STORY PREVIEW

2024

Jyoti - A light in the twilight of life

The Galaxy School Wadi

Gujarat

MENTOR

Sakina Bharmal

Step 1 FEEL

List the challenges or problems in your surroundings (school,neighbourhood etc.) that bothered you.

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, a group of sagacious individuals, carriers of culture and experience are neglected. Despite being part of our family or even the same household, there are still so many people that don't spend time with them. Or don’t even attempt to value and understand their emotional, mental and physical needs.

State the problem chosen to work and why.

We chose to focus on this issue, especially in the old age homes as this is a pressing concern in Rajkot, where 14% of population is elderly out of which many live in old age homes with no one to visit them and spend time with. We needed to restore their sense of belonging.

Who were the people affected by the problem? What were their primary concerns?

The elderly were affected by the problem. Their primary concern was the emotional support they required. They all had past trauma of their lives and ending up in an old age home without family is nothing sort of easy for anyone.

Step 2 IMAGINE

List ALL the different solutions you came up with.

Regular visits to the old age home with students of our school to spend time with them Serving them food and having a meal with them Giving them a chance to be grandparents once again by allowing them to interact with younger buddies. We 160 students adopt 160 grandparents there and spend time with each one of them. Inviting the elderly residents to our school to see our campus, and spend time with them

Which solution from those listed above did you choose to implement and why?

We chose to implement all the solutions out of these, but in a combined model wherein we went there regularly in different batches to serve food and then spend time with them. Also inviting them to our school and helping them meet the younger buddies on our campus. We chose to do this in order to help them restore their sense of purpose in life by showing them that we understand them. It was the only thing they needed.

Step 3DO

Describe very briefly the process of implementing your solution(s).

We organised school visits to the vrudhashram(old age home), where students sat with one or two elderly parents and talked with them. Moreover we also served them food, and talked to them over a meal. Later we also invited some of them to our school, where they met many other students and interacted with them.

What was the result or impact of your project?

The bright smiles on their faces was an instant feedback to us about the work we were doing. The first time we visited them, they warmly greeted us and were so happy to see someone come to talk to them. And the next time we went, it was like family. Like going back home. The elderly were really grateful for our initiative, showcasing gratitude towards our actions.

How many people were impacted by your solution(s)?

160

What did the impacted people have to say about your project? Provide 2 quotes or testimonials:

“Our trust which was shaken from the society and we had to come here (ref. to old age home), was rebuilt in a time span of 2 days by these kids” (translated to English from Gujarati) “It is fine for us to not eat for 2 days now. The love and care you have given us is enough” (translated to English from Gujarati)

What challenges did you encounter while implementing your project, and how did you overcome them?

There was a lot of emotional involvement so handling the emotions of several of the parents was a little difficult. There would be emotional outbursts at many occasions but taking them maturely and helping them understand that they are all fine now, and to help them forget their past is the best we could do. Moreover, the logistics and visits to the old age homes were really tight to fit our school schedule, With teacher guidance, and students' strong will to go to this place, it all unfolded magically.

How long did it take to implement your solution?

MORE THAN 30 DAYS

Which global goals does your story align with?

Good health and well being

Please explain briefly why do you think so?

This story of change emphasizes the importance of mental health, which is a critical aspect of overall well-being. By focusing on improving the mental health of the elderly, the initiative fosters social inclusion, emotional connection, and mutual trust within the community. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for students to develop empathy and communication skills, creating a positive cycle of care and understanding. Through these actions, the story addresses key aspects of health and well-being, while also promoting intergenerational bonds and valuing the elderly in society.

Step 4 SHARE

How did you share your project with your school and community? Who did you share your project with? What was their response?

We shared our project with the school community through means of our Interact Club as well as by word of mouth all students were aware of our visits. Their response was incredible. There were so many students coming and volunteering to visit the parents as they were so interested in spending time. From accounts from their peers, it made them more inclined towards knowing and learning more from the elderly parents. We also shared the project with the Rotary Club of Rajkot and also on our school’s YouTube channel. The Project Video was also selected to be showcased at the Annual Rotary Conference where Rotarians of 94 Clubs saw and appreciated the work done by the students.

Approximately how many people did you share your story of change with?

More than 100

Briefly share your plan to sustain the impact of your project?

Till date we continue to visit the old age home once a week, diving ourselves in batches and going there, giving time to them. Continuing the same process, although simple it may seem the effect it has on them is really worthwhile.

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