It
was like Ma Ambe had especially designed a beautiful visit to my hometown to
take her blessings. I found myself at Vadodara with family singing Garbas and
being invited for events that I had always wanted to be there for. One such was an invitation from my niece,
Nishita, who insisted I attend her office event at Ahmedabad on 14th
October 2018, since I was so close. An event to promote world peace by bringing
together exchange students from around the world and over 250+ well-wishers!! ...Now
that was one I could never say NO to, not just because I love participating and
working for social cause events, but also because AFS has been an indirect part
of my life too. When she was just a
little girl in the 10th standard, Nishita had flown off on a student exchange
program from AFS India, an inclusive educational community of global citizens,
students, families and volunteers that builds bridges between cultures.
Despite the choice of innumerable places, such as the US, an opportunity that every
child would grab, I must admit I was truly proud that she chose to experience a
culture that was different. She chose to go to Italy for a year not just for a cultural experience but for wanting to learn
a new language. As she tells me often even today that had she chosen an English
speaking country today, Italian would not be on her list of spoken and written
languages. I must admit that her
experiences and the stories she shared, opened up a new world for me too and I am immensely proud of her. A one and
a half hour drive from Vadodara to Ahmedabad, therefore, obviously did not seem
to matter and in fact proved to be worth every minute of my time.
A
beautifully decorated ground exploding with myriad of colourful chaniya-cholis
and people dancing was indeed inviting. Presented by AFS Intercultural Programs
India and hosted by Ahmedabad Chapter titled "Garba for Global Peace",
the evening was planned as an unique experience for its exchange students, in
keeping with Gujarat's culture and tradition of "Garba" to celebrate Navratri,
the 9-day festival of Goddess Durga. The
event was not just planned as a fun event but had an underlined focus and
purpose - a fundraising campaign designed with a plan of using the donations
received to create life-changing opportunities and scholarships for under served
students to avail prestigious AFS exchange Programs. It was heartwarming to see
over 50+ young exchange students from so many countries such as USA, Thailand,
Italy, Germany, Japan, Spain, etc. and other supporters, on the ground dancing
in one large circle to traditional music and songs. The exchange students
dressed in traditional wear with head gear enjoying dancing the Garba, and
actually non-stop too, with such perfection put me to shame. Of course, me
being me, I did break into a dance too despite creaking knees, take a picture
with the students and talk to them. When they expressed how much they were loving the
experience of studying and living in India, it made truly understand the power
of the program that my niece experienced.
Today,
I when I look at my niece achieving great heights not just professionally but
her confidence and the way she handles herself as a person, it makes me wish
that I could have given my children an opportunity like that. Imagine what it can give your child, if
she/he were to take off to a new country and learn to live with a totally
unknown family with their own rules of life. Today we pamper our children and
everything is given to them on a platter but what Nishita learnt in 2010 and
came back with,is so much more that just becoming independent. I see a true
professional, values-driven, confident, tolerant of others, appreciative, understanding
and extremely hard working woman. Such programs build intercultural friendship
and create lifelong cultural memories and empower children to study abroad facilitated by trained AFS volunteers and staff in 60+
countries. AFS India is amongst the leading organizations in intercultural
education and experience that focuses on life-changing opportunities.
When I returned back
home I thought to myself that today with all the mayhem around us and despite
all our differences, everyone who was there at the event was somehow connected as
one with the hope of a happier and a more meaningful life. There is so much out there
to learn and the world is so much bigger with incredibly more to offer, then why
are we living like frogs in a well? I
find a friend in everyone who sits next to me for more than five minutes
because I love to talk and share. Experiences and friendships add new meaning to my life and am sure to yours too!!
Instead of drifting along like a leaf in a river,
understand who you are and
how you come across to people and what kind of an impact
you
have on the people around you and the community around
you and the world,
so that when you go out, you can feel you have made a
positive difference ~Jane Fonda
For more information about
AFS India get in touch at
aadil.fahim@afs.org or nishita.mehta@afs.org or call at (+91-9971148406) or
(+91-8586925131)
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