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VT Seva Dallas recently adopted another street in Lewisville where our volunteers got together on the 17th of September to participate in a street cleanup activity. These cleanup activities will continue to be held under the Adopt a Street Initiative on a monthly basis, so make sure to stay tuned in for future updates!!

Sabarmathi Gurukulam, Cheyyar, Tiruvannamalai, TAMILNADU provides training and coaching to unemployed youth to get through the competitive exams and placement in government jobs along with learning organic farming, education to rural children and community give back. Mr. Gunasekaran of the Gurukulam shared the great news of NEET 2022 results being published. For Sabarmathi, this is the 4th year of NEET training. Mr. Gunasekaran shared "we wholeheartedly express our gratitude to all the beautiful hearts that helped to make this possible despite the challenges due to covid and other obstacles. Specifically, we thank VT Seva for providing timely help to reconstruct our building and help board around 30 students to get trained. We thank my college senior Vidhya akka for making this possible." As part of VT Seva's rural empowerment goal, we believe in reassuring efforts and providing needed support in making a difference in communities. Last year when the Gurukulam was in desperate need of an infrastructure upgrade for VT Seva helped with building and restoring the water purification system, upgrading bathrooms in a hostel, renovating the main hall (replacing the thatched leaf roof with permanent sheeting), and overall upgrade of the facility. More info: Sabarmathi | Vtsworld

It was 5 in the morning in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. We were in the Allampally Gurukulam at the crack of dawn, getting ready for yoga. It was our first morning at Allampally so we are extremely confused as to what we were supposed to be doing. I opened the door of the room I was staying in, and with the other boys, I walked down the hall to where the yoga class would be held. Most of the students were already there, lined up in rows. Once they saw us, a couple of the boys moved aside and gestured at us to join them. We did, and soon the class started. The instructor was giving out instructions, and we didn’t understand most of them. Without us even asking, they corrected us, helped us, and treated us like one of their own. Throughout the rest of the class, the students were cracking jokes, laughing, and having fun while exercising. We couldn’t help but join in on the fun, and what started as a yoga session at 5 in the morning, soon turned into a fun hangout while doing yoga. Even though to them it seemed normal, to us, it helped us feel welcome and included.

When we hear the word love, we think of the purest emotion in the world. Some of the biggest monuments and epic stories are based on love. But over these two weeks, I learned that even within love, there's a selfish and selfless kind. I would say the "selfish" type of love is what we experience daily. When we love our friends and expect them to love us back, conditional love comes from feelings of mutual respect. But the selfless kind? We don't usually find that here. I only learned about selfless love 50 kilometers into the Kawal Forest, far away from urban civilization, in a beautiful village called Allampalli. While the rains may have shortened our stay in Allampalli, the amount of fun we had was not at all diminished. Our eagerness matched the kids' excitement at the Gurukulam when we stepped into classrooms the first morning with our planned curriculum. But what came as a surprise was how quickly the students absorbed everything. I genuinely have never seen brighter students with such a passion to learn. These kids know how to work hard and play hard. After a day full of classes, we enjoyed extracurricular activities like self-defense, dancing, rocketry, and more. But the most heartwarming part of our stay in Allampalli was our trip to the “thandas" where the students' families lived. We took our bus and a truck full of fruit to disperse amongst the villages. The minute we stepped off the bus, kids came running up to us, grabbing our hands. You could see the dilemma on their faces of whether to grab the fruit or hold our hands. With pockets full of apples, they refused to move until they held on to at least my pinky or thumb. And off they took us, running through the streets, showing us their homes and pet animals. Never mind the fact that I didn’t know their name or they didn’t know mine. When I stepped off that bus, they now considered one of their own. I thought maybe selfless love thrived in this village because it was hidden away and untainted by our boisterous city life. But I was proven wrong when I also found it in Hyderabad at the Netra Vidyalaya Degree College. We had the opportunity to interact with Intermediate (11th & 12th grade) to Degree (undergraduate) level students and hear about their life stories and what brought them to Netra Vidyalaya. What shocked me was that despite the difficulties and darkness they face, they shine brighter every day with their enthusiasm to succeed and do good in the world. Some had big dreams of becoming I.A.S. officers, and others wanted to support their families and give back to the school that raised them. Talking to each student was like catching up with an old friend, asking about families, and laughing about hobbies. Sangeetha invited me to her village for Diwali, and Praveen Kumar promised to visit me in the U.S. when he got a job here. So that’s when I learned that the secret to this selfless love didn't rely on the location; it lay in the beauty of that person's soul. Those who have learned to live life with a beautiful smile and eternal gratitude, regardless of their circumstances, are the ones who can experience and spread selfless love. I'm usually not philosophical, but this trip encouraged me to introspect and reanalyze my priorities in life. This trip highlighted shortcomings in my definition of happiness. Happiness isn't the product of monetary or academic success; it's the product of pure relationships, consistent gratitude, optimism, and humility. And I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to experience this with. The immediate friendships, inside jokes, and adorable moments are memories I'll treasure forever. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Dr. Padmaja Vemula, MD, USA shares her experience accompanying Interns VTSeva is truly an organization that cares most about empowering its youth volunteers – something that I am reminded of every time I am involved in its activities. This summer internship experience is another testament to that fact. I am so thankful for the opportunity to chaperone the India trip for the VTSeva summer internship. This helped me broaden my horizons as well as enhance my understanding of our cultural values and heritage. It has also given me a chance to get to know many wonderful people. To begin with, we had a three-day alternative medicine immersion camp comprising Ayurvedic and Homeopathic philosophies. Dr. Irfan ji, Dr. Rajput ji, and Dr. Ravinder ji educated us as well as gave extensive tours of the facilities and various treatments. They also allowed us to do patient interviews. Being a physician trained and practicing in the western medical system, these immersion camps made me realize that they are more of an integrative approach rather than alternatives to standard medical practice. After all, Ayurveda takes advantage of remedies present in nature and tries to eliminate the use of synthetic medications. Homeopathy emphasizes the mind-body connection. Now, I feel that every physician might possibly benefit from learning both ayurvedic and homeopathic principles. At the least, the study of these methods may lead to increased trust from patients, who might feel more empowered in their care when their doctor examines with a more open mind. Plus, upon closer look, I found that many concepts proposed by homeopathy– the principle of “similarity”, the individualization of prescription, and the use of very low doses of medicines are important topics worth noting for physicians like me. As our beloved Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji explained, physicians should be like the river Ganga. River Ganga accepts many rivulets, and creeks into her and makes her flow strong to support the world. Similarly, doctors should integrate all methodologies and make their practice stronger and more effective. Next, we experienced cultural immersion. In our daily meetings, Swamiji helped us delve deeper into our Hindu philosophy and Vedic way of life. We learned how cows are pivotal to our culture. And, how there were hundreds of breeds of indigenous cows that existed at one time, and now only 16 breeds remain. We had first-hand experience interacting with cows, feeding them, feeling their energy by being in close proximity with them, etc. We were fascinated to see the age-old process of synthesizing medicinal products by distilling cow urine mixed with herbs. Veerababu ji, who was the supervisor for the ashram’s Gosala with about 400 cows, did an excellent job making us comfortable with cows and providing details on how carefully they prepare the cow feed, and how they make use of every byproduct. He also served us mouth-watering hot milk beverages and sweets. Finally, the largest part of the internship was exploring community service. We went on a medical camp conducted by JIMS college in a nearby village. The next day, we learned about the Mahila Arogya Vikas program which so far screened hundreds of thousands of women for cancers. Our trek to Allampally was the highlight of our trip. We all got unspeakable joy and satisfaction working with tribal kids and interacting with nearby villagers alike. What we provided to the school children was dwarfed by the hospitality and love we received from them, the principal, Prabhakar ji, and, the school staff. I personally taught human anatomy. I was awe-struck by their level of curiosity and how quickly they grasped the concepts. In the following days, we had memorable sessions with Netra Vidyalaya kids over several days. They showed us disability does not stand a chance when your determination is strong. They were curious, happy, and full of life. The level of artistic talent that was on display was mesmerizing. Their enthusiasm was contagious. During the course of our stay, we also discovered what makes the ashram tick. It’s the dedicated set of people such as Krishna Kumari ji. She went above and beyond to make our ashram stay comfortable. It is due to selfless service from volunteers like her that so many initiatives and programs are being conducted at the ashram successfully. In addition, we got a chance to pack food and groceries for recent flood victims. Although swamped with hundreds of responsibilities and programs, Swamiji still thought about the flood victims. This only goes to show how infinitely compassionate our Acharya is. As Swamiji put it, it was our responsibility to help people in need, not generosity. He taught us that joy shared is doubled and sorrow shared is halved. He urged all the interns to share their joy with like-minded people and share others’ sorrows at the same time. I believe that’s not only the essence of community service but also the best life lesson we received. Finally, I highly encourage all youth and adult volunteers to consider going on future VTSeva internship trips to Allampally and Beersaipet tribal schools. I guarantee you that it’s gonna be a life-changing experience for you and will leave you with a lifetime of fond memories.

