realize how important it is for people like me, the so-called educated people, to contribute towards society and this got me interested in Volunteering.

2. Why did I choose iVolunteer?
I did an extensive research on various volunteering opportunities available in Bangalore through various means. I was not aware of what opportunities there were & what I would be best suited for. It was then that I got to know about iVolunteer through a friend and what impressed me was that I would be placed in an organization based on my interest & skills. After meeting Anna, I realized that I had come to the right place. She also gave me a brief idea on Volunteering, after which she gave me a number of options to choose from.

3.So What did I choose and Why?
I wanted to work for a cause that doesn’t attract many Volunteers and where not much had been done by volunteers of iVolunteer. I finally decided to work with Asha Foundation working on HIV/AIDS awareness.
Why? India is one of the countries where we have the highest number of people infected with HIV/AIDS. This is an issue that people associate with something morally wrong & hence shy away from talking about it. I realized that proper education with the right information was required to be given to the people to prevent spread of the disease.

4.What have I learnt from my experience with ASHA FOUNDATION?
Sunitha from ASHA Foundation has been conducting training sessions to educate us volunteers on HIV/AIDS. I realized that most of the knowledge that we have is either half or wrong & thus the need to educate the people was very crucial. A lot of myths were cleared in the sessions. Our country is at a juncture where if we do not act, we will be doomed. If the educated, which comprises of not more that 30% of the population, have got all there facts wrong then what about the illiterate – who will help them fight against it ??? I am convinced that I am working for the right cause and “what better community service than saving lives”.

5.What have I done to help ASHA in its cause?
Promoting the activities of ASHA was already going on through SMS. This was being done by Vijayanand, an iVolunteer volunteer & Sunitha, the counselor from ASHA. We conducted an awareness session at BEA Systems, a Software Firm. The presentation was attended by around 70 odd employees followed by a Q&A session. It was heartening to note that after the session, they also shared our concern and were interested in helping us in the cause.
We conducted another event on Mother’s Day for Vidyaniketan, an NGO working with underprivileged women. We prepared a skit that primarily focused on Mother to Child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
There are a lot more events planned in the near future on similar lines and we are exploring innovative ways of spreading our message. We have finalized our strategies to target different groups viz. STUDENTS (15 to 21 years), UNSKILLED WORKERS (Auto drivers, Coolies, Factory Workers etc), WOMEN (Single Women, Employed and Unemployed Women, Housewives, etc), PROFESSIONALS etc.

6.How has Volunteering helped me personally?
While a volunteer may wish to change the world in a single day through his work, these social problems are often more complex than they may seem. Thus the volunteer's most appropriate role is that of a student. I think this experience has given me a greater opportunity to define who I am, to expand my horizons of viewing things, to see the world through other people's eyes, to incorporate my experiences into the way I live, think, and feel. It has also given me an opportunity to experience what I am good at and where I need to improve. In short, it has made be a better human being and I am grateful to iVolunteer for helping me at every stage.