Beyond Charity: Building Bonds of Kinship

The ancient Indian wisdom behind what Sewa really means        

--Srikanth Gundavarapu                                            President, Sewa International USA

Picture this. A tornado tears through rural Texas. Within 72 hours, volunteers arrive with chainsaws, hot meals, and a willingness to listen. They stay for weeks and return the next month. Some build lasting friendships with the families they serve. No one keeps score. This is Sewa. And it is not charity.

“Charity asks: How much shall I give? Sewa asks: How much of myself can I give in service?”

The difference may seem small. Giving is giving, right? But Sewa offers a different way of understanding service. And it begins with two words: Daan and Sewa.

DAAN (दान): The honorable act of giving

दान | Daan
To give; a gift or donation willingly offered—one of the highest virtues in the Indic tradition.

Daan is considered one of the noblest forms of giving in the Indic tradition. The Rigveda praises generosity. The Mahabharata teaches that Daan should be given without expecting anything in return and with respect for the recipient. The Bhagavad Gita describes sattvic Daan as giving to a worthy recipient, at the right time and place, without expecting gratitude.

This spirit has shaped Indian life for generations—from anonymous giving and food offered as prasad to community wells, maintained for everyone. It continues to inspire philanthropy among the Indian diaspora in America.

Yet Daan remains an act of giving. Something moves from giver to receiver, and the two remain in separate roles. The relationship can end with the gift.

Idam Namama: This is not mine

Everyone has their own way of giving, and each approach has value. In the Indic tradition, giving back is also seen as Karma Yajna—a duty to contribute to the society that supports us in countless ways.

When giving, we say Idam Namama—“this is not mine.” It reminds us to give humbly, without pride or expectation. Giving a portion of what we earn supports others while strengthening our own sense of gratitude, purpose, and connection.

SEWA (सेवा): The act of becoming

सेवा | Seva / Sewa
Service; to attend to, be present with, and serve with devotion.

The Sanskrit root sev points to a deeper meaning. Sewa is not simply giving to someone. It is being fully present with them. In Advaita Vedanta, the person who serves and the person being served are ultimately expressions of the same consciousness. To serve another is to serve oneself—not selfishly, but as part of a larger whole.

This is captured in a foundational principle:

Nara Sewa Narayan Sewa | Manava Seva Madhava Seva
Service to humanity is service to God.

If the person you serve is a manifestation of the divine, then service becomes more than giving. It becomes an act of devotion. The relationship is not giver and receiver, but devotee and sacred presence.

The difference that changes everything

Consider the same situation through the lens of Daan and Sewa.

Through the lens of DAAN

A corporation donates $50,000 to a disaster relief fund after a hurricane. Families receive aid, and the corporation announces the donation. The giver feels satisfied; the receiver feels relief, perhaps with a sense of indebtedness. Six months later, both have moved on. The relationship ended with the transaction.

Through the lens of SEWA

After Hurricane Helene devastates rural communities in the Carolinas, volunteers drive through the night to reach affected families. They stay for weeks, learn people’s names, and return the following month. A retired teacher who lost her home later joins a relief effort herself, serving meals to others. The relationship did not end with giving. It began there.

The difference is not the amount of help, but the quality of presence. Daan can be given from a distance. Sewa means showing up—with your time, your hands, your attention, and yourself.

“In Sewa, there is no helper and no helped. There is only the family showing up for itself.”

What Sewa looks like in America today

Consider LEAD, Sewa’s leadership program for young Americans. It may look like mentorship, with experienced professionals guiding emerging leaders. But both mentor and mentee learn from the experience. A mentee can become a chapter leader and organize relief efforts in her own community. The circle of Sewa closes—and opens again.

The same happens at community food drives. Families receive food, but many later return to help. An elderly man may help sort produce from his wheelchair. A teenager who first came for a food box may return the next week to pack them.

In the Sewa model, every beneficiary can become a volunteer. Sewa does not create dependents. It builds community.

This reflects the Karma Yoga tradition of the Bhagavad Gita: serving without attachment to the outcome. Sewa International’s volunteer-led model puts this principle into practice. Its leaders serve without a salary or personal gain because they see service as a responsibility.

Why does the distinction matter?

Much of organized philanthropy in America follows a Daan-like model. It can preserve a divide between giver and receiver, with success measured by dollars given and people helped. Even with good intentions, this can reduce people to numbers.