VT Seva (Volunteering Together for Service) is organizing Ra:ga, our 4th annual dance and musical performance festival in the Bay Area. Date: September 17 & 18, 2022 (Saturday & Sunday) Timings: 10 am - 6 pm PT Venue: Historic Hoover Theater, 1635 Park Ave, San Jose, CA 95126 Entry fee: $5 /person (children below 5 are free). All registration fees and proceeds will be going towards educating visually challenged and underprivileged students, and are tax-deductible. Please contact us for any questions at naatyaraag@gmail.com

Details of the Eco-friendly project: 1. Youths will collect plastic bags from neighborhood, friends, and families 2. Convert plastic bags into blankets for the Homeless 3. Make creative VT Seva cloth bags 4. Sell cloth bags to protect the environment. All funds raised will go for the education of visually challenged kids 5. Let’s Think Green & Act Green

Wow!! What an event it was this year on June 25th 2022 at Total Sports Novi (East), MI. VT Seva Detroit organized a boarded indoor fundraising soccer tournament yet again this year to benefit the blind and visually challenged children in India. Like past years we had 3 different groups: - Group 1: 6 to 9 years’ old - Group 2: 10 to 13 years’ old - Group 3: 14 and above This year’s turnout was unprecedented with 33 games in the 3 age Groups with a total of 93 players. During the run-up to the event, VT Seva Detroit Team members were ‘all guns blazing’ in all departments as usual. To list a few: · Promotions – Our Youth & Adult Volunteers did an amazing job in promoting the event. Apart from reaching out to the past participants via email, phone and voicemails and new participants via distribution list and MIindia, we had several outreach sessions at Total Sports Novi/Wixom, India Grocers and also pasted Flyers at different important locations throughout. Vijitha ji of Vani Foods came forward to Sponsor after listening to the great cause this event was being conducted for. She also graciously offered us her Storefront Parking Lot for any future VT Seva Events. Thank you so much Vidhya ji! · Venue - Total Sports – It would be injustice if we don’t mention Michelle Reitz, Total Sports Facilities Manager and her associate Jimmy. They were simply amazing and without their help and support, it would not have been possible. Right from when we decided to go for Soccer Tournament yet again this year, Michelle and her team were so appreciative of the cause and promised to go all the way to help us organize this. They not only subsidized the Venue fees for us but went above & beyond to help us so easily organize the logistics. It would not have been possible to conduct such a successful event without our AMAZING and ENTHUSIASTIC volunteers: All these youth volunteers did a terrific job in all these areas: The event would not have been a successful one without the tireless help and support in the following areas: This year we were bolstered by the one and only Alvin (of the OHWTF Soccer Club) . He was so gracious to help us out with refereeing the Group 3 games right from the beginning to the end. Special thanks to all the three amazing Referees who ensured the games were played fairly! · Teams & Winners – We had an amazing Game Roster and Schedule this year with several first-time youth players, 2 High School Teams, and 4 Adult League Teams from Saginaw, Utica/Rochester areas and 2 more teams from Hella. Group 1 (6 to 9 years’ old): Had 10 players that were placed in 2 different teams Yellow & Blue to verse against each other in Three 10 min. games. The kids had super fun time playing and scoring against each other in a friendly competitive kids Soccer game. The final standings say it all as to how competitive both teams were. Both the teams received the winning Trophies!! Group 2 (10 to 13 years’ old): Fourteen players were matched up against each other depending on their different skill levels in Orange vs Green teams. Superb demonstration of soccer skills amongst the players made up for an interesting three 15 min. sections of the game. Here’s the final standing after the games: The winning players of Group 2 received Trophies and the runner up received Medals for their fantastic performance on the field. Group 3 (14 and above): While the Group 1 & Group 2 games were going on, parallelly the Group 3 games also began simultaneously in the other Field. 8 teams were put in 2 different groups. We had 12 league round-robin games . Every game was high energy and highly competitive with a friendly tussle between the teams as expected. Here’s the league standing: The Semis were Super-charged with Seed 1 playing Seed 4 and Seed 2 playing Seed 3. The final standings were: THE GRAND FINALE: The final was between Saginaw FC and Dark Falcon Utd. It was an electrifying Final game with both teams equally challenging each other with their dribbling, passing and team coordination. In the end, Saginaw FC who were participating in this tournament for the first time came out clear winners beating the Dark Falcons Utd - 3:1. Here’s the final score: All in all, 97 players playing in 3 different age group with some exhilarating and captivating games in the Tournament was a treat to the viewers who thoroughly enjoyed it and stayed till the end. Every pass, every nutmeg and every goal scored was for the noble cause of providing support to the visually challenged children of Nethra Vidyalaya and Tribal School children. We were able to raise a total of $2,113.00 Game & Volunteer Coordinators like every year, met at regular intervals during the run-up to the event, burnt the mid-night oil, extreme planning and execution till the end utilizing the Game Schedule and Scoring software for the first time in VT Seva Detroit Soccer Tournament. In the end, it turned out to be a fruitful success for the hours of preparation that was put in. CONSOLIDATED PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EVENT ARE AVAILABLE AT: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rEPFrXcWWNBj6fkz6 Facebook Link https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid02H1h68CTznDc5WXvKzGF7ySgiAhQ7kMsUNxj3kQk1bX4cuQNAm1pY3jxx2URVwQpRl Blog Written By: Suresh Rajan Blog Published By: Nandini Cheemalamarri

Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of it's people, culture and achievements. VT Seva Detroit Youth Board participated in this celebration proudly by learning the history of Independence freedom fighters, participating in India Day parade, raising awareness of VTS Seva and raising money for underprivileged students’ education. Youth Board members continued their tradition of learning about selfless leaders who even sacrificed their life to get Independence. Its our duty to learn about them and share the knowledge. In Tribute to Bharath project led by youth volunteer Oviya , these youth volunteers Harish, Kushal, Sriram, Srihari H, Abhinav S, Sravya, Akshay, Shruthi K, Kalki, Rachana, Supraja & Aditi created informational posters. Macrame Key Chain Workshop: With Veena Ji's guidance following youths Oviya, Aaradhya, Sanjeev, Tanishka, Sai Sriram, Adhip and Harish and the adults Mandira, Jyothi, Venkat, Anuradha, Netaji, Jaisankar and Priya made the beautiful tri-color Macrame Keychains to sell in India Day. India Day Event: After a long break, VT Seva Detroit Youth Board Members came together to spread the word of and collect donations for our wonderful cause in India Day. The event started off with a parade, in which our members held up our banner and chanted "Vande Matharam" and "Jai Hind ." After getting inside, we spent many hours spreading the word at our stall. We sold handmade keychains In addition to this, our youth board member Oviya Jaisankar raised money by face painting India Flag. She raised money to support one student's education for a year. Overall it was really good to celebrate our 76th Independence Day with patriotism and raising money for Nethravidyala and Tribal School students’ education. Volunteers who participated in India Day Celebration are Youth Volunteers : Harish, Oviya, Anvika, Sreenika, Sriram, Harsh, Aaradhya, Eesha, Adhip , Rishi C & Pranav T Adult Volunteers: Veena, Mandira, Venkat C, Jaisankar & Priya. Blog Written By: Oviya Jaisankar (Youth Board Member) Blog Published By: Nandini Cheemalamarri (VTSeva Detroit Communications)

by Sriteja Kataru Aug- 2022 Did you know, according to WHO, that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide? Or that 20 percent of children aged 9 to 17 have a diagnosable mental health condition but they are largely ignored? To spread awareness about such facts, we, at VTSeva Mental Health Wing, organized a walkathon this weekend. This activity attracted 75 enthusiastic participants. It was a roaring success! To begin with, it was a beautiful lake setting on a pleasantly warm Saturday morning. We gathered at San Jose Almaden Lake Park in a waterfront picnic area. Some of us came prepared with motivational placards about mental wellness. After an educational session, we all walked along the meandering lakeside trail twice. It was simply perfect. We walked leisurely, chatting with friends and holding the placards. We crossed a few rustic bridges, admired little ducks floating in the lake, and strolled through the dappled shade of lakeside trees. Best of all, when many passersby came up to us and asked about our cause, our volunteers readily took the opportunity to spread awareness. We discussed how a lack of awareness and access to effective help are the two biggest barriers to mental health care, even in well-developed areas such as the SF Bay Area. What’s more? One of the people who came up to us happened to be an officer from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She appreciated what we were doing. She also promised to include us in their future events. We are excited about this potential collaboration. Notably, we also got a chance to rally the participants prior to the walk. We conducted a series of educational talks by our team members as well as by our keynote speaker – Dr Beeta Verma, a well-known psychiatrist who is board certified in both child and adult psychiatry. First, Sriteja spoke about the formation of VTSeva Mental Wellness Youth wing and how we follow a three-part approach - assess/educate/engage - to achieve our goals. Next, Ayush Shah talked about early signs of mental health problems. Anvith Konda elaborated on how depression is a growing problem. Dhruv Sastry discussed ADHD and its implications. Nidhi Parthasarathy brought attention to the issue of drug abuse in children. All through the session, Dr Verma provided her professional insights and offered tips on how to deal with all these issues. At VTSeva Mental Wellness Wing, our mission is to transform the mental health of the local students through education and engagement. This walkathon, with its valuable educational session and engaging walking activity, perfectly served our mission. Not to mention, it boosted our serotonin levels and set the mood for a happy weekend. Are you interested in joining our VTSeva Mental Wellness Wing? Please contact us at vtsbayareavolunteer@gmail.com .

