Service is done out of empathy, not sympathy

The following piece is a narration of the experience of the Award participants from Mody School, Lakshmangarh, who visited Kasturba Seva Sadan in Rajasthan, as part of their Service project.

As part of its endeavour to proliferate the idea of responding to the needs of others, IAYP ensures that its Award participants plant the seeds of a better world in their stride. As part of their Service for the Award, 50 participants from Mody School visited

Kasturba Seva Sadan, a local orphanage situated in Sikar, Rajasthan, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. With the funds that they managed to collect as ‘pocket money’ and collection from the community, the participants distributed sweets in the orphanage. To mark the essence of the colourful occasion of Raksha Bandhan, they also tied handmade ‘rakhis’ to the children. Additionally, they gifted them items of stationery and clothes and danced with them. This was an overwhelming experience for the participants, who returned with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

The objective of IAYP’s Service projects is to propagate the idea that service is done out of empathy and not sympathy. By motivating Award participants to transgress their comfort zones and contemplate the greater good of the world around them, IAYP’s Award participants become not just receptive but also sensitive to the needs of others.