How can we give,
Let us count the ways.....
Numerous are the ways by which we can express our solidarity for the Joy of Giving Week. The most important of these is to participate. Most of us will have our own ideas of the ways in which we would like to participate, but to get us started and probably make it easier, we have listed a few of those.
How can you be part of the Week? Here are 10 simple ways to do so...
1.Participate in any of the events in your city listed at www.joyofgivingweek.org.
2.Donate clothes as part of Goonj’s Vastrasamman campaign- see www.goonj.info
3.Donate money through the India Giving Challenge at www.GiveIndia.org/IGC
4.Volunteer during the Week- www.ivolunteer.in for more
5.Sign up for the 7 days 7 gifts challenge at www.7days7gifts.ning.com.
6.Donate one day's salary through your company to a cause of your choice via GiveIndia
7.Tata Indicom subscribers will get a chance to donate Rs30 by SMS- wait for the message that will hit our inbox during the Week. You can donate as many times as you want!
8.Donate books at Oxford Bookstores and get a 15% discount on new purchases or donate books through www.karmayog.org
9.Organise “fun”draising events in your office, neighbourhood, school or college- Housie/tambola, food fests, amateur performances and exhibitions and donate the proceeds!
10.Doctors, Lawyers, Designers, etc. can offer services free to the poor
11.Celebrate Green Week by reducing your carbon footprint
12.Children participate in www.designforgivingcontest.com and youth in www.joyfest.in
So wear your thinking caps, get ideas from www.joyofgivingweek.org, plan what you can do, rope in as many people to join you as you can, and get going!
You can register your event on the website, offer or seek resources from others. You can also write to jgw@giveindia.org or call the Joy of Giving Week Helpline at 022-67876345 for more information
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Why Do We Give?
It might seem absurd to ask the question “why do we give?”, now when one has been writing about various aspects of giving for a month. Is it necessary to understand our motive for giving ? Is giving a learnt behaviour or is it an inherent one ? Does motivation for giving stem from a common cause or does it vary across communities and cultures ? Do we need to answer these questions? Is it not more important to continue giving ?
To answer the last question first, it is definitely essential to continue giving. Discovering the answers to the other questions will help us to sustain our giving. We have in other posts presented the view that ‘giving’ is inherent and instinctive. Witness a newborn mother with her child, whether in a 5 star hospital or in a remote village at home, there is a spontaneous joy and an immediate need to protect and nurture. That is ‘giving’. A child grows up with this basic desire to share and the experiences of sharing and giving, when positive, increases this and he / she grows up to be a ‘giving’ person. The positive experience one is talking about is what economist James Andreoni calls the ‘warm-glow theory’., where he argues that internal motives for giving are more important than having a building named after one, or saving on tax by contributing to charity. The feeling that one has contributed towards making the world a better place, is what leads to the glow and so one continues to give.
To get a little personal here, I experienced this ‘warm glow’ last afternoon at school, when I cooked lunch(rajma and rice) for a group of girls. Do these girls not have enough to eat ? Of course they do, 3 proper meals a day. Have they not tasted rajma earlier ? They have, probably tastier rajma at home. Then why were the girls and by extension, I, “feeling so nice” (to use their words), at this simple lunch ? Probably because it made them feel special that their teacher took the trouble of personally cooking lunch for them. It made them feel wanted and cherished and their happiness at such a simple gesture made me feel good, so good that I have rashly promised other classes home cooked lunch as well. ( The warm glow can make us irrational sometimes !!!)
That is why we give : to cherish, to nurture, to protect, to better, circumstances, people, the world. Indigenous cultures have understood this concept very well and not for nothing is it said “It takes a whole village to raise a child” (African proverb). As we move away from the traditional way of life, we have also lost touch with many of our basic instincts of sharing and the Joy of Giving Week is a reminder to us to connect with and reinforce our innate need to give and to share.
