Author: Sethu Volunteer | Oct 15, 2016
In Finland, we take a lot for granted. All our children have free education and there are free social services for all citizens. Also my time in India, before joining in Sethu, was very ambivalent. Every day I would witness so many beautiful and ugly things at the same time. Sometimes people treating each other well, while other times it would be difficult to see respect between people.
My time at Sethu changed a lot my way of thinking and offered me a different kind of experience. The reason was: people – that believed in their own work, that believed in other people and that believed in change. Without “belief” it would be impossible to do the kind of work that they do. I saw how Sethu professionals helped their clients to change their lives, improve their self-confidence and work was from the heart. I have never been in the kind of situation where not only do I have to do my professional work, but also think about fundraising for the cause: where to find and get money for next project! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it and I hope other people will understand how hard Sethu’s professionals are working for betterment of their organization and the families they serve.
At Sethu Center I was surprised to see how it is possible to work is small, shared spaces. Current facilities do not fully provide a professionals and clients with a peaceful and quiet atmosphere to focus and work. But anyhow, Sethu continue its work professionally, giving each client the time that they need. I hope that in the future, Sethu will find that home it really needs so that is can reach out to more families, with better surroundings and facilities. I think that Sethu workers are doing one of the most important jobs in Goa and it they deserve to do it with time and peace.
Sethu Center creates an atmosphere where everyone is welcome. For that reason it was an easy place to for me to volunteer, even though it was for a short time. Every professional I interacted with made me feel welcome. It is easy to recognize a “fake” atmosphere, where everything is put on for show, but at Sethu, what you see can see is real people. I believe that this is the main reason so many families have trusted Sethu. Here, everyone is treated with respect and joy.