As part of 75 years of India's Independence celebrations (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav), VT Seva Dallas participated in the 45th showcase of Anand Bazaar organized by the India Association of North Texas at Frisco Roughriders stadium. We set up a booth to spread the word about our goals, current projects, and opportunities for volunteers to partake in community service events conducted by the organization. We had about 25 volunteers (15 youth and 10 adults) who assisted in setting up the booth, engaging audience members through fun games such as spin the wheel as they visited us, and spreading awareness about the service opportunities available to them. Among 2000+ people who visited our booth, we are extremely delighted to announce that 215 of them have registered to volunteer with VT Seva. The volunteer spirit of our youth was also quite contagious as one of the registrants volunteered to help out on the spot by handing out goodies to those who played spin the wheel, and inspiring others to sign up to be a part of the organization. Our energetic youth not only enjoyed volunteering but also participated in the various festive activities that were conducted such as the parade, and Kanika Kapoor’s live performance. The performances reminded us about the sacrifices of many freedom fighters and we felt proud to be walking the path of such selfless souls by volunteering and giving back to the community. The fireworks towards the end of the event marked the end of the celebration attended by more than 20,000 people. We will shortly be reaching out to all those who signed up to volunteer and look forward to engaging them actively.

What an amazing day it turned out to be, perfect weather - not too sunny, not too cloudy, until the penultimate hour, when the rain God decided to be the part of the Final match as a wild card contestant 😊!! Glad that our seasoned men’s Finalists – Spikers and Sunrisers did not budge and continued their game with ease. The day began very early for some of us. A few players, core volunteers and set-up crew reached the venue before 7:45 AM EST. They were getting warmed up while we quickly put up the canopy tents, tables, check in booth, food booths, T-shirt sale booth and got ready for the team check-ins. Meanwhile, we closed out on the pre-orders of the Jimmy John’s Veggie Sub and sent the order to the store. Soon enough, the lines were drawn up and the teams got on to the courts and the most awaited Women’s Throwball games began! Just as expected, every game was high-spirited and extremely competitive. Right after the first set of Throwball games, the Men’s Volleyball games also started. The game draws were very balanced for both Women and Men’s schedules which made them even more interesting and nail-biting. For more Pics, Please visit VTSeva Detroit FB Media https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.6130448156982162&type=3 Final Game Standings: Here’s the impressive league level Standings for the Women’s Throwball Tournament . Semis & Final: Winner of the Women’s Throwball were DETROIT CHAMPS Here’s the fabulous league level Standings for the Men’s Volleyball Tournament. Semis & Final: Winner of the Men’s Volleyball were SUNRISERS Event sponsor : Ramayah Auto was kind enough to sponsor the event. Youth Volunteers: Our super energetic Youth volunteers did a FABULOUS job as scorers, line referee, game referee, food booth help, set-up and clean-up. Special thanks to Kaavya, Sneha, Jayanth, Niharika, Ahana, Veena, Hrudya, Supraja, Leo Schmidt, Sai, Nikhil, Shreya, Alok, Ishan, Teja and Arya!!! Way to go!! Adult Volunteers: The event would not have been a successful one without the tireless help and support in the following areas: - Setting up Banners, Food stall, Tent: Suresh, Venkatji, Vanitha, Jyothi ji - Treasurer help : Jyothi ji, Jaishankar ji - Lunch Subs Pickup & Dropoff: Swaroop ji - Samosas pickup: Srikanth ji - Lunch Serving Help: Meera ji, Ramya ji, Srikanth ji - Game Linesman: Sreenivas ji - Photography: Nandhini ji, Sudheer ji, Vanitha ji - Clean-up: Suresh, Ram ji, Venkat ji, Vanitha ji, Sudheer ji, Sreenivas ji, Nandhini ji - Game leads: Ram ji, Venkat ji, Sireesha ji - Volunteer & Food coordinator: Vanitha ji - Sports Coordinator & Game Scheduling and Online updates: Suresh - Sponsors reachout help: Srinath ji, Sudheer ji We are very glad to share that with the help of such wonderful volunteers, supporters, sponsors, and players who contributed to this noble cause, we were able to raise a total of $2,812.00 , all of which will go towards the education of the visually challenged children of Nethra Vidyalaya & Tribal School students. All in all, it was an AMAZING event!!! Looking forward to making the Tournament bigger & better next year!! Blog written by Suresh Rajan Blog published by Nandini Cheemalamarri

