For Roshini, working on social causes came quite naturally.
For Roshini, working on social causes came quite naturally.
She’s volunteered with various organisations, including Room To Read and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, but her soft spot is for the residents at RCHD where she is now a member of the management committee.
“When I first started volunteering with people with disabilities, I didn’t know how to be helpful. How do I talk to them, or comfort them? Thankfully, there have always been other volunteers and staff on hand to patiently guide me along,” Roshini reveals.
“And I’m always surprised by how energised I feel at the end of every meeting or outing, even when we’ve been dealing with tough issues. I’ve made a lot of new friends, but I’ve also learned so much from those I volunteer with (both the volunteers and the people we support),” she remarks. “Another underrated fact is how much fun it can be – I often volunteer with my family and it is a great bonding activity.” “Often when I am chatting with the residents at RCHD, I am struck by their great sense of humour and intelligence,” she says. “Once, a resident with multiple severe disabilities asked me for my date of birth. Within seconds of telling him, he accurately pointed out that I was born on a Thursday!”
“We all have blindspots created by our social and educational circles.” Roshini notes. “Volunteering allows me to meet people whose life experiences have been different from mine. We break down barriers, overcome stereotypes and build a stronger bond as members of the same community.”
