Born2Win Trust - 8th Trans Achievers Awards Night 2021 - 15 April 2021 - Proud being a Guest Of Honour

 Everyyear, this is one event I don't give a miss as to me it's the biggest Diversity & Inclusion festival celebrating Trans* achievers. Thank you Swetha Sudhakar for making us a part of it.

...this year was a pure bliss following all Covid protocols and still celebrating in the most awesome way possible. God bless you, Grace Banu Ganesan and all of you in the Borntowin Trust Swetha  family and blessed to be a Guest Of Honour . Friends please support the Trans community during these tough times

https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-swetha-sudhakar

Sri Ramanujar Charitable Trust - Perambur - Chief Guest & Distribution of Computer Courses Scholarship - 8 April 2021

 Felt extremely blessed to have  been there to distribute scholarships from Sri Ramanujar Charitable Trust to enable underprivileged girl students computer education for an year worth of more than 6 lakhs scholarship distributed to nearly 70 girls and also being an extended parent to hear them and enable them to challenge life and make their dreams come true. What other purpose or calling you need in this life than this satisfaction. As you touch lives in small ways along with your like minded friends doing this along with you, you stay grounded and awarded with God's blessings. Their smile and success is the biggest award I can ever have ! God bless !!! All the students are from the Udayan Shalini Foundation

God bless all good Samaritans behind this amazing contributions and great work :-)

Women's Day Program at Udayan Shalini Fellowship - Chennai Chapter - Honoured to be their mentor and the Chief Guest - 8 April 2021

 #sreestories #ThrowBackThursday

One day, few years ago I saw a FB request asking for help to evaluate girls eligibility for education scholarships. As it was a weekend activity, I pulled my friend and drove to a govt school in North Chennai. There I met a group of girls, giggling and smiling, softly whispering into each other and also shyingly looking at us once in a while....most of them are from absolutely deprived families. That did not stop them from smiling and being genuinely happy !

That was a beginning of my journey with

Udayan Shalini Fellowship- Chennai Chapter

and very quickly and quietly I became their mentor and an extended family. From weekend mentoring to visiting them during distress times, taking classes on soft skills to motivation classes, they know my story....and I know them. Udayan care provides education for these girls and enable them towards employment and mostly importantly aspiring towards IAS, IPS and other administrative services.

The enthusiasm, grit and determination, the strong will to succeed, the hardwork and focus on academics, keen interest to learn other things, their interest to read books and learn new things, their questions during Saina's session (Dr Kiran Bedi 's daughter) showed the real youth power of our country. Poverty, limited or no resources, situations or single parenting, nothing stops these young enthusiastic students from chasing their dreams

A little bit of support and mentoring and guidance makes them absolutely daimonds who can make wonders. Their oratorical, debating skills , dancing, music, creativity, arts, mime, teamwork, organising are par excellence. These students are our Nari shakthi of future.

I am truly blessed to be mentoring them, been their chief guest for women's Day celebrations, and talking to them on the need for women and wellness in all aspects of life

Interested in mentoring our girls, please message me and will be happy to guide you ..

Thank you

Priya Amma

,

Naveen Narayanan

,

K

rishna Kumari ,

Udayan Care

for making me part of this amazing journey

Our Easter Story - "HE is keeping me Happy!"

 Our Easter Story #SreeStories

After a hectic work week, Raghu and I wanted to have a short break and we went for a walk in our favourite Besant Nagar beach last night. We wanted some fresh air, but we also got some fresh perspectives of life...as this woman was crossing us in her wheelchair. Raghