Absolutely priceless
MALA ASHOK
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Volunteer to help someone and you will find you have learnt a lot. This World Disability Day, choose to do something different.
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December 3 is World Disability Day, but I choose to consider it as World Ability Day. Why? This is because on this day the abilities of so-called `normal' and `differently enabled' people come to the fore. Those of you who have volunteered your time will appreciate what I'm trying to say.
So what is special about volunteerism? Not much really, at least not much that you don't know, can't figure out, or look up in a dictionary.
That's why, instead perhaps I could tell you about my first volunteering experience?
My first experience was reading to a visually challenged young man. From that experience I learned volunteerism transcends religious barriers - he belonged to one religion, and I to another.
I learned a lot about Economics and History, the subjects that I read to him. I learned about Braille as he often transcribed what I read into Braille, which he could `read' later. I even learned about Braille watches, but above all I learned that it was all about `ability' not `disability'. He could do so many things that we so called `normal' human beings cannot do. Above all, it is we who cannot see, because we think of them as `blind' and dismiss them but in truth they are quite perceptive. Yes, it was a humbling and uplifting experience and ever since I vowed I'd be a volunteer whenever the chance presented itself.If you're asking yourself how you can help by being a volunteer when you're already so burdened by homework, tuitions, and so on, make a small start by trying to help your maid's child with her homework.
Quite often they are very good at all subjects except English, and you can help them there. Once you are a little older, you might volunteer outside the house. Your teachers or parents will be able to help you .
If you feel, "but if I'm not paid for the work, does it not mean that what I'm doing is something worthless," please rest assured, "Volunteers are not paid not because they are worthless but because they are priceless!"
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