To answer the last question first, it is definitely essential to continue giving. Discovering the answers to the other questions will help us to sustain our giving. We have in other posts presented the view that ‘giving’ is inherent and instinctive. Witness a newborn mother with her child, whether in a 5 star hospital or in a remote village at home, there is a spontaneous joy and an immediate need to protect and nurture. That is ‘giving’. A child grows up with this basic desire to share and the experiences of sharing and giving, when positive, increases this and he / she grows up to be a ‘giving’ person. The positive experience one is talking about is what economist James Andreoni calls the ‘warm-glow theory’., where he argues that internal motives for giving are more important than having a building named after one, or saving on tax by contributing to charity. The feeling that one has contributed towards making the world a better place, is what leads to the glow and so one continues to give.
To get a little personal here, I experienced this ‘warm glow’ last afternoon at school, when I cooked lunch(rajma and rice) for a group of girls. Do these girls not have enough to eat ? Of course they do, 3 proper meals a day. Have they not tasted rajma earlier ? They have, probably tastier rajma at home. Then why were the girls and by extension, I, “feeling so nice” (to use their words), at this simple lunch ? Probably because it made them feel special that their teacher took the trouble of personally cooking lunch for them. It made them feel wanted and cherished and their happiness at such a simple gesture made me feel good, so good that I have rashly promised other classes home cooked lunch as well. ( The warm glow can make us irrational sometimes !!!)
That is why we give : to cherish, to nurture, to protect, to better, circumstances, people, the world. Indigenous cultures have understood this concept very well and not for nothing is it said “It takes a whole village to raise a child” (African proverb). As we move away from the traditional way of life, we have also lost touch with many of our basic instincts of sharing and the Joy of Giving Week is a reminder to us to connect with and reinforce our innate need to give and to share.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Countdown Begins
With just 17 days to go for the Joy of Giving Week, we at the JGW team are amazed and touched by the widespread response to the week. CEOs, actors, sportspersonalities, professionals, dabbawalas, rickshawdrivers; have all confirmed their participation and will work at making a difference in the lives of others. While this is inspiring and encouraging in itself, it is the participation of college and school students that is overwhelming. When the young participate willingly and resolve to make a positive difference, then we can say with conviction that lasting changes are on their way to transform the fabric of Indian society to make it more equitable.
The press coverage and endorsements by the well-known from all walks of life may have made it easier for us to get our message of giving across, but large scale participation can only be possible when the idea of 'a week of giving' catches the imagination of the people. The fact that we have been able to do this, is probably because we have managed to touch a chord in the hearts and minds of most. The desire to give has been dormant in most of us and the idea of the Joy of Giving Week, has seen this desire come alive. What is also heartening is that individuals are coming forth with creative and innovative ideas on how they would be contributing, reaffirming our faith that the 'culture of giving' has spread.
Meanwhile, today's Indian Express carries a story on how a teacher is bringing about remarkable changes in interior Madhya pradesh in a caste ridden village, through the medium of education. (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/colours-of-knowledge-on-walls-of-hope/515163/) Such stories are our inspiration and our hope and reinforce our strong belief that we are a nation of 'givers'. So let us join all those who are a part of the Joy of Giving Week and help make a difference. If you have ideas on how one can participate, please share your comments here or register on our website (www.joyofgivingweek.org) and share your ideas.
The press coverage and endorsements by the well-known from all walks of life may have made it easier for us to get our message of giving across, but large scale participation can only be possible when the idea of 'a week of giving' catches the imagination of the people. The fact that we have been able to do this, is probably because we have managed to touch a chord in the hearts and minds of most. The desire to give has been dormant in most of us and the idea of the Joy of Giving Week, has seen this desire come alive. What is also heartening is that individuals are coming forth with creative and innovative ideas on how they would be contributing, reaffirming our faith that the 'culture of giving' has spread.