By Srikrishna Kataru Summer of 2022 Bayarea, CA Hello. My name is Srikrishna and I am a rising 6th grader. This summer, I attended VTSEVA’s internship that lasted 12 days. I went on this trip without much thought as my older brother and my mom were going on it. However, I ended up having so much fun volunteering, learning some brand new things, and making some lifelong friends. It was my best summer experience. Ever. The best part is that I learned from everybody I interacted with: our Swamiji, my co-interns, Netra Vidyalaya students, Allampally tribal students, Vedic school students, ashram staff, and doctors at Ayurveda and JIMS, the homeopathic college. We participated in activities related to all four pillars of VTSeva. Education for the underprivileged: We volunteered at Netra Vidyalaya and the Allampally tribal schools. Healthcare for the underprivileged: We shadowed doctors at JIMS integrative medical hospital, Ayurveda hospital. Also went to a medical camp in a nearby village. Environmental Awareness: We toured forest villages and learned how they respect mother earth and how they live in environmentally friendly ways. Disaster Relief: We prepared essential grocery packets to be distributed to recent flood relief victims who lost everything. What follows here is the more detailed version of the work we did relating to the above four pillars. We didn’t really teach anything to Netra Vidyalaya except for answering their questions about our way of life here in the US. But, we did learn a lot from them. They taught us how to read and write in Braille. They showed how they study for exams, how they take exams without any scribe writing for them, and such. They also showed their talents by singing, mimicry, and playing games. I was so happy to note that they routinely win many sports competitions at the state and national levels too. Recently, one girl got qualified for international-level running competitions to represent India. While the journey to Allampally was arduous, we were delighted to see all the kids standing outside the school on the rainy night to welcome us. Some students came forward to help me with my luggage. We instantly became friends. Along with other interns, I taught them spoken English and rocketry sessions. Their participation level was off the charts. I realized that they could use some grammar workbooks. That’s going to be my goal to raise some funds to get them some grammar workbooks this year. During my stay, I also interacted with several Veda Pathasala students of my age group (10 -12 years). I really want to go back next year and teach them spoken English too. They were super curious and enthusiastic to learn English from me. I learned a ton of brand new things from the lectures on Ayurveda, plant-based medicine, and Homeopathy, the medicine of energies and extracts. We went on a medical camp and learned how homeopathy was helping the patients and filling gaps in healthcare needs for the local population. Even kids as little as 3 years old got treated at the medical camp. We heard many success stories from the patients. We shadowed the doctors in the JIMS hospital and watched how homeopathic medicines are made from extracts and sugar balls. The interesting thing is that the more they dilute the extract, the more its potency increases. We also saw how Ayurvedic treatments helped patients with chronic back pain and some cancers too. We also got to see how the Mahila Arogya Vikas wing is screening women all over India for cancers and distributing medicines. The lessons of environmental protection from Allampally and nearby village people are priceless. They don’t consider the land their property as they own it. They consider it a gift from God. The land gave them life. They were part of it. They call it their mother. If she was angry with them, she might send harsh summers or plagues of insects. They had to do good things for her and live the way their mother-earth thought was right. She was the mother to everything that lived upon her, so everything was their brother and sisters to them. If they didn’t treat them right, their mother would be angry. Swamiji taught us that land is alive and sacred. Trees, mountains, and animals are all spirits to help us. We must learn to listen to them, not destroy them. We must smell and taste the dirt. We must go into the sunlight and give thanks for the day. That’s how we listen to them. We should learn to respect all life– all trees and all creatures. I probably absorbed these lessons well because, by the end of the trip, I didn’t get scared of insects and bugs all around me. Swamiji also taught us that He came across some tribal people who share whatever little they have. They sit and wait before they eat during their lunchtime to see if any strangers pass by who are hungry. In the same sense, Swamiji instructed us to prepare food packets and groceries for the flood relief victims. Along with Veda pathasala students, we packed rice, wheat flour, lentils, sugar, salt, and spices. Packing tamarind was messy and sticky. We had a lot of fun doing this. It was such a satisfying experience to watch our food packets get loaded onto the trucks. The ashram gardens are so beautiful I could spend days looking at the flora and fauna. I even made two videos of birds chirping and other calming sounds from the ashram gardens, which already garnered thousands of views on my youtube channel - Srikrishna Explores!. Overall, I feel lucky to have been part of this internship. I like to immensely thank all the VTSeva officials who let me participate in this wonderful trip. I sure want to go on it again if I get an opportunity.