Sewa offers a different measure of service:

Not how much was given, but how fully we were present.
Not how many were served, but how many began serving.
Not how do we help them? But how do we become one?

The Indic tradition has carried this wisdom for thousands of years. The question is whether America’s nonprofit sector—and the Indian-American community within it—is ready to embrace it.

A reflection for the reader

The next time you feel moved to help, pause before you write a check or tap the donate button. Ask yourself: Can I be present with this need, not just respond to it? Is there a community I can join rather than support from a distance? Can I give not just my resources, but myself?

That is the invitation of Sewa. Not to be a donor. Not to be a beneficiary. But to be family.

A Healing at the Margins: A Volunteer-Led Wellness Movement

Tarvinder Taneja- MOS Houston

According to CAP, the USA has a 5-year lower life expectancy than its peer industrialized countries. Improving the health of the most vulnerable populations will boost health outcomes and social well-being, strengthen the economy, and help build a strong, equitable future.

The Sewa Houston ASPIRE Centers are located at ground zero for individuals living below the poverty line—uninsured, underserved, and marginalized populations, including recently arrived refugees, undocumented immigrants, and resilient survivors of unspeakable trauma. These individuals face myriad existential challenges, including stress, poor health, and lack of access to adequate healthcare.

We developed a Total Wellness program to reach children, adults, seniors, and other vulnerable individuals—first within the complexes where the ASPIRE Centers are located, and then extending to equally vulnerable neighbors. With the support of volunteer doctors, dentists, optometrists, medical paraprofessionals, medical students, and AmeriCorps members, we launched monthly clinics two years ago. The objective was to increase awareness and accessibility, inculcate healthy behaviors and accountability, and improve outcomes through wellness education.

2025 Impact

— 600 adults received medical evaluations from medical professionals, along with referrals for continued treatment.

— 12,000 sets of vitals were checked by AmeriCorps members. Regular testing ensures behavioral modification geared toward self-care and the mitigation of health-related emergencies and complications.

— 40 workshops were conducted on topics ranging from nutrition and maternal health to dental care and stress management, presented by AmeriCorps members trained as Certified Community Health Workers through the UH Medical School.

Partners who have joined our efforts include Harris County Health (vaccines, basic blood work, and other tests, including pregnancy and STDs), Precinct 4 (the largest precinct in the country, with a population the size of New Jersey, where we will provide clinics and vitals testing regularly in the coming year), The Rose, and Hope Clinic.

Performance measures are expected to double in 2026.

A Run for a Cause: Autism Awareness in Motion

Priya Sudarsan- 9/11 events coordinator, San Diego

On Saturday, April 11, early in the morning, the NFAR Race for Autism brought together an ocean of people walking with joy, pride, and unity. Teams cheered for one another, strangers became supporters, and all of Balboa Park, in the heart of San Diego, moved like one big heartbeat for a cause that truly matters.

NFAR (National Foundation for Autism Research) is a nonprofit organization based in San Diego that fundraises to support autistic individuals and families through education, outreach, and specialized programs tailored to their needs.

The Sewa San Diego Chapter partnered with NFAR to bring autism awareness closer to home. Fifteen Sewa volunteers joined the walk/5K race to show solidarity and support. Our runners and volunteers ranged in age from 10 to 60, and each contributed “yatkinchit”—whatever they could. Together, we raised $300 to help NFAR extend support to more families.

Several Sewa volunteers stayed back after the run to help with teardown and cleanup, joining hands with local community members. For us, it was not only important to participate in the run/walk, but also critical to support the organizers afterward. As Sewa volunteers, we believe that serving means rolling up our sleeves, jumping in, and getting our hands dirty.

This was truly a multifaceted event organized as part of #9/11SewaDayOfService—where we raised funds for the community, ran for health, and volunteered time to clean up after the event. What a fulfilling Saturday morning it was!

Sewa’s Voice in Thought Leadership: Bridging Service and Policy

Kusuma Buddhiraju- Policy Research Team, USA

Over the last 12 months, alongside some stellar individuals, I helped shape a new dimension of Sewa’s impact through its Policy Research initiative. Sewa has served communities for decades, but this effort is about ensuring that service also informs systems, policy, and public thinking. Through this work, we are helping bring Sewa’s grassroots wisdom into conversations with policymakers, nonprofits, think tanks, and other institutions that shape long- term change.

