I for detail :-)

I for Ice-cream in hot Chennai? Too common. I for Idli – fluffy steamed rice cakes – the staple breakfast and signature dish of Chennai? Typical – idlis are famous the world over; shall write about it another time with a different take rather than stating the obvious. My attempt with the A-Z Challenge is to highlight a mix of some known and some lesser-known aspects of Chennai and make my postings a little experiential, rather than copy paste facts and figures from Google and Wiki. This is certainly turning into an interesting project for me :)

I for myself? Please don’t say I-self (typical Indian slapstick humour). In the times we live in, the alphabet I, even if in small case, seems to be the trend in more ways than one (iMac, iPhone, iPad) and the famous joke: iPaid and iPeed as well. In the self-absorbed lifestyle that we all lead, this is the norm these days. In such times, it is heartening to note of people who dedicate their time, talents, skills and energies into something constructive - something beyond the obvious, something beyond themselves. Those who do so leave a legacy that goes beyond their lifetime, their contribution unimaginable even to themselves. They say even if you simply manage to make someone smile each day, you are indeed blessed and also get to be an angel of blessings for others.

#atozchallenge

So in my book I stands for iVolunteer, a non-profit umbrella organization that is connected to over 300 charity homes and shelters and encourages and fosters the spirit of volunteering with anyone keen on helping with social and community development. They have a wide range of initiatives that one can pick and choose from and continue to be associated with. An international organization, iVolunteer has a chapter in different cities of India and the Chennai representative is Ms. Kalyani. A pleasant and helpful person, her job is to disseminate information on the various programs and requirements of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to the volunteers on their database. Whether it is becoming a scribe for visually challenged students, helping children, the elderly, women who suffered abuse, health, environment, education -- all these areas receive qualitative and quantitative support from iVolunteer and their volunteers.

Below is a decal I’ve had for a few years when I first signed up.

#atozchallenge

A few months ago, I had visited a home for the mentally ill and destitute in Santhome where we spent some time with the residents of the shelter home, got them to sing, enjoy a snack etc. Though I didn’t stay long, I received a lovely letter of thanks and a bunch of my favourite chocolates (KitKat) in the mail soon after! Was wonderstruck on why I was being thanked when I ought to be thanking iVolunteer for the amazing work they do and giving volunteers the opportunity to make a difference.

#atozchallenge

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”– Anne Frank.

As their website states: “Experience how giving is indeed more receiving than receiving itself.” Organised volunteering is indeed an experience like no other. So what are you waiting for? Check out the website and sign up! :-) 

iVolunteer website

This blog post is part of the A to Z Challenge. This challenge involves writing a blog post on any topic/theme in the order of the alphabets from A-Z. The blog posts have to be written each day through the entire month of April, excluding Sundays.

My chosen theme is the city of Chennai - sights, sounds, tastes, its happenings, events, and my memories and experiences connected with this place.