ISA prepares to give back to community during Week of Service
The Indian Student Association’s annual Week of Service is scheduled for March 10–16. This week is special to the organization because “it helps students realize that there are lots of people who have a lot less than you do,” Vice President of Philanthropy Kushaan Shah said. “It’s about getting in touch with your roots.”
Freshman Executive Ashmi Sheth notes that the Week of Service is more service-based than social-based. “A lot of times ISA seems social, but I want them to see that … we do have events where we’re giving back to the community,” she said.
The ISA has several big events planned, including a blood drive and their bi-annual charity dinner on the last day of the week. According to Meher Kachwala, ISA vice president of communications, about 400 people attended the charity dinner last year, raising approximately $300. The organization is expecting roughly the same this year, and all proceeds from ticket sales will go to the charity Sacred Scriptures’ Social Message Into Living Experience (SSSMILE).
A mixer with the Association for Indian Development (AID), which focuses on the education of Western India, is also planned. As partners, their goal is to adopt at least three villages, which cost $1000 each.
“ISA is working with physics [professor] Satindar Bhagat. For every $500 that ISA raises, Bhagat will donate $500 to match,” Kachwala said.
With previous donations, ISA has already adopted five villages. AID, according to Shah and Kachwala, goes into these adopted villages and educates the children, providing them necessary resources to succeed.
Besides education, AID also helps the villages with general services like clean water and health care.
Proceeds will also go towards SSSMILE who “helps out in all aspects of Indian society; health care, education etc.,” Shah said.
According to its official website, “SSSMILE is a Christian Movement to bring to practice the social message to and for the poor revealed in the Sacred Scriptures.”
The ISA chose this charity because a fellow member of ISA’s parents is involved with this charity.
“You always gain something back when doing community service,” Shah added. “Doing something like charity dinner for example, you’re eating food but at the same time learning about the culture and giving back.”
The organization plans to use fliers, social networking sites, and emails to promote the Week of Service.
“I’ve lost my voice screaming about the event, and we also do ‘dorm storm.’ We go into different dorms with little flyers and just toss them under the doors and stuff,” Sheth said.
“Service should never be a responsibility and is something that everyone should have fun doing,” Shah said.