In the past year, we ran six Policy Cafés, wrote numerous blogs and a sectoral report, engaged diverse stakeholders across industry, academia, and local governments, and created thoughtful, solution-oriented conversations around public challenges. For me, this was not just about organizing events     or producing content. It was about helping Sewa grow into a credible convener in the policy space—one that can connect lived experience, volunteer service, and evidence-based ideas.

That has been deeply meaningful to me. I have seen how Sewa’s work, when articulated thoughtfully, commands respect well beyond the volunteer world. It has the power to influence how people think about education, hunger, disaster response, healthcare, dignity, and community resilience. This endeavor changed my life because it expanded my understanding of seva itself. Service is not always about responding to a need; it is also about shaping the conversations and institutions that determine whether those needs are met with dignity at scale.

To me, this is the next chapter of Sewa’s impact—to go beyond serving communities and help shape the ideas that serve them better.

Steps That Build Community: DC 5K Walk & Talk

Kannan Sundaramoorthy- Chapter Coordinator, Washington DC

Sewa DC Morning 5K Walk and Talk is a new initiative from the DC chapter. It was started late last year as a weekly event to promote health among volunteers and also to build participation for the Sewa DC Annual 5K Run. It also serves as an outreach program to introduce Sewa to new people.

The walk is organized and led by Om More, a former LEAD student. It continues rain or shine—indoors at a mall during the winter months and outdoors for the rest of the year. A WhatsApp group created for the event now has more than 50 members, with at least 10 to 15 participants joining every week.

From Idea to Impact: Engaging Seniors in Chicago

Nags Rajaram- Chapter Coordinator, Chicago

Chicago implemented a new initiative using a township grant to support seniors in the community. We have been running these Milans each month since January, featuring a combination of fun and educational activities. We kicked off in January with roughly 30 seniors, in the presence of the local State Representative, and used the opportunity to understand their preferences.

In February, we organized a seminar on Five Wishes and financial awareness, along with engaging the seniors in group singing. We used the March edition to focus on yoga and breathing exercises. Upcoming events include seed planting and mental health awareness presentations.

Overall, it has been a fulfilling experience, as reflected in the seniors’ feedback and their continued participation.

Where It All Began: A Chance Meeting, A Lasting Impact

Shweta Chakradeo- Chapter Coordinator,Pittsburgh

This is a story of how our Pittsburgh chapter started. It began in the midst of COVID, with 2 karyakartas who had never seen or met each other. They met at a gas station and started a chapter with a coat drive, using a manually made flyer. They collected
350+ coats and began a fantastic journey.

Building Leaders, Building Culture: The LEAD Journey

Neha Sehgal- Manager-Youth Engagement, LEAD Program, Delhi

The past year with the LEAD program has been deeply transformative both for the program and for me personally. As part of the national team, I had the opportunity to contribute to restructuring the LEAD program within an already established system to make it more impactful and meaningful.

This journey was not easy. Introducing change required constant dialogue, negotiation, and alignment across multiple chapters. Over the last six months, we have implemented the LEAD program in a completely new way. As a team, we focused on streamlining processes to ensure consistency across chapters while also enhancing the overall leadership and development experience for over 1,800 LEAD participants. A key milestone was transforming the program into a structured, four- year progressive journey with clearly defined year-wise engagement plans.

Unique LEAD Initiative (This Year)

Through the “Pathways to Serve Leadership” program under the new LEAD structure, our national team—supported by course instructors, LEAD coordinators, and a team of student admins (12th graders)—worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life. Weekend classes over the past three months have reached over 650+ participants in Level 1, 250+ in Level 2, and 150+ in Level 3 across 27+ chapters. Additionally, 215+ parents have been engaged as mentors, strengthening the ecosystem of learning and support.

When parents become mentors, leadership development stops being a program and starts becoming a culture. It reaches homes, dinner tables, and the quiet conversations that shape who young people become. This is the change we set out to create.

I learned through this that what we built will continue to grow across chapters and impact many more youth lives, but what stays with me most is who I became in the process—more patient in uncertainty, more collaborative in approach, and more grounded in the true meaning of leadership through service.