By Sriteja Kataru Summer of 2022 Sriteja Kataru reflects on his VTSeva Summer Internship 2022 experience -- activities he was involved in, lessons learned and insights gained. My moment of absolute contentment and pure joy occurred during a humid afternoon in Allampally, a remote forest village in Telangana, India. It was inside a classroom of a tribal school - the only concrete structure in a dense forest that is officially classified as a tiger reserve. As my friend and I were teaching how each sensor worked in a crowded robotics classroom, everyone craned their necks and listened intently. Our goal of the day was to build a robot that uses its surroundings to move accordingly, somewhat an ambitious goal considering we didn’t have enough time building up to this point. When it was time to assemble the robot, the students excitedly put together the wheels, shaft, and sensors. Next, I started teaching them how to program the code to control the robot. As soon as I was done with basic programming constructs, I saw the students write remarkable programs. When the robot, after a period of debugging and rewriting, successfully sensed the wall and turned around, that was the moment of joy for me. They got it. I could sense their jubilation as they started jumping up and down and high-fiving each other, a gesture we taught them only that morning. My takeaway from this robotics class is that these students are truly grateful for the education they receive, something that children in many other places take for granted. This experience is part of my VT Seva summer internship in India. What started as a routine summer camp quickly became a journey of self-discovery for me. Every notion I originally had about happiness and a good life was constantly challenged. I was compelled to ponder on what brings true joy. Visiting the nearby tribal villages (thandaas) was another rewarding experience for me. As several little kids held my hand and proudly gave me a tour of their villages, I couldn’t help but notice how their faces glowed with contentment. There were no grocery stores, no movie theaters, or no restaurants in sight. They have dirt roads and have electricity only for a few hours a day. How were they so happy? Judging from our conversations, their happiness is rooted in positive thinking. “I am going to study well, get a good government job, and take care of my parents and my villagers”, said Rakesh, one 9th grader. Their happiness is also rooted in gratitude for what they have. They were happy that we came to see them and had new friends to play with. What these Allampally kids taught me is to keep the hope alive. No matter how adverse the situations or scarce the resources are, they are always hopeful for a better tomorrow. These kids hope to secure a respectable government job. The young players fidgeting with their bats in the narrow alley dream of joining the national cricket team one day. Living in harmony with nature is also a part of their immeasurable joy. When I asked whether they were afraid of wild animals attacking them, they said, “We know the animals and the animals know us.” When our bus stopped and gave a ride to kids who were walking by the road, they were visibly elated. And even if they do not have the most comfortable lives, they still manage to have fun, enjoy and laugh by finding happiness in the little, simple joys of life. This is some serious food for thought for me. Overall, I learned plenty of life lessons from these tribal students and villagers. Along with Allampally, I also had the chance to visit and talk to the students at Netra Vidyalaya, a college for visually challenged students. Every time I went there, it was such a thought-provoking experience. Here are some life lessons I learned from these remarkable students: Many people are driven by the stigma surrounding sight loss and often don’t steer away from their misconceptions. My lesson from this is — you don’t need sight to have a vision. They still have vision for the things they are passionate about in life. They love things such as music, fashion, and writing. I was impressed and humbled by how much dedication and passion they put into their work, especially how they work with the JAWS software on the computer and passionately pursue their hobbies. Their lack of eyesight doesn’t stop them from following their passions and reaching their goals. Before this internship, I thought that some things must be impossible to accomplish for visually challenged people but the Netra Vidyalaya students completely changed my mind on this. Some things might be harder to achieve because of vision loss but that doesn’t mean that those things are beyond their reach. They have been able to achieve things and reach goals that I never thought would be possible. They continuously win gold medals in state-level sports and excel in their academics. Because of this, I now firmly believe that you can achieve anything you want to achieve if you have drive and determination. Another insight I have gained from observing and talking to the Netra Vidyalaya students is that it is important to push yourself. I sometimes refuse to do activities because I don’t think I’m capable of achieving them or I feel too anxious to do them. I see some visually challenged kids push themselves out of their comfort zones and compete in sports such as cricket. This taught me that I should always step out of my comfort zone to boost my confidence. In the beginning, the idea of going into a remote tribal village in a rainy season seemed like a daunting task. Now that I have pushed myself to do it, I feel so much better and it has definitely boosted my confidence for the future. Something else I noticed in the Netra Vidyalaya students is that they have a lot of trust in their fellow classmates. How they support each other while walking, how they navigate around their computer classrooms, or even how they eat together for every single meal. This, of course, fosters community spirit and cohesion. During one of our life lesson conversations, our Swamiji taught us our ego stems from three sources. Ego from wealth, ego from education, and ego from position (being from a reputed family or a position of power). Swamiji further taught us that we should be aware of these at all times. This self-awareness further helps with our self-discovery process. Even after the trip ended, my journey of self-discovery continues based on the lessons I received during the trip. This internship taught me not to take my blessings for granted, and before I open my mouth to complain, I remember the face of the little boy, who lost his eyesight at the age of 9 and is still studying hard to become a bank officer. I also realized how trivial my own problems are compared to what others are battling each day. This internship has unquestionably changed my outlook and perspective on life and how I encounter different situations on a daily basis.

This blog will continue to be updated on an ongoing basis for all frontline worker appreciation events, so make sure to check this out for an overview of all our activities! The frontline workers appreciation program will be held on a monthly basis where volunteers will get the opportunity to express their gratitude for both Frisco Police officers and firefighters. Make sure to stay tuned in for further updates! Monthly appreciation breakfast for Frisco Police and Frisco Firefighters on 08/12/22 On August 12th, the VTSeva Dallas team appreciated the services of Police officers & Fire Department officers of Station 9 by sponsoring breakfast for them. One of the highlights of the event was our volunteers being given an excellent orientation by Mr. Jeff White, one of the officers. Monthly appreciation breakfast for Frisco Police and Frisco Firefighters on 09/13/22 On September 13th, the VT Seva Dallas team appreciated the services of Frisco Police officers by sponsoring lunch for them. Here are a couple of pictures from our recent visit:

VT Seva Detroit Youth Board successfully completed the hybrid walkathon on July 24, 2022, to support Angels of Hope - A Family Cancer Foundation supporting Michigan families impacted by Cancer. Second annual hybrid walkathon was conducted for 𝟒𝟑 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐭𝐨 𝐉𝐮𝐥 𝟐𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐. 𝟏𝟓 1 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 , Total raised $3500, and 𝟑𝟏 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝟖𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, money becomes another issue on top of everything else. Angels of Hope provides financial assistance to Michigan families in need due to cancer so families can focus on supporting their loved ones . Thanks to 𝐔𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐦 𝐣𝐢 for website creation and providing support anytime with website maintenance and updates. In Detroit.vtwalk.org participants entered their miles daily and stayed active with healthy competition. Mother Nature forced us to change our plans in last minute with a heavy downpour. We ended up having our in person finale walkathon inside a mall. Thanks to Laurel Park place for accommodating us in the last minute. This walkathon wouldn’t be possible without our youth team leads, sponsors and donors. Our wonderful youth team leads are: Aahana Jain, Adhip Pisipati, Akshay Kumar, Akshith Ashwanth, Alok Tonapi, Amogh Pisipati, Anuraag Balaji, Anvika Perumalla, Arya Cheemalamarri, Eesha Chigullapally, Hajanthan Muhinthan, Harish Jaisankar, Kaavya Naga Sri Karnati, Kushal Durga, Mohammad Hassan Mohamed Ali khan, Mohammad Hussain Mohamed Ali khan, Nikita Talwar, Oviya Jaisankar, Rishi Chowdhury, Saisha Srivatsan, Shivani Nimmagadda, Shruthika Anandakumar, Srihari Ananthalwan, Srihari Hebbar, Srivatsa Thirunagari, Supraja V Pattangi, Teja Cheemalamarri, Udhayaa Arul, Varshan Muhinthan, Veena Karthik & Yana Pancal Thanks to the parents (𝐕𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐣𝐢, 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐣𝐢, 𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢 𝐣𝐢, 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐣𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐣𝐢) for decorations, sponsoring Fruits, Snack bars, Water Bottles for all the participants in the in-person event. Thanks to Architha ji & Venkat ji for printing certificates. Thanks to 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐣𝐢 for the instant camera pictures and photo prop frame Thanks to all of our wonderful donors (𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐣𝐢, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐣𝐢, 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐣𝐢, 𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢 𝐣𝐢, 𝐊𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐣𝐢 & 𝐕𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐣𝐢) who contributed towards this wonderful cause and supported the youth initiative. Together we raised $3500 to support Angels of Hope - A Family Cancer Foundation . Thanks to 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫 who represented Angels of Hope for sharing how Angels of Hope supported her in her time of need and for appreciating the youth volunteers who made this event possible. Thanks to 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐣𝐢 for giving a motivational speech to encourage everyone to keep walking and stay healthy. Team Leads shared their experience of participating in Walkathon Overall, it was a great experience coming together, walking virtually, raising money, helping families in need, and finishing it with a grand finale in-person walkathon. Blog written by Priya Jaisankar Blog published by Nandini Cheemalamarri

