Fatima Shiril Mohammed Haris - Nominee - Social Volunteer Awards 2021
Me, Fatima Shiril, 19 years, born in Qatar, studied until 7th standard in Ideal Indian School, Doha – Qatar. From 8th standard continued my studies in home town Thrissur, Kerala. I am the eldest of four siblings. My Dad, Mr. Mohamed Haris, a commerce post graduate, was working as a finance officer at Supreme Education Council – Doha, Qatar. My Mom, Nejila Haris, a commerce graduate, and she is my mentor and motivator in all means. Presently I am doing bachelor’s degree course in English Literature from Calicut University and BA Sociology for IGNOU. I am certified volunteer of the LEDBY Foundation and I have done some online courses from globally reputed institutions such as: University of Edinburg – Introduction to Philosophy, Imperial Collage, London – Creative Thinking, and still doing more courses. From the kindergarten itself I was participating in all events and activities of School. I was a very active team member eco-club in School. In my leadership, with the help of Parents’ Body, we built an aquaponics pond and garden. It was a wonderful blend art and science, an eco-friendly growth of plants and fish. I am a teenage member of local NGO called ASAR, i.e. Association for Social Activities and Research. ASAR with aim of inculcating exemplary leadership qualities in teenage students, organized a teenage students’ forum – Young Leaders. It was really my fortune, from the early age itself I got profound vision of the society I am living in. I got the privilege to attend many leadership training programs and to participate in lot of field activities conducted by ASAR. That really enabled me to take a leadership role in time natural calamity, the flood in Kerala in 2018 & 2019. Our teem collected dress and foodstuff for the relief camps. We soon realized that there are a lot of outfits doing the same work and their contribution is good enough and we don’t need to duplicate the same activities others are doing. We visited relief camps observed and studied the nature of relief camps and actual problems and sufferings of camp inmates. We learned that even though they are supplied with enough quantity of food, cloth, medicine, etc., they are in deep mental trauma that need to be addressed immediately. The kids in the camps were in pathetic condition. Having learned and understood these real issues we planned some activities. We prepared some fun activities, some simple physical and mental contests for both elders and kids. From each camp we visited we formed and orchestra form the camp inmates. It was our mirth to learn that their sojourn in camps at that pathetic plight turned in to an ever memorable days of happiness in their life. All of them left the camps to their homes with very happy. We succeeded in our first innovative short term project. Resilience from a traumatic situation is equally important as well as food and cloth. The other activities of our team were to give educational support to the blind students of and blinds school called INSIGHT. During the examination time we were helping them reading their texts to them and helping them prepare their braille notes. We stayed with them motivating with them until they finish their exams of every academic year. We guided them to avail all the governmental supports and benefits. Volunteering is a passionate manifestation and realization of my being. I am because I am doing for others as well as I am doing for myself.
VOLUNTEERING FOR ME Volunteering is a passionate manifestation and the realisation of my existence.
It's an act of responsibility towards the nature, fellow beings, everything that is surrounded by us and which we are responsible for. VOLUNTEERING STORY I grown up seeing my family doing social works and charity works so eventually I also started to get into this wonderful process. I feel so lucky when I'm doing my part. But later only I realized it's value, worth and how fruitful it is. Now I am doing this because I think it's my responsibility and I have to do this also it somewhat fascinating and makes me happy. In my concept there every human beings in this world has some responsibilities/an act of volunteering that has to be fulfilled. It made first person to person, society to society, or country to country. But we all do have something to do for this world before we leave. VOLUNTEERING JOURNEY Since then I settled in Kerala that was in the age of 12 or 13. I was studying 7th. Well, before moving here I was not having any such thoughts or anything, actually I don't remember if I was having anything or not. But I always loved to help others. My dad had always been into this, social work and volunteering. And eventually I also started being a part of somewhere and socially engaged. I can probably say that at the age of 13 I got into some organization and from then onwards I was able to do anything on my part now it's been six years I'm now at my 19. My volunteering period have made me realize a lot of things. I realized how greatful i am, It always made me to thank God. And I always felt so happy, productive and felt that maybe it will be a small act of ours but it can change once whole life.
PROJECT Flood relief works ORGANISATION Asar center ( Association for social and research ) MISSION & VISSION Support the people in the flood affected area.
Collecting dress materials, food stuff, and other necessary items.
Make them available to inmates of the relief camp.