Powering Volunteer Engagement Through Build

Shubham Sahu- Team Assistant, 9/11, Nagpur

In 17 Sewa USA chapters, using Build exclusively as a Volunteer Management System (VMS) for the 9/11 Sewa Day of Service has created a strong and measurable impact on volunteer management, data tracking, and program expansion. One of the most significant outcomes has been the ability to systematically capture volunteer data such as registrations, participation, and hours contributed, making it easier to measure impact and generate structured reports for future planning.

Beyond the 9/11 event, the VMS has strengthened the overall functioning of the Sewa Serve Program. It is now actively used for posting events, coordinating activities, and enabling smooth communication between program leads and volunteers. This centralized approach has reduced dependency on multiple tools and brought greater clarity and efficiency to operations.

The success of Build has also encouraged chapters like Houston, Atlanta, and Central Jersey to adopt the platform for promotion, registration, and volunteer impact tracking across other programs as well. With all information in one place, these chapters can easily monitor participation trends, improve outreach strategies, and ensure consistency in execution across locations.

Importantly, the usage of VMS is no longer limited to the 9/11 Sewa Day of Service or the Serve Program alone. Chapters have started adopting it for other initiatives as well, recognizing its effectiveness in managing volunteers and organizing events. This wider adoption highlights its scalability and reliability as a unified system for multiple programs.

Overall, Build has enhanced efficiency, improved data-driven decision-making, and created a strong foundation for scaling programs. Its expanding use across chapters and initiatives demonstrates its value as a long-term solution for streamlined volunteer management and impactful community engagement.

Zoho Transformation: Turning Challenges into Foundational Change

Yogesh Dhere- Project Manager, IT Team, Pune

Working on the Zoho Transformation project has been phenomenal. The challenges that came along the way, and how they ultimately paved the foundation for a meaningful shift in our relationship with Zoho Corporation, have been truly encouraging and heartwarming.

From Content to Learning Impact: Building Sewa Academy

Vivek V V- Manager - Learning and Development, Sewa Academy, Delhi

1. Making My Impact Count – Initiatives & Actions

Over the past 12 months, I focused on strengthening Sewa Academy as a structured and scalable learning platform. One key initiative I led was standardizing course development
across departments—transforming scattered training content into well-designed LMS courses with clear learning objectives, engaging visuals, and voice-over–ready narration.

I worked closely with different teams to identify learning gaps, ideate high-impact courses, and convert them into accessible digital formats. This included introducing a consistent course structure, improving content quality, and ensuring that courses are not just informative but also engaging and practical for volunteers.

Another important step was integrating feedback loops—collecting inputs from learners and stakeholders to continuously improve course quality. I also contributed to creating branded templates and improving presentation design, which enhanced the overall learner experience.

Through these efforts, training became more accessible, standardized, and scalable—
reducing dependency on live sessions while increasing reach across volunteers globally.

2. A Sewa Effort That Changed My Life

One of the most impactful experiences for me was working on transforming raw, unstructured knowledge into meaningful learning experiences for others. While developing courses, I realized that Sewa is not just about service delivery—it is about empowering people with knowledge and clarity.

This journey changed my perspective. I began to see how even small improvements in communication, structure, or design can significantly enhance someone’s ability to learn and contribute. It taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of thinking from a learner’s point of view.

More importantly, it deepened my connection with Sewa’s mission. I moved from just contributing to truly taking ownership—ensuring that whatever I create adds long-term value. This experience reshaped how I approach service—with more intention, responsibility, and purpose.

Building a Standard Resource Library to Scale Serve Across Chapters

Shubham Sahu- Team Assistant - Serve Program, Nagpur

To strengthen program delivery and ensure long-term impact, we developed comprehensive pre-designed resource folders for all 44+ chapters across the four regions of Sewa USA. These folders serve as a centralized, easy-to-use toolkit that equips stakeholders and members with everything needed to effectively plan, execute, and sustain Serve initiatives at the local level.

Each resource folder includes a thoughtfully curated set of materials such as instructional and inspirational videos, ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations, standardized documentation templates, and professionally designed Canva posters and communication assets. By providing these tools in a structured and accessible format, we aim to reduce the time and effort required for program setup while maintaining consistency in messaging and quality across chapters.