Meanwhile, today's Indian Express carries a story on how a teacher is bringing about remarkable changes in interior Madhya pradesh in a caste ridden village, through the medium of education. (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/colours-of-knowledge-on-walls-of-hope/515163/) Such stories are our inspiration and our hope and reinforce our strong belief that we are a nation of 'givers'. So let us join all those who are a part of the Joy of Giving Week and help make a difference. If you have ideas on how one can participate, please share your comments here or register on our website (www.joyofgivingweek.org) and share your ideas.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Anonymous Givers
"Almost everyone regardless of income, available time, age and skills can do something useful for others and in the process strengthen the fabric of our shared humanity." Bill Clinton
There are many unknown, unsung people in India and abroad who have been giving of their time and skills to society and in the process have passed on their collective wisdom and knowledge that sustains society. One such organisation is the Explorers and Adventurers in Mumbai. Establised more than four decades ago, the members of the club not only share a common passion for the mountains, but also share a common desire to kindle this passion in the younger generation. The members, most of whom are working full time, or are older students or have other responsibilities, give freely and ungrudgingly of their time and skills, to accompany school children on treks, on adventure camps, teach them rock climbing and organise other adventure related activities, and see to it that not only do the children enjoy themselves, but that they also simultaneously learn valuable lessons for life : sharing, mutual respect, team work, responsibility and most important learn to respect our environment. The members ensure that the camps they organise are enjoyable, non-threatening experiences and often go out of their way to organise birthday celebrations for children in out of the way locations, complete with cake, candles and wafers and their reward is the look of disbelief and happiness on the face of the child. The Explorers and Adventurers has truly understood the Joy of Giving.
These are the people and organisations that we need to remind ourselves about as we prepare for the Joy of Giving Week. Let us resolve to give not just for today, but for all the days to come; not just to the known, but to all the unknown. Let giving be our passion....
There are many unknown, unsung people in India and abroad who have been giving of their time and skills to society and in the process have passed on their collective wisdom and knowledge that sustains society. One such organisation is the Explorers and Adventurers in Mumbai. Establised more than four decades ago, the members of the club not only share a common passion for the mountains, but also share a common desire to kindle this passion in the younger generation. The members, most of whom are working full time, or are older students or have other responsibilities, give freely and ungrudgingly of their time and skills, to accompany school children on treks, on adventure camps, teach them rock climbing and organise other adventure related activities, and see to it that not only do the children enjoy themselves, but that they also simultaneously learn valuable lessons for life : sharing, mutual respect, team work, responsibility and most important learn to respect our environment. The members ensure that the camps they organise are enjoyable, non-threatening experiences and often go out of their way to organise birthday celebrations for children in out of the way locations, complete with cake, candles and wafers and their reward is the look of disbelief and happiness on the face of the child. The Explorers and Adventurers has truly understood the Joy of Giving.
These are the people and organisations that we need to remind ourselves about as we prepare for the Joy of Giving Week. Let us resolve to give not just for today, but for all the days to come; not just to the known, but to all the unknown. Let giving be our passion....
Saturday, September 5, 2009
A Giving Profession
When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud
That is what a teacher does, pass down to us and to ours, wisdom and knowledge, values and inspiration. Today, as India celebrates Teachers' Day, this post is dedicated to teachers. Much is written about bad teachers, but unfortunately not much about the good. Teaching is a profession where the rewards percolate down after years, not to the teacher but to society. Long after the teacher is dead and gone, his/ her values remain, imbibed and lived by others. Is it any wonder then that we call teaching one of the most 'giving' professions.
"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." ~Donald D. Quinn
Yet teaching is demeaned by many and it is often said of teaching that "Those who can do, and those who can't teach." To say this is to negate the immense influence a teacher has on us. The power and influence of a teacher is often underestimated. Most of us remember our teachers, both those who evoked dread and scorn and those who inspired and motivated. But we remember that teacher the best who invoked in us a love for learning, aroused our curiosity and really taught us the principles of 'learning to learn', something that we need to do for the rest of our lives to be successful in whatever profession we choose to follow.
While teachers help sustain the values in society to a large extent, the Special Educator besides this, also helps to sustain the family of a child with special needs. He /she plays many roles : teacher, parent, counsellor, therapist, friend.. Those who deal with children/ adults with special needs measure success in the small steps taken by those they teach. Has the child sat in one place for 5 mins, stopped flapping his hand long enough to copy 2 lines, has learnt to jump, to control unexplained outbursts of anger? There are days when the teacher and the child are equally frustrated, the parents are in tears, all effort seems to have literally gone down the drain and then suddenly a miracle takes place and like the blossoming of a tree, changes happen and the child begins to learn, slowly at first and then with increased confidence, more rapidly. These are the moments that make all the effort and the frustration worthwhile for hope prevails.
As we ready ourselves for the Joy of Giving week, let us commit ourselves to give to those who have contributed to our being able to think and to learn; are responsible for our success as it were. Visit your old school, meet your teachers, set up an alumni fund, repay the debt in part for it can never be repaid in full. Let your teacher know that what he / she is, is important and has made a difference.