Making programs for children there and to relief their stress. Also by giving them hope. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 2018 Flood Relief Works There were many organisations to cater necessary items to the relief camps. But no one was there to attend trauma that inmates were suffering. Realising the need we organised recreational and fun activities for inmates. That immensely helped inmates of relief camps, especially children and senior citizen. We could make their weeks long stay in relief camps ever memorable pleasant experience.
We were a team of 20 students. I was singing songs for them organising fun activity contests. I got the opportunity to do counseling for some of them. LENGTH OF SERVICE 16th August 2018 to 5th September 2018 and 9th August 2019 to 31st of August 2019.
We spent 6 hours every in different relief camps of our area. We involved almost 260 hours of activities during these flood seasons in Kerala. ROLE IN PROJECT I could do the leading role in formulating and planning our team activities. I acted as team puller, encouraging and motivating the team. I could keep the team in high spirits. Every morning before starting the activities we sit together and plan the program for the day. We divide into different groups and share the activities. Our team were very glad and greatful while the local self government departments recognised and appreciated our activities. We conducted lot of programs and our team were always readily available for involvement. Till now i have been able to do alot on my part. two years back when there was flood over here we collected a bunch of dresses, money,food and things that will be useful for the people in the camp. And we went to 6+camps in 2018 and 2019 in our village. Also gave them hope by conducting similar programmes.If there's someone suffering due to illness or hunger it's always free to contact us if we know someone is out there we will be there for them.
IMPACT OF PROJECT Our projects really helped the inmates of relief camps to make an easy and early resilience from the traumatic and stress and strains of the devastating natural calamity. Our projects was for all inmates of relief camps especially children. We made their short stay in relief camps a wonderful experience for them. Kids of the camps involved in many activities. We could make them believe in themselves and gave the strength to face hard realities of life. These voluntary works in time of natural calamities and disaster helped us much in learning, understanding, teaming, interacting, involving. Learnings and experiences from these projects enabled and equipped us to face any hard situations. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
ACHIEVEMENTS
I am certified volunteer of the LEDBY Foundation and I have done some online courses from globally reputed institutions such as: University of Edinburg – Introduction to Philosophy, Imperial Collage, London – Creative Thinking, and still doing more courses.
I am a teenage member of local NGO called ASAR, i.e. Association for Social Activities and Research. ASAR with aim of inculcating exemplary leadership qualities in teenage students, organized a teenage students’ forum – Young Leaders. It was really my fortune, from the early age itself I got profound vision of the society I am living in. I got the privilege to attend many leadership training programs and to participate in lot of field activities conducted by ASAR.
FUTURE PLANS "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."
-- Edward Everett Hale
My future plans:
I will be organizing some social workers and expanding the group of passionated social workers and charity workers then (god willing)
I will be working with my group to gather resources needed for social work...like money, dress bank, food supplies and then we a team will be working on various projects:
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much"
--- Helen Keller
Orphanage and old homes: The people over there have access for food and other necessary things from many organisations but the thing they are lacking of is love and care and that is what they actually need the most and they are craving for. That is why we team together are there for them, being with them, spending time with them and assuring them that they have someone to call their own. And that will also make our team so happy, cheerful and energetic.
Food for those who are starving at the night:
We team will be surveying and supplying food to those who are laying on the side of roads, shops and here and there. We team will be there at 9:00 pm to supply foods for those who where ready to sleep with their empty stomach. Our access to number of places will be according to the number of volunteers we have at the time. Increasing number of volunteers and charity workers will help us to access to many places. We will be dividing volunteers according to numbers and places then we will be planning together accordingly.
Education on career guidance:
There are still people who don't know what to do next who don't have support from anyone they know, who are still roaming here and there or simply sitting inside the house after graduating with good marks they need help they don't whom to ask. So we team will be there to support them and their connect them to the best guidance counselors, career counselors and career development facilitators.
Also we will financially support them.
Basketball court for girls:
This was my childhood dream. Everywhere we see boys courts we don't see any for girls they are told to be inside the house helping household things, gladly nowadays we can see many families whom they support the children equally without gender discrimination.
I'm aiming this for girls because i think they have to be more socially and make lot of friends. Even if many girls have same aged neighbors they are not connected because they rarely go outside. So in my opinion this can connect girls, and free their mind, can change the social situation even if it is little.
For this actually I have to make a group who are interested in this project and have to collect fund beside only those who are interested in this project
Are you an aspiring volunteer, put your ideas into action at National Volunteers Hackathon 2021 www.socialsolutionsindia.in/national-volunteers-hackathon-2021