The primary goal of this initiative is to empower chapters to operate with greater independence and confidence. By minimizing reliance on centralized support, these resources enable local teams to take ownership of their programs, adapt them to their community’s unique needs, and scale their impact organically. This approach fosters leadership development, encourages innovation at the grassroots level, and strengthens community engagement.

Ultimately, these pre-designed resource folders are not just operational tools—they are a strategic investment in building a self-sustaining, community-led Serve ecosystem. By equipping every chapter with the right resources and guidance, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient, scalable, and impactful program.

Creating Meaningful Giving Through Courage and Curiosity

Shradha Agrawal- Donor relations manager, Aligarh

Our Fund Development team identified a growing gap—donors were increasingly seeking smarter commitments and ways to plan their legacy. The conversation was no longer just about how to give, but how to give meaningfully over time. Donors were thinking about sustaining impact and ensuring their contributions created value beyond the present moment.

Many organizations already had structured systems and services in place to support this. Planned and Smart Giving felt like a natural next step for us as well. But there was a challenge—we had no legal framework, no external advisors, and no formal guidance to rely on.

For a moment, this felt like a limitation. But soon, it became our starting point. Instead of waiting for perfect conditions, the team chose to move forward. We immersed ourselves in learning—reading, researching, and understanding global practices. Complex concepts and documents were simplified into meaningful, human conversations. There were multiple calls, countless questions, and moments of uncertainty as we worked to truly understand what this initiative could become.

It wasn’t always easy. There were unanswered questions and moments of hesitation. But we leaned into authenticity. We didn’t position ourselves as experts—we showed up as learners, committed to exploring this space with honesty.

We began small—one conversation at a time, one person at a time. We engaged our brand ambassadors, initiating dialogues around Planned and Smart Giving. And what we discovered was powerful: donors didn’t need perfection—they needed clarity, sincerity, and intention.

Planned and Smart Giving was not built on expertise or external support. It was built on courage, curiosity, and commitment. Because sometimes, the most meaningful change begins when a team simply chooses to start.

From Users to Leaders: Scaling ZOHO Adoption in Sewa

Pranjali Pohankar- Executive Manager, Presidents' Office, Nagpur

Over the last 12 months, one initiative that created meaningful impact in Sewa was the formation of the ZOHO Power Users Group for the Bharat MOS team. As Sewa continued to grow, we needed stronger systems, better coordination, and faster adoption of digital tools. Instead of depending only on external support, we built an in-house model of learning and leadership.

We identified a team of 10 committed volunteers/staff members from Bharat MOS and encouraged them to become “Power Users.” Each member took ownership of learning two ZOHO applications in depth. They invested nearly three hours every week individually to train themselves, practice, and prepare for others.

Once ready, this team conducted structured training sessions for the entire Bharat MOS group of nearly 35 members. Because the learning came from within the team, the sessions were practical, relatable, and immediately useful. As a result, ZOHO adoption across Bharat MOS was fast-tracked within a single quarter. Daily workflows became more organized, communication improved, and teams became more confident using technology.

Beyond internal training, the Power Users also supported Sewa chapters and departments with first logins, onboarding, and troubleshooting. To make the transition sustainable, we developed in-house training resources for 8 basic applications and 4 advanced applications, creating a long-term knowledge base for future users.

This was not just a technology project—it was Sewa in action: enabling others, solving problems together, and strengthening the organization for greater service.

From Readiness to Impact: Smarter Grant Decisions

Smita Chande- Manager (Fund Development and Compliance), Nagpur

I conducted a unique initiative for grant readiness assessment of chapters—an effort that significantly strengthened how Sewa makes grant-related decisions.

At the outset, one of the biggest challenges was the lack of clear visibility across chapters. As grant opportunities expanded, we also encountered multiple compliance gaps and red flags, making it difficult to assess whether chapters were truly ready to implement and manage grant-funded programs effectively.

To address this, I took a proactive approach by designing and implementing a structured Grant Readiness & Chapter Capacity Assessment framework. Through this, I evaluated ~20 chapters across governance, compliance readiness, program maturity, volunteer strength, partnerships, and infrastructure.

The assessment revealed critical gaps—limited SAM registration, uneven leadership structures, and infrastructure challenges affecting federal readiness. These insights directly helped strengthen compliance processes and improve pre-submission quality.

