Our beneficiaries speak
Renuka Kanikaraj - ACT Alumna
ACT did not teach us just academic subjects. It went beyond. It taught us how to manage our time, how to be responsible, how to understand oneself. The actual meaning of sharing. I am an average marks scoring student but I was never made to feel bad about my marks. The first time I saw a computer was at ACT. Sujata first got a computer to the Trust, placed it on the floor and showed us how to connect and use it. We got a head-start because of ACT.
ACT also taught me to manage my emotions, accept them and move on. I’m short tempered and not ashamed to accept it. ACT taught us that its okay to feel angry, okay to feel bad, it is okay to cry. These emotions are part of you. ACT taught me the Openness to accept emotions.
We went straight from school to ACT. Have snacks, read story books with volunteers. I started the habit of reading only from ACT. I love reading books now. There were a lot of activities that I looked forward to like storytelling, drawing, etc. We also had English and Math classes. Sujata taught us Math – I love math because of her and even now, sometimes I wish I could be a child to learn math from her. That’s how much I love math. I learnt computers at ACT – excel, making and editing videos, etc. Also, we
when we were in the Trust, our parents were assured that their child was constructively engaged after school. I believe that when children are kept busy, negative thoughts are reduced in their minds. It was the same during summer vacations.
My parents used to come to the Trust and visit the Act team and volunteers, where they were given a progress report, and were asked if there were any problems at home and help them if there were any. Recognition of parents during the annual day, was and still is, a good motivator. My parents are proud of me.
We were taken on visits to companies, where staff showed us how they work, how to be confident, prepare for interviews and they also did mock interviews with us, which was all really useful.
When I get the time, I enjoy teaching dance to the children. I want to teach children the importance of reading and teach them how to read books. Get off their phones for a while.
My life completely changed after ACT. After 5th standard, I learnt that there was so much more to life than just studies. Even today, when I alone or that I’m missing something in my life, I go visit ACT and just looking at everyone, I feel good. There is a purity in that place like what you feel when you go to church.
Somia - ACT Alumna
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ashwini Charitable Trust for reaching 20 years, a special place in my heart, a palace where I grew and loved spending time.
I still remember how blessed I felt when I was the chosen 1 among the 7 kids for that year back in 2000; after school hours Sujatha Aunty used to meet us and help us with Math, and the other volunteers taught us various subjects along art & crafts. That’s how we were more fascinated and continued learning new and better things compared to other children in school.
This continued as years passed-by, we grew up, so did the Trust grow along with us teaching and inspiring us along the way. Many volunteers joined ACT, but what stayed was the kindness & helping nature & teaching spirit in volunteers. Spirit and enthusiasm among the volunteer’s spread happiness among children, as days & years passed-by this has not changed.
Recollecting my journey with ACT, there are many special moments and sharing them in few lines is very difficult, but I would love to share a few which I cherished the most with ACT
I always waited for summer vacation as we had many volunteers from the corporate companies come together and organize outings, games or events in the Trust, which was amazing. We were taken to almost all the possible places in Bangalore, right from education to entertainment.
Annual day events were always special occasion for me, where I enjoyed the most. I got a chance to act, talk, present, receive gift, help & take up back stage responsibility. The exposure I gained helps me to this day. Apart from those special and unforgettable memories.
ACT not only guided me in my academics, but also outlined the road map for my life. ACT filled me with strength, confidence and capability to take life head on. These are some of the basic yet essentials one must have and learn in life, this neither parents or friend can teach you, but when we are/were in ACT, lot of volunteers would come over to teach us many things & when they talk about themselves, I would look upon them as role models & mold myself in the same way.
I always believed that volunteering is an act of giving back to the community, volunteering gave me this opportunity to do my bit back.
Volunteering at ACT is something very special and respectful for me, since I joined as a student & progressed to become a volunteer☺. I always remember how much I hated History as a subject, but when I was told to teach class 8-10 students this subject, I was so happy with the challenge, understanding our history & explaining it to students in much simple words helped them with this subject. As this progressed, I started liking the subject more & every Saturday without fail I was there to teach them, the way kids interacted and responded back with me kept me motivated and my passion for volunteering kept getting stronger volunteering.
Education is that phase of our lives that paves path to success, it can make you independent, strong and successful. So never miss or give up the opportunity to learn we get during our school & college time to complete our education, despite off any difficulty or any life changing events.
I would like to end this by saying thank you to Sujatha Aunty, Bhavani Aunty and all the ACT volunteers, mentors who helped me and guided me through my journey thus far.
Nandakumar - ACT Student
I am Nandakumar doing my 2nd year Engineering. I joined ACT in 2010, when I was studying in 4th std. In the initial days I felt a little uncomfortable in ACT as it was different from my school. In the beginning I was a quiet student and was not much of an extrovert. But later I started making friends, started learning things and in that period of time in my life I understood that there was so much to learn, apart from education.
After becoming a senior student, I had a lot of responsibilities. I started to teach and train my juniors the things I had learnt. Being senior I have learnt many things, which I wouldn’t have experienced in my college. One thing I like the most in Act is that we are taught that “it is ok to do mistakes but learn from that and don’t repeat it”.
Even during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we saw that many people were helpless. ACT and seniors from ACT helped many families by providing them provisions and saved them from hunger. I was also a part of the seniors’ group. When I was helping people, I saw and experienced firsthand the way they treated us - it was just amazing. This motivated me to do more and help people in need. I have two more years as a student in ACT. I want to learn new things and enjoy my remaining days. One day I will graduate and go from ACT, but I will take with me a lot of good memories of the happy days I spent here, which I can never forget.