That is what a teacher does, pass down to us and to ours, wisdom and knowledge, values and inspiration. Today, as India celebrates Teachers' Day, this post is dedicated to teachers. Much is written about bad teachers, but unfortunately not much about the good. Teaching is a profession where the rewards percolate down after years, not to the teacher but to society. Long after the teacher is dead and gone, his/ her values remain, imbibed and lived by others. Is it any wonder then that we call teaching one of the most 'giving' professions.
"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." ~Donald D. Quinn
Yet teaching is demeaned by many and it is often said of teaching that "Those who can do, and those who can't teach." To say this is to negate the immense influence a teacher has on us. The power and influence of a teacher is often underestimated. Most of us remember our teachers, both those who evoked dread and scorn and those who inspired and motivated. But we remember that teacher the best who invoked in us a love for learning, aroused our curiosity and really taught us the principles of 'learning to learn', something that we need to do for the rest of our lives to be successful in whatever profession we choose to follow.
While teachers help sustain the values in society to a large extent, the Special Educator besides this, also helps to sustain the family of a child with special needs. He /she plays many roles : teacher, parent, counsellor, therapist, friend.. Those who deal with children/ adults with special needs measure success in the small steps taken by those they teach. Has the child sat in one place for 5 mins, stopped flapping his hand long enough to copy 2 lines, has learnt to jump, to control unexplained outbursts of anger? There are days when the teacher and the child are equally frustrated, the parents are in tears, all effort seems to have literally gone down the drain and then suddenly a miracle takes place and like the blossoming of a tree, changes happen and the child begins to learn, slowly at first and then with increased confidence, more rapidly. These are the moments that make all the effort and the frustration worthwhile for hope prevails.
As we ready ourselves for the Joy of Giving week, let us commit ourselves to give to those who have contributed to our being able to think and to learn; are responsible for our success as it were. Visit your old school, meet your teachers, set up an alumni fund, repay the debt in part for it can never be repaid in full. Let your teacher know that what he / she is, is important and has made a difference.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The Power of Giving
Giving impacts our lives in many ways, all of it positive, the most important being that it adds value both to our life and to the one who receives from us. But this positive impact happens only when we give selflessly, without any expectation. Quite often, we carry the burden of expectation even in our giving. We often feel terrible when a friend to whom we have given a gift, forgets our birthday. We expect to be remembered because we have given. This expectation negates the effect of giving, and affects our future relationship with this friend. This is not practcing 'giving' in the way it should be practiced.
An incident Subroto Bagchi (CEO Mindtree) writes about his mother illustrates wholehearted giving beautifully. Bagchi writes of how his mother after finishing her household chores for her big family, would, equipped only with kitchen implements, work very hard to create a garden in the small patch of land in the government quarters where they were housed. It did not bother her that she would not be around to enjoy the benefit of her hard labour or see the flowering plants, for by then they would have moved house. For her the joy was in creating a beautiful environment and giving of herself with zero expectation.
Such joyous giving does not come easy to most of us and has to be practiced. Giving has to become a way of life and those who don't recognise its inherent presence in their lives, must learn to do so. One of the ways to do this is to think less about our feelings and ourselves and more about others: praise your co-worker, give up a seat for the tired person in the bus, smile at the man selling pens in the local train, share a cup of tea with the household help, help the kids kick a ball, leave the public toilet clean for the next person, cook your partner's favourite meal. Numerous are the ways in which we learn to give and the result would be the same : to enrich our lives and to turn us into more contented individuals. When we practice 'giving' consciously and constantly, we will reach that stage of giving where we give totally of ourselves with no expectations and like Subroto Bagchi's mother we would be able to embrace death courageously in the satisfaction of having lived a full and fulfilled life. Let us "Go Kiss the World".
An incident Subroto Bagchi (CEO Mindtree) writes about his mother illustrates wholehearted giving beautifully. Bagchi writes of how his mother after finishing her household chores for her big family, would, equipped only with kitchen implements, work very hard to create a garden in the small patch of land in the government quarters where they were housed. It did not bother her that she would not be around to enjoy the benefit of her hard labour or see the flowering plants, for by then they would have moved house. For her the joy was in creating a beautiful environment and giving of herself with zero expectation.