This Summer, some of our VT Seva Dallas Youth members experienced a completely different meaning of the term - “Summer Internship”. Imagine this - living in a tribal school in the middle of the dense jungles of Nirmal forest and Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana where there are only kucha roads for hundreds of kilometers. And being welcomed and loved by hundreds of tribal kids who are from the surrounding Gond and other tribal hamlets or “thandas”. The goal of this volunteering internship was to have our youth team, which comprised of VT Seva youth volunteers from all over the US, spend time in the tribal school and teach the students various subjects that included Robotics, Scratch Programming, Rubik’s Cubing, Self Defense as well as English, Math and General Science. Besides staying in the school and teaching(and learning from) the kids, the team visited the “thandas” and experienced the true hospitality of the tribal people and their children. Their purity, innocence, intelligence, and willingness to learn and do something for the country were truly awe-inspiring. We also got the opportunity to spend time at the Statue of Equality, Nethra College for Visually Challenged, JIMS Hospital, and were privileged to spend time and interact with HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and obtain his blessings daily during the period of our stay. We congratulate our VT Seva Dallas Youth Board interns who attended this internship in India and played an active role in making this journey so memorable - Arnav Senapathi, Neil Katta, Nigama Reddy, Ronav Aviur, Sahiti Peechara, Sanhita Perkari, Shriya Aviur, and Vishnu Marella. We convey our humble gratitude to VT Seva for the opportunity to chaperone our fantastic 15 VT Seva youth volunteers in this wondrous summer internship in India. This journey of ours and the time we have spent at Allampally, Nethra College for Visually Challenged, and Statue of Equality has not only been rewarding and fulfilling but has inspired us to do more for the cause of empowering students from underprivileged communities. The opportunity to participate in the Summer Internship Program will continue to be offered annually, and we encourage all our youth volunteers and adult chaperones to sign up and experience this life-changing journey firsthand. Please find below some pictures from our wondrous journey.

" We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives" - John.F.Kennedy VT Seva Detroit had a tour of the Novi Police Department , Novi, Michigan , for youth volunteers on April 10th, 2022, and also had the pleasure of hosting an Appreciation lunch for the Novi Police Department on May 8th, 2022 Novi Police Station Facility Tour- April 10th, 2022 Our volunteers had a great learning experience on April 10th, 2022 attending the Novi Police Station tour. We had more than 20 volunteers, and everyone loved this experience of visiting a police station, touring their facility, and learning more about how they function. It was a great pleasure meeting Sergeant Mark Boody & he was very kind and courteous to all of us, making us feel very comfortable. All our youth volunteers had some fun trying their gears & took a look inside their police officers' patrol cars. They were also curious to know all those various technical gadgets they use daily. It was a great educational tour for the teens to learn about cyber-crimes and how to be vigilant. In addition, we all learned how the 911 officers operate & efficiently handle their daily crucial emergency calls. He also talked about different programs the kids can attend, such as the "Explore Youth" assistance programs, and more career options they can pursue. These are our volunteers who attended this tour: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀: Oviya, Sai Karnati, Kalki, Srivatsa, Pavan, Shivani, Pravin, Dakshana, Medhas, Aarush, and Varun. 𝗔𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀: Priya Jaishankar, Sudheer Koppu, Srinathbabu Karnati, Anand Renganathan, Manoj Kumar, Jayashree Brijesh, Radhika Kollu, Vanitha Gopalan. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘁 : https://photos.app.goo.gl/5twF5U5SYfDEJ9h46 We had a great learning experience in knowing various aspects of how the Novi Police Department function so efficiently in supporting and protecting our community. VT Seva Detroit sincerely thanks the Novi Police Department for providing us with this great opportunity. Facebook Link https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid0n9jQ7XSS5Xe2hFoPZjUrx1p1VfJUpaAucP7dEdkWjXXvmKuLTU9EpQzh5RnVgjnjl Novi Police Officers Appreciation Lunch & 2nd Novi Police Station Facility Tour-May 8th, 2022 City of Novi - Government & Community Services During the National Police Week from May 15th to 21, 2022, VT Seva Detroit hosted an Appreciation lunch for NOVI Police Department on May 8th, 2022 . Like last year, VT Seva Detroit got an opportunity to visit Novi Police Department and extend our sincere gratitude by hosting an appreciation lunch along with a " Thank you " poster frame for their tireless hard work and endless selfless services to protect us all. This was a great opportunity to meet and thank them immensely personally. During our visit, we met Sgt. Boody, Officer Thibault and Cadet Officer Gacesa. They were all very cordial and kind to us, appreciative of our efforts and the community services we do locally and globally. We had an excellent interaction with them in explaining VT Seva and all our activities in the Detroit branch. Followed by our appreciation lunch, some of our VT Seva Detroit volunteers got another excellent opportunity to tour their facility and learn more about how the police department functions. This is our second police station tour this year, and we are very grateful to Sergeant Jenkinson for all his help in getting this scheduled for our Detroit Volunteers. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘁 : https://photos.google.com/.../AF1QipOozCNenQd... Youtube video link for all the pics. It was a great pleasure meeting Sergeant Mark Boody & Officer Thibault. They were both very kind and courteous, making us feel very comfortable. During the tour - Volunteers visited various areas within the police station and learned by asking questions. They also learned how to bring the person to the police station, the booking process, the Investigation Process, etc. In addition, volunteers learned the facts about the uniforms, the Stripes on the uniform, and the weight each police officer wears as part of their uniform. Our youth volunteers were so excited and thrilled to have an opportunity to interact with them, sit on the police patrol vehicles and get some photos taken. Our Police Appreciation Lunch sponsors are Sudhakar Kolluri ji & Madhavi Kolluri ji. We are always immensely thankful to them for their humble & kind support towards all VT Seva Detroit events & causes. These are some of our wonderful volunteers who participated in this event: Youth volunteers: Varsha Karthik; Veena Karthik; Haji Muhinthan; Varshan Mhuinthan; Aditya Prayagai; Adhip pisipati, Ved patel, Saanvi Moorthy, Kalki R Adult volunteers: Sudhakar Kolluri, Sudheer Koppu, Srinathbabu Karnati, Anand Reghunathan, Jai Shankar, Priya Jaishankar, Architha Kramadhati, Bhavna Patel, Aarthi Karthik, Priya Prayagai, Komathy Muhinthan, Vidya Rajendran We, VT Seva Detroit, thank all those Police officers who don't give up and work day in and day out with alertness and ensure to keep the people safe in our community. VT Seva Detroit sincerely thanks Novi Police Department for providing us with this great opportunity. WE SALUTE OUR BRAVE POLICE OFFICERS. GOD BLESS EVERYONE!! Facebook Link https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid0gSVp4qKzLNWaZ4peiHMWB1kptiST3q7GGEALcjEa5WxzTD4avZGYoHShYibcdyQUl Comments from Detroit VTSeva Volunteers: 1. It was really a great experience. Big kudos to Sergeant Mark Boody, he was very kind, and answering all the questions. It was so good to hear from the youths know that they can approach the police without any hesitation when needed. 2. Every Youth and Adult learned something on this tour about the cop. This tour brought some interest in youth towards becoming cop. Thanks to all the participants. 3. What a wonderful experience touring our Novi city police department and what a great learning experience for all youth volunteers. Sincere thanks to Novi Police Department City of Novi - Government & Community Services for giving VT Seva Detroit this great oppourtunity. God bless all our Brave Police Officers.!! Blog Consolidated By: Arya Cheemalamarri Blog Published by Nandini Cheemalamarri

On March 20th, 2022, VT Seva Detroit completed a drive for Detroit Rescue Homeless Shelter with the help of Kroger Stores Solicitation. VT Seva Detroit team raised a total of $800 and collected around six big boxes of Baby care products and personal care & hygiene products for Men and Women with the help of generous customers who shopped at Kroger Canton Stores from 10 am to 4:30 pm. The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM) has spent over 100 years providing food, shelter, and services to intervene where homelessness and substance addiction occur—giving hope to the hopeless, abused, and disadvantaged of the Detroit Community. They have constant needs for essential items such as clothing, blankets, cleaning products, personal hygiene items, and winter clothes for all their housing shelters for homeless people. Video of Pictures Our youth and adult volunteers showed a great volunteering spirit throughout their shift slots, reaching out to all customers, distributing the flyers, speaking about VT Seva Detroit, and explaining the reason behind this drive. Everyone did a great job with their customer-friendly skills and approach. There were times when we had a tough time in not so responsive customers; however, they never gave up and continued with the same zeal and smile. VT Seva Detroit sincerely thanks every youth and adult volunteer who contributed their time and efforts to make it a successful drive. Youth Volunteers: Veena Karthik, Medhas Kollu, Sai sahasra, Hrudya Kishore, Nikhil Aerabati, Udhayaa Arul Adult Volunteers: Raghunathan Namuduri, Pranitha Sriperumbuduru, Suresh Rajan, Vanitha Gopalan We take this opportunity to sincerely thank Kroger Corporate Executive Stacy for approving the VT Seva Detroit solicitation application and granting the Canton location store to conduct this drive successfully. Facebook Link https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/posts/pfbid036mbmpHMnN8AQCnhQiMDGqzAPUtNmDCLY2cYqMBusHj2pkGZY5NgVA14LVYHsqnhQl Appreciation message for VT Seva Detroit volunteers from Revd. Paschal Eze Vice President, DRMM Detroit https://www.facebook.com/vtseva.detroit/videos/646618823284146/ Comments from a participant: From Youth Volunteer - Veena Karthik It was my first time volunteering for VT Seva. I was happy to get people involved and help raise money for a good cause. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in this event and help out those who need it! Blog Consolidated By: Teja Cheemalamarri Blog Published by Nandini Cheemalamarri

In the summer of 2022, a few members of the VT Seva Detroit Youth Board partnered with Bright Mind Tutors to conduct our first-ever Foreign Language Camp. This was a three-day online camp conducted from July 11, 2022 to July 13, 2022 , to teach kindergarten and elementary school students some of the basic words and conversational phrases of French and Spanish. Thanks to this camp, our participants were exposed to two of the most common languages in the world while also contributing to sponsoring the education of our underprivileged Nethra Vidyala students. Shrika Atchutuni, Rashmitha Raghunathan, Harish Jaisankar, Soofia Khan, and Oviya Jaisankar , five wonderful high school kids, came together to conduct this camp. Through hard work in putting together a curriculum, creating materials, and extensive promotion, this camp was a great success and was an amazing experience for both these five students and the participants. After the camp, we were short of having raised enough to support a student's education for an entire year. So, Shrika, Rashmitha, and Harish jumped in to satisfy this goal by donating portions of their summer earnings . This camp was not only an impactful volunteering opportunity for our five organizers - it also provided them with a venue to donate some of their own money to a truly worthy cause. Kudos to all 3 for contribution not only their time but also their earnings. This is a great example of VT Seva’s mission to promote volunteering and philanthropy in our youth. Thanks to their involvement in the youth board, these young volunteers understood this mission and were able to plan and execute a camp from scratch while also contributing to the education of underprivileged students in the process. Blog Written By: Oviya Jaisankar Blog Published By: Nandini Cheemalamarri