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It’s tough for a copy- paste person like me (management student that I am) to get into action, especially to employ a bunch of school dropouts. But fate drove us ( a bunch of college enthusiasts) into it or rather Yamini, a second year student who has taken up a full time job with them. 31st March, 2007 marks a special day for ME. They say we need to go beyond the syllabus, beyond books; this was the best possible opportunity to do so, where we act as a bridge between the world of opportunities and the world of lost hopes; K.S.W.A. being the facilitator.
That morning the sun was scorching stronger than ever before, as if our conviction was put to test. But we managed to assemble at the Kherwadi ground exactly at 9.00 a.m. Supporting K.S.W.A. in this endeavor were our counterparts from NMIMS, who handled the registration. But an enthusiastic lot that we were; made us go beyond a mere desk job & so we took up guidance and enquiry. The task was basically to ensure that the job seekers were not lost and were directed to the right stall.
Coming to the stalls, it’s rare to see companies like First source, H.S.B.C, L.I.C, Reliance Retail, R.K.H.S., Pizza Hut, N & Y, B.G. , Eureka Forbes, ITC to name a few, come under one roof. Should have got our CVs too….. Naah where was the time? People just barged in and with them brought in their dreams and aspirations! Batch after batch were given a snapshot of what their career plan should be like and how a job is different from a career. It was an effort to convert mere wishes into strong determinations. The way to achieve them was through the vocational training courses held at K.S.W.A. or through training and placements within the companies. Was it fruitful for them, of course it was, says ninety percent of the response taken and the rest were there for fun anyway. The reason being the sketching, dancing, singing & mehndi competitions held or perhaps, the prizes given.
Was it of use to us? ………..it has to be a big YES, where else do you interact with people who may be your future customers, centered on whom you make your future strategies. Where else can you see individuals come out of their inhibitions just because you show some amount of respect? Where else can you learn that you need nothing to survive but the will to survive? There have been experiences that each of the ten of us would want to narrate….. Experiences which moved us or may be changed at least an iota of us.
The two of them seemed lost or rather intimidated by the crowd and the ambience, but Sheetal and Nazneen somehow managed to halt at the guidance hall. Both were matriculate and wanted a life of respect and dignity. And what better place to be than here…..knowing their background one of the volunteers took them to the R.K.H.S. stall for housekeeping . The work initially did not seem flowery but the scope ahead and the thought that “there has to be a beginning somewhere drove them into accepting the offer”
There were many such Sheetals & Nazneens, the first step towards building whose career was put forth that day….. And how glad were we to be a part of all this! People came in and out and no sooner was it noon but there was no one who was hungry or thirsty or wanting a break! But at 2.30 p.m. our shift was over or rather we were relieved by some other students. We left the place with as much enthusiasm as we entered; the thought of coming the day after was rejuvenating enough.
1st April 2007, we had an afternoon shift that day. After the heavy dose of operational research and financial management we just rushed towards Kherwadi and our excitement was enough to add on a couple of more volunteers to TEAM MET.
The second day wasn’t as hectic as the first day but there was a constant inflow of people, the publicity efforts taken by the association were commendable. The fair ended at about 6.00 p.m. and there was an air of content within each of the organizer who managed to pull it off with supreme efficiency. It was evident that they were foreseeing a footfall of 5000 and more next year, which was almost double the current numbers.
But were we content is a big question …….there was emptiness within everyone one of the volunteer; as each one had to reply to their own conscience. What have we done to deserve what we have or what have these socially neglected individuals done to not deserve what we have? The past two days have been hard for each one coz it is hard to live a life of pleasures when people who know the art of living better still struggle to make ends meet.
But there is one thing that keeps us going even today that is the “will” to work towards making ourselves worth what we already have. This struggle within ourselves will now keep us intact emotionally and morally in life’s worst situations and that’s the reason we say that;
“The second opportunity was grabbed by us”
We thank K.S.W.A. and Yamini for this enriching experience.
That morning the sun was scorching stronger than ever before, as if our conviction was put to test. But we managed to assemble at the Kherwadi ground exactly at 9.00 a.m. Supporting K.S.W.A. in this endeavor were our counterparts from NMIMS, who handled the registration. But an enthusiastic lot that we were; made us go beyond a mere desk job & so we took up guidance and enquiry. The task was basically to ensure that the job seekers were not lost and were directed to the right stall.
Coming to the stalls, it’s rare to see companies like First source, H.S.B.C, L.I.C, Reliance Retail, R.K.H.S., Pizza Hut, N & Y, B.G. , Eureka Forbes, ITC to name a few, come under one roof. Should have got our CVs too….. Naah where was the time? People just barged in and with them brought in their dreams and aspirations! Batch after batch were given a snapshot of what their career plan should be like and how a job is different from a career. It was an effort to convert mere wishes into strong determinations. The way to achieve them was through the vocational training courses held at K.S.W.A. or through training and placements within the companies. Was it fruitful for them, of course it was, says ninety percent of the response taken and the rest were there for fun anyway. The reason being the sketching, dancing, singing & mehndi competitions held or perhaps, the prizes given.
Was it of use to us? ………..it has to be a big YES, where else do you interact with people who may be your future customers, centered on whom you make your future strategies. Where else can you see individuals come out of their inhibitions just because you show some amount of respect? Where else can you learn that you need nothing to survive but the will to survive? There have been experiences that each of the ten of us would want to narrate….. Experiences which moved us or may be changed at least an iota of us.
The two of them seemed lost or rather intimidated by the crowd and the ambience, but Sheetal and Nazneen somehow managed to halt at the guidance hall. Both were matriculate and wanted a life of respect and dignity. And what better place to be than here…..knowing their background one of the volunteers took them to the R.K.H.S. stall for housekeeping . The work initially did not seem flowery but the scope ahead and the thought that “there has to be a beginning somewhere drove them into accepting the offer”
There were many such Sheetals & Nazneens, the first step towards building whose career was put forth that day….. And how glad were we to be a part of all this! People came in and out and no sooner was it noon but there was no one who was hungry or thirsty or wanting a break! But at 2.30 p.m. our shift was over or rather we were relieved by some other students. We left the place with as much enthusiasm as we entered; the thought of coming the day after was rejuvenating enough.
1st April 2007, we had an afternoon shift that day. After the heavy dose of operational research and financial management we just rushed towards Kherwadi and our excitement was enough to add on a couple of more volunteers to TEAM MET.
The second day wasn’t as hectic as the first day but there was a constant inflow of people, the publicity efforts taken by the association were commendable. The fair ended at about 6.00 p.m. and there was an air of content within each of the organizer who managed to pull it off with supreme efficiency. It was evident that they were foreseeing a footfall of 5000 and more next year, which was almost double the current numbers.
But were we content is a big question …….there was emptiness within everyone one of the volunteer; as each one had to reply to their own conscience. What have we done to deserve what we have or what have these socially neglected individuals done to not deserve what we have? The past two days have been hard for each one coz it is hard to live a life of pleasures when people who know the art of living better still struggle to make ends meet.
But there is one thing that keeps us going even today that is the “will” to work towards making ourselves worth what we already have. This struggle within ourselves will now keep us intact emotionally and morally in life’s worst situations and that’s the reason we say that;
“The second opportunity was grabbed by us”
We thank K.S.W.A. and Yamini for this enriching experience.
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