I supported the review of grant proposals across a ~$5.3M pipeline, working closely with the Grants Team (Gauri ji, Amali ji, and Prakriti ji) to ensure alignment with readiness and feasibility. Based on structured Go/No-Go recommendations, we were able to take more informed decisions—resulting in 20 successful grants out of 58
applications, with ~$2.2M secured.

This also enabled better prioritization of chapters for the Fund Development team and more confident leadership decisions on where to expand.

This effort was made possible through strong teamwork—especially the
organizational team (Sagar ji, Shraddha ji, Shruti ji, Radhika ji, Ankita ji), along with guidance from Manali ji, Mahesh ji, and Prem ji.

This experience reinforced that real impact lies in enabling the right programs to begin in the right places—with readiness, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

Where Service Becomes Resistance: Attappady Diaries

Gokul V Gopal- Manager (Grant Management), Delhi

Kerala leads in social development indicators, but my journey bypassed those validations. It led to Attappady—known for child deaths over rights, malnutrition over nourishment. The KSRTC bus from Thrissur to Agali groaned through sharp bends and broken roads, a rehearsal for the uneven path ahead.

Agali was cold on arrival; the hills held their breath. But SVMM hospital buzzed—Dr. Jilshoy brisk in the corridors, nurses preparing for a long day. One name echoed in hamlets and rooms: Dr. Narayanan, the “10-rupee doctor.” Reverence here is embedded in survival, not in shouts.

First stop: Ramyasree, an eight-month-old post-heart surgery patient in Coimbatore, supported by SVMM. Her mother, an unpaid volunteer, cradled her. Gratitude settled silently in the body—years of service repaid through her child’s life.

The hamlets told harsher tales: malnourished children with thin limbs, anaemic mothers, untreated mental illness drifting between lucidity and absence. Children roamed on school days as parents chased daily wages that dissolved into liquor.

Poverty here is generational, behavioural, and structural. In Choondi, frail Thaami ran toward us, trembling but determined. Years of mental illness had eased under Dr. Narayanan’s care; he now takes medicines. “I feel good these days,” he said, a shy smile masking neglect. Nearby, Lokammal showed her daughter Muruki, who lives with mental illness and resists medication.  SVMM’s Akash knelt, speaking gently where force had failed. Hope remained fragile but present.

SVMM’s Sudha, the ANM, continued her work amid resistance—once even chased for urging hospital care. Persistence is not a luxury here. Yet light persists. At SVMM’s Malleeswara Tribal Hostel, children train in volleyball and kabaddi; disciplined bodies, ambitious eyes. Hunger-battling parents now dream of state teams. Service is not charity—it is resistance. SVMM resists Attappady’s forgetting every day.

From Ground to Data: Capturing Sewa’s Impact in Real Time

Amali- Manager - Grants, Delhi 

Over the past 24 months, I initiated a structured, real-time data collection system across Sewa chapters to better capture and reflect our collective impact. Beginning in 2025, this effort focused on gathering key organizational metrics such as number of activities, adult volunteers, lead volunteers, volunteer hours, and beneficiaries served.

What made this initiative truly meaningful was the collaborative spirit behind it. With consistent support from dedicated chapter coordinators like Prakriti ji, Shraddha Dayalkar ji, Shruti ji, Ankita ji, Sagar ji, and Radhika ji, we built a system that was not only functional but also sustainable. Every Wednesday, we come together to review the past week’s activities, troubleshoot challenges, and ensure a steady, accurate flow of information from the ground.

This initiative transformed how chapters document their grassroots services, as well as how they access real-time insights into their growth. The data became a powerful tool supporting cross-functional teams such as Program, Fund Development, and Marketing—strengthening the creation of impactful presentations, reports, outreach materials, and donor proposals.

This structured data helps amplify the voice of grassroots service. It reinforces that every activity, every volunteer hour, and every beneficiary matters—and when documented well, these efforts collectively tell a compelling story of change at an organizational level.

My Sewa Journey: Finding Purpose through Service

Archana Arora- MOS (Sewa Academy), Delhi

Over the past year, my journey with Sewa has been truly enriching and deeply meaningful. Serving as a MOS in Bharat allowed me to connect with communities at the grassroots level and understand the true spirit of selfless service. It helped me see how even small efforts, when done with sincerity, can create a lasting impact.

