Sunanda Priyadarshini a social worker from the temple city of India, Bhubaneswar. Who always make herself busy in doing welfare works in her society and being an example for others.
1. What inspired you to step into the field of social working?
Social work is in my genes I can say because I have seen my mother doing a lot of social work from the very beginning. So, when inspiration comes up, she will be on the top, mostly because I was born in a place where she was giving first aid training. She never gave me any priority. I was the same kid as those in foster care homes. I was treated in the same way. But I never had any complaints regarding that because I was pretty much happy as I got to learn many things.
2. Have you worked with any organization? If yes, please be specific to our audience.
Yes, I have worked with 4 organisations till date
In the year 2014, July 19th, I joined this NGO and started working with its different projects. Initially we were organising Children Fest, in which there were kids from both orphanages and normal schools both of them were able to participate in different competitions and challenge their limits.
Then we had another event named as UTSAV, where all the specially disabled kids participated in different sports competitions and performed exceptionally well.
We also had another initiative named ‘Shiksha’ where we had regular classes for orphanage kids at their ashrams and I was made the assistant director of Shiksha.
It has been six long years and I am still working with them as a volunteer.
RHA (Robin Hood Army) –Bhubaneswar
Robin Hood Army is operational in various places outside Odisha and outside India as well the reason why this organisation is so amazing is that it is a Zero funded organisation. People donate food and we serve the hungry and needy ones. Now we are having a mission 30 million to serve 30 million people July 1st till Aug 15th and in Bhubaneswar we have served 10800 people during this COVID-19 and presently continue to serve. From 5th October, 2018 till date working with them to serve the hungry people.
Anveshan – Bhubaneswar
So, it was operational from August 19th 2018, since then I am associated with them. They also have similar kinds of events like gifting a packet of sweets to those working during holidays like on Diwali/ Holi. We covered Hospital (Blood Banks), Traffic Police, BMC workers (those who keep our city clean). Not just these they come up with various events like old clothes distribution, etc.
I was in Bangalore for 4months for an internship which was for 3-4 hours a day. For the rest of the time I was totally free. So, while I was in Bangalore, I always wanted to make the best use of my time, there I met one of my inspirations, Asis Bhai, who was even a volunteer in We 4 You and we were together in the Shiksha initiative. Then he introduced me to the organisation he was associated with which was Being Social, there were all friendly people and Praveen Sir the founder who led the team was so humble and down to earth. So, when I was in Bangalore for 4months I got some time to interact with kids there and two few sessions also attended their events at Cancer Hospital on 26th January.
3. What tips would you like to give to our readers?
I would like to suggest let’s make this world a better place for everyone. Not only by teaching kids at orphanages or doing some social work but by being a little kind in our words and thoughts and being a little more human which is not seen these days. People are praying for Amitabh Bachchan when he is found positive by Corona but when someone near your place is found to be positive, do we actually pray for that person or do we ill-treat them? Have they done something knowingly? Is it somehow their fault? We need to think, re-think before we start ill-treating others. So, to sum up I want to say that let’s bring that belief in humanity back, let’s be what we are designed to be, Humans.
4. What were the challenges that you faced when you started doing social working?
In the year 2014, when I initially joined, We 4 You, I was studying in class 11th. So, there were many challenges because I had to study for a vast syllabus as well as I had to go to those foster care homes away from my place also, I had my own tuitions too. Somehow I was able to manage but again I had issues while teaching them cause they were studying in Odia Media Schools and I was in Joseph totally ICSE school so there were many challenges I came across but when you’re dedicated and love what you’re doing then nothing can ever stop you. There were many elder brothers and sisters who were also coming to those foster care homes at Shahid Nagar to teach along with me so they used to manage. Also, I got to learn many things from them.
5. What are your hobbies?
My hobbies were dancing, cooking and photography later, when I spent a lot of time with kids then gradually, I loved teaching them. It’s always a two-way thing which happens cause kids even teach us many things.
6. What do you aim for with this in your future?
Future aim is to own a house for those kids who stay in the roads/streets. They have done nothing to deserve that. A childhood is the most crucial part of a kid, that somehow shouldn’t be hampered. Not sure if I would become that successful someday to own a house and help many kids out but definitely have a plan to help a minimum of 10kids and make their life.
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