Such joyous giving does not come easy to most of us and has to be practiced. Giving has to become a way of life and those who don't recognise its inherent presence in their lives, must learn to do so. One of the ways to do this is to think less about our feelings and ourselves and more about others: praise your co-worker, give up a seat for the tired person in the bus, smile at the man selling pens in the local train, share a cup of tea with the household help, help the kids kick a ball, leave the public toilet clean for the next person, cook your partner's favourite meal. Numerous are the ways in which we learn to give and the result would be the same : to enrich our lives and to turn us into more contented individuals. When we practice 'giving' consciously and constantly, we will reach that stage of giving where we give totally of ourselves with no expectations and like Subroto Bagchi's mother we would be able to embrace death courageously in the satisfaction of having lived a full and fulfilled life. Let us "Go Kiss the World".
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Charity and Philantropy
Some introspection is necessary as we set out on a quest, to discover joy in giving. One often associates 'giving' with charity. In India, we focus a lot on the 'charitable acts' of an individual. A 'charitable individual' according to us, is one who gives freely to the needy, often gives freely to religious causes, can be called upon to help generously during times of disaster and usually contributes at an individual level. Could we also say such a person is philantrophic? Not necessarily, for there is a marked difference between philantropy and charity.
Charity is often impulsive and humane, like giving alms to a beggar, clothes to those who need it, helping a victim of an accident, to give a few examples. Charity is usually not associated with commitment. We do not give the same beggar alms everyday and neither do we wonder what happened to him after we have given the alms. It is associated with generosity and gifting, much of it instinctive, basically with giving those who need it, a helping hand. To use a much used analogy, charity is like giving a hungry man a fish.
Philantropy on the other hand, is more humanitarian in its vision. It is more institutional, and operates on a larger canvas than charity and hence is more organised. There is more altruism associated with philantropy than with charity and a sense of justice that is lacking in charity. There is also a commitment in this that is not always present in charity. In contrast to charity, philantropy is like teaching a hungry man to fish and the focus here is on moving towards a more equitable society.
Does this mean we are demeaning or negating acts performed with charitable intent ? Not at all, for such acts are necessary to spread the message of giving and quite often are the points of departure to bigger philantropic acts. Mother Teresa began by helping one homeless man die with dignity, Vandana of The Banyan began by helping a single destitute mentally ill woman move out of the streets. Both of them moved on to establish philantropic institutions funded by individual and institutional contributions, made possible by tapping the inherent impulse to give, present in most of us. When people contribute collectively to a cause, a philantropist or a philantropic institution is born, and that should be our goal for the Joy of Giving Week, to give collectively and generously in order to bring about lasting change in individuals and through them in society
Charity is often impulsive and humane, like giving alms to a beggar, clothes to those who need it, helping a victim of an accident, to give a few examples. Charity is usually not associated with commitment. We do not give the same beggar alms everyday and neither do we wonder what happened to him after we have given the alms. It is associated with generosity and gifting, much of it instinctive, basically with giving those who need it, a helping hand. To use a much used analogy, charity is like giving a hungry man a fish.
Philantropy on the other hand, is more humanitarian in its vision. It is more institutional, and operates on a larger canvas than charity and hence is more organised. There is more altruism associated with philantropy than with charity and a sense of justice that is lacking in charity. There is also a commitment in this that is not always present in charity. In contrast to charity, philantropy is like teaching a hungry man to fish and the focus here is on moving towards a more equitable society.
Does this mean we are demeaning or negating acts performed with charitable intent ? Not at all, for such acts are necessary to spread the message of giving and quite often are the points of departure to bigger philantropic acts. Mother Teresa began by helping one homeless man die with dignity, Vandana of The Banyan began by helping a single destitute mentally ill woman move out of the streets. Both of them moved on to establish philantropic institutions funded by individual and institutional contributions, made possible by tapping the inherent impulse to give, present in most of us. When people contribute collectively to a cause, a philantropist or a philantropic institution is born, and that should be our goal for the Joy of Giving Week, to give collectively and generously in order to bring about lasting change in individuals and through them in society
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