In the last six months, my experience has further strengthened my bond with Sewa. What makes this journey especially meaningful is not just the work we do, but the values we live by every day—compassion, responsibility, and seeing the world as one family.

One of the most transformative experiences for me has been attending the recent Varga. It was a truly special learning experience where I was able to deepen my understanding of Sanatan Dharma and the Hindu faith in a practical and meaningful way. The teachings were not just theoretical—they inspired me to bring these values into my daily life and also share them with my family. It has helped me feel more rooted, more aware, and more aligned with a purpose beyond myself.

Sewa, for me, is not just an organization—it is a way of life. It has shaped my thinking, strengthened my values, and inspired me to grow both personally and spiritually. This journey has been truly beautiful, and I feel grateful to be part of something so meaningful.

When Writing Becomes Service: My Sewa Journey

Gauri Kittur- Grants Manager, Pune

My journey with Sewa has been both unexpected and deeply fulfilling. Coming from
a legal background, I never imagined I would find myself in the world of grant writing. But during a phase of transition, I told myself—this is an opportunity. An opportunity to nurture my inner writer and align with my basic nature of giving back to society. This role, in many ways, felt like a perfect fit.

As I worked on foundation, federal, and corporate grants, I often wondered about the real impact of my work. Sitting far from Bharat, it was not always easy to see the difference we were making. But whenever we worked on disaster relief grants—and saw them succeed—the impact became real, visible, and deeply motivating.

Sewa has not only helped me sharpen my writing skills but also given me the privilege of contributing meaningfully to those less fortunate. I still remember writing proposals for Mamatva Foundation supporting the transgender community, and for the Mangaon Center led by Prasad ji—both of which helped raise funds and enabled meaningful work on the ground. More recently, contributing to the Atlanta Mobile Van Clinic proposal and seeing it move forward has been equally fulfilling. These moments make the impact tangible and personal.

What truly makes Sewa special, however, is its people. Interacting with and learning
from individuals like Saumitra ji, Prem ji, Arun ji, Vasudev ji, and our favorite Srikanth
ji has been invaluable. Their accessibility, willingness to mentor, and depth of experience create a truly unique environment.

Sewa stands out because of this spirit—of learning, sharing, and growing together.

“सेवा परमो धर्मः” — Service is the highest duty.

 

Enabling Productivity Through Digital Transformation

Rakesh Pathak- Solution Architect, IT Team, Bharat

Implemented the Sewa Desk ticketing system, which made reporting, logging, and tracking all IT issues easy and systematic. It helped the entire organization transition from Google to the Zoho platform. We are now working on bringing in more Zoho products that are easy to use and help improve productivity among MoS and volunteers.

I have been associated with Sewa for the last 22 years, and Sewa is truly a part of my life.

Witnessing Impact: The Pathshala Experience

Veena Bedekar- Program Manager (Influence and Impact), Pune

My journey with Sewa has been a deeply meaningful and inspiring experience, connecting me to grassroots impact in a very real way. This opportunity came when Sandeep ji connected me with a senior karyakarta working in Siliguri, Bharat, for a project we were looking to support. Siliguri holds strategic importance, located in the “Chicken’s Neck” corridor that serves as a gateway to North-East Bharat and a hub for diverse communities.

The project, Bhagwan Birsa Pathshalas, is a chain of preschools being established in tea garden areas—remote and underserved regions where access to early education is limited. Through this engagement, I followed up on communication with both senior leadership and ground volunteers, connecting teams from Sewa International USA and Sewa Bharat. This gave me a valuable end-to-end perspective of how a project evolves—from vision and planning to execution on the ground.

Visiting the project sites and schools was the most enriching part of this experience. Traveling to these remote locations, I witnessed firsthand the hardships faced by tea garden communities and the urgent need for accessible, quality education. It reinforced the importance of education that not only imparts knowledge but also instills values and strengthens cultural identity.

Interacting with students and meeting dedicated ground volunteers brought the work to life. Their commitment and resilience were truly inspiring. I was especially thrilled to witness the opening of one of the Pathshalas—an unforgettable moment symbolizing hope and new beginnings.

This experience reaffirmed my belief in the power of community-driven initiatives and left me deeply motivated by Sewa’s impact.

