Highlights: See what the volunteers had to say about the volunteering trip…..

A Second Home from Home

The volunteers were greeted with a warm welcome from Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji, other Sadhvis and the children of Veerayatan Vidyapeeth. The green and eco-friendly campus with all its facilities, the excellent accommodation and three daily healthy and delicious meals alongside the respect and love afforded to the volunteers by all the Sadhvis and staff of Veerayatan meant that the stay was truly comfortable, making it a ‘home away from home’ for all the volunteers.

It has been truly fascinating to experience first-hand the raw excitement of the students whenever they see us. The sheer amount of positivity and love in the atmosphere, and the visible lack of judgement, is really something special and unique.

– Piya, UK

We felt comfortable, cared for, and completely at home. Every single meal was served with love and care. We could feel the effort behind every dish not just in the cooking, but in the preparation, the planning, and the personal attention to all our needs….

— Kheya, Kenya

Teaching & Creating Friendships

The main purpose of the volunteers in coming to Veerayatan was to engage in teaching and supporting the children in their education, but they quickly realised that what they received in return - the smiles, the friendship, and the joy of the children - was far greater than anything they gave. The volunteers spent the mornings teaching in classes and time in the afternoon to connect through play and finding out more about each other’s lives, leading to a highly rewarding experience!

When teaching the children, they were always so happy and their positivity and enthusiasm greatly radiated from their infectious smiles. Teaching the children each morning soon became the highlight of my day and as the children grew to recognise and remember me, it was such a heartwarming feeling.

— Krisha, UK

Sports, A Powerful Tool for Unity

Playing sports such as football, cricket and kabbadi with the children at Veerayatan Kutch has honestly been one of the most eye-opening and heartwarming experiences I have had. Some of these kids come from really difficult backgrounds, yet the second we stepped onto the pitch, all of that faded. The way they play - with full energy, huge smiles, and so much heart, it’s impossible not to be moved by it.

We played hard, we laughed, we fell over, we celebrated every goal and wicket like it was the World Cup. And in those moments, it did not matter where we came from - we were just a team, having fun, connecting. I went in thinking I would maybe inspire them, but they are the ones who inspired me. Their joy, their resilience, and the way they find happiness in the simplest things, it really shifted my perspective on life.

And reminded me that I should lead with empathy and put compassion into everything I do. Overall, my experiences in playing sports with children has not just changed my life but changed the way I want to live it.

— Aryan, UK

Visit to Rudrani School

The volunteers visited the special Veerayatan school at Rudrani where they were touched by the backgrounds and lives of the children, who are from tribal communities.

Here we heard devastating stories about the children and the hard life they have to go through. They do not have time to do homework, because they have to do the household chores, such as collecting and cutting firewood for meals, milking the cows, feeding them and helping in the kitchen.
The thing that had the greatest impact on me was the fact that before some of these children could even speak and were toddlers in their cradles, they had already become engaged. Girls, who have such bright futures, are stopped from learning and can no longer be educated once they are married. Some of them will never attend college or have a job. This makes me so grateful for everything I have been given and always appreciative of every opportunity I have.

— Aashi, Kenya

Many of the children there were the first in their families to have a formal education despite their extremely challenging circumstances. This school has helped stabilise their lives onto the right track by giving every single child a right to education. This really inspired me as children from such rough, cruel and challenging backgrounds are given a chance to rise from their struggles and live a proper life. I also felt empathy for these children as it was not their fault that they were subjected to these setbacks and after seeing these hardships with my own two eyes it made me want to initiate change.

— Saavan, UK

Education as a Force for Change

The spirit of seva that pulsates through Veerayatan and is alive in every corner of the institution became infectious and the volunteers were inspired by Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji’s unbounded compassion, her wisdom and her remarkable mission in creating educational excellence in Kutch. They witnessed first-hand how the power of education can break the cycle of poverty, with Veerayatan providing education without any discrimination of caste or religion. Stories of courage and hope deeply moved everyone.

I met a young girl (Bharti) who bravely said no to child marriage, choosing education instead. Veerayatan gave her that strength and hope. This was an amazing moment for me, because this girl was saying no to something many young children were being pushed into.

— Rahi, Kenya

After going to Veerayatan I have realised that this experience is an example of how the dedication, compassion and love of all the Sadhvis can shape and transform the lives of so many people.

— Aryan, UK

Nurturing the Self

Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji emphasised the importance of self-development. She talked to the volunteers about the importance of having a positive outlook and making changes in their daily lives so that they nurture their own compassion by thinking of others. Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji conducted meditation sessions which brought a sense of calm and peace to all.

The adult volunteers also benefitted greatly from this trip. Being in close proximity with Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji and all the other Sadhvijis and drawing from their calming presence, enabled the adult volunteers to implement a busy programme. They were deeply impressed to see the art of perfection being achieved by the Sadhvijis in every single task and at every level and concluded that they themselves had much to learn!

The flexibility and hospitality extended to us made us feel safe, valued, and motivated to give our best each day. The holistic support focused on the spiritual wellbeing of the children and the volunteers through various methods such as daily prayers and reflections.

— Saavan, UK

Everyday meditation brought peace, while Sadhviji’s words reminded us to nurture compassion in daily life.

— Nidhi, Kenya

Culture, Learning & Exploration

The seva activities of the volunteers were interspersed with many other activities and excursions to show the volunteers the vibrant and colourful culture of Kutch and enhance their learning and experiences. This included dance and pottery lessons; daily yoga sessions (which revealed to the volunteers that they were not as fit as they thought!); doing mud artwork which they all enjoyed; visits to Jain temples; a visit to Ahimsadham where the volunteers saw first-hand compassion in the care of sick animals; and a visit to Adani Port in Mundra to show the challenges and successes in building up a hugely commercially successful business in less than 25 years.

This trip provided the perfect opportunity to come out of my comfort zone as well and experience many new things beyond developing relationships with the other volunteers. This allowed us to learn more about Kutch and its culture.

— Krisha, UK

International Sports Day

One of the most memorable events the volunteers had the privilege to participate in was the International Sports Day. Volunteers from Kenya and the UK participated and competed alongside students from Veerayatan in various matches including football, volleyball, cricket, kho kho, shot putt and many more. Watching students and volunteers run, jump, cheer, and support one another and participate so enthusiastically showed the importance of teamwork and unity. Medals were distributed to all the winners in the various sports.

Final Farewell

On the final day, Veerayatan organised an emotional farewell celebration that can only be described as magical. It included beautiful dances by the children, college students and volunteers, which further enhanced their friendship and unity. The volunteers also took to the stage to speak about their experiences. Their heartfelt words reflected the deep bonds formed, the lessons learned, and the overwhelming warmth they had received.

As the volunteers left Veerayatan, they not only had beautiful memories but also a renewed belief in the power of compassion, service, and human connection. The trip was, in every sense, a grand finale to a journey of the heart!

Let us look at some of the lasting impressions the volunteers are taking home…..

Lasting Impressions

Each of the volunteers were able to take something valuable away with them from this wonderful trip, whether it was a lasting impression, or gratitude and appreciation of what they have in their own lives, or an awareness of the vision of Pujya Tai Ma which has led to countless lives being transformed.

On one of the days, while having lunch, I saw a young girl put her laddu in a container. So, I asked her why she wasn’t eating the laddu and she told me that she was going to give it to her mother. This really touched my heart because she thought about her family first, rather than eating the laddu herself, especially as eating a sweet dish was a rare treat for these children!

— Piya, UK

The children at Veerayatan have learnt and worked hard to achieve success, striving to educate themselves to higher standards and achieving good jobs and careers, which showed me that no matter the challenges you face and how limited the resources, anything is possible if you work hard with a good mindset.

— Kheya, Kenya

Veerayatan really changed my life by making me realise that happiness can be found in the smallest things and that I am very fortunate that my experience at Veerayatan has taught me to help others and treat people with respect. I really appreciate and am grateful for the opportunity I was given to visit this place and being with Sadhvi Shri Shilapiji, who is a role model for me.

— Nidhi, Kenya

Speaking to the children and forming strong bonds with them, I was able to learn much more about their backgrounds and home lives. The many things I take for granted - such as clean clothes, stationery and sports equipment - I learnt that many children struggle to have. This just increased my gratitude for the well privileged position I am fortunate to be in and made me want to help further and give back.

— Krisha, UK

A huge quality I learned from this experience is respect and the importance of truly viewing the perspective of others. In addition, I have had the opportunity to connect with volunteers from London and make new friends. All this has really given me the chance to immensely improve my communication and social skills.

— Aryan, Kenya

Despite their challenging backgrounds and the struggles, they face every day, you never heard a single complaint about anything. Their gratitude and positive outlook in life inspires me to appreciate the little things in life and be grateful for the opportunities I receive back home.

— Saanvi, UK

What truly impressed me was the resilience of the students. Even with resources being limited the energy in classes was off the charts. They were eager to involve me and my fellow volunteers, teaching me more than anything I could have expected about inclusivity and kind heartedness. The kids served as an example to all of us of how we should treat each other, and the values which Veerayatan Kutch has instilled in them shine through in their actions every day.

— Ruban, UK