When Content Becomes Service

Shekhar Chavan- Manager (Cause Marketing), Pune

One effort that deeply impacted me was working on storytelling around disaster relief projects. While editing a short video on relief work, I wasn’t just arranging clips I was witnessing resilience, loss, and hope through real stories. It changed how I see my role. I realized that even though I’m not physically present on the ground, my work can influence how many people step forward to help.

This experience transformed my perspective from being a content creator to becoming a storyteller with responsibility. It made my work more purposeful.

At Sewa, I didn’t just contribute skills; I found a deeper connection to service, where every piece of content has the potential to create real change in someone’s life and in my own.

The volunteer meeting at Sewa Boston’s office had just ended, but the energy it created lingered long after everyone left. A few young Sewa volunteers, still reflecting on the annual planning session, climbed into an Uber Cab and began the ride home. Their conversation naturally turned to the meeting they just attended.

Volunteers spoke about the year ahead, the chapter’s annual plan, and the concept of selfless service that brought them together. They shared stories about the people whose lives had been touched, the goals met, and how volunteers poured their energies into Sewa initiatives to serve others. Their words carried conviction, warmth, and quiet determination.

The driver listened to their conversation without interrupting. At first, he simply glanced at them through the mirror. Then he asked a few thoughtful questions. What inspired them? How did their work help others? What kept them going?

They answered honestly, speaking not with rehearsed explanations, but with sincerity. Gradually, the atmosphere in the car shifted. What began as a routine ride became a shared moment of reflection. As the trip neared its end, something unexpected happened. Before they stepped out, the driver reached into his wallet and handed them $15. He asked only one thing — that they donate it to the cause on his behalf. He did not want a receipt. He did not want recognition. He simply wanted to give.

The amount was small, but the gesture carried profound meaning. In that brief journey, genuine passion had moved a stranger to act. It was a simple reminder: when service comes from the heart, people feel it. And sometimes, the quietest moments create the most lasting impact.

There was a quiet excitement and anticipation in me before coming to Suriname this time—excitement to meet our Sewa volunteers here, and anticipation stirred by familiar memories from my visit to Nickerie in July 2023. I landed at the Paramaribo airport on Saturday night and was warmly greeted by Sewa Suriname volunteers Aswin ji Charoe and Abhinay.

The next morning, I travelled to Nickerie by taxi. Conversations with my co-passengers made the long drive more thoughtful and enjoyable. Mungra Medical Center arranged my stay in the physicians’ residence—an individual house with everything one needs for comfortable living. The experience was made even more pleasant by the delicious meals provided by MMC. I had carried a few essentials for the mornings—milk, eggs, and some snacks. Residences of physicians from the Netherlands surrounded the house. Though I didn’t find enough time for an informal dinner with them—perhaps next time—I did speak with several of them about cases and local challenges.

One of them, to my surprise, was the great-grandson of the legendary Dr. Snellen, who introduced the Snellen chart used worldwide for visual acuity testing. Life has a subtle, beautiful way of connecting past and present. Each day began with 7:30 a.m. sign-outs by the overnight staff, followed by rounds to see admitted patients, then the outpatient clinic. I saw many interesting and challenging cases, made more complex by resource limitations—restricted medication availability, limited MRI scanner availability, and the geographic gap between Nickerie and Paramaribo. Despite this, the volunteer physicians from the Netherlands have been holding the system together remarkably well.

What deeply touched me was the joy on the faces of Hindustani patients. One 83-year-old gentleman said, with tears in his eyes, that he was so happy someone from his grandfather’s country had come to treat him. I felt that warmth and connectedness to his roots, and it stayed with me. Overall, this journey has been inspiring, joyous, and humbling. We live in a global village, and the health and well-being of people in Suriname is a responsibility I share. Building and nurturing these connections is essential.

As the sewa motto reminds us: “Together we serve better.”

Bridges built with compassion, beyond all differences, can transform the well-being of communities—of the whole planet. Carrying all these wonderful memories, I depart with a small ache— a sense of unfinished care. And maybe that is what will bring me back again.

--Dr. Kiran Patil is a board-certified Neurologist at Independence Health System in Butler, PA, and a core member of the Doctors for Sewa team. He is currently volunteering in Suriname, where 20–25% of the population is of Indian origin. A patient interaction in Surinamese Hindi, reflecting shared ancestral roots, left a lasting impact on him. Based in Pittsburgh, he comes from a family involved in social work and actively supports Sewa work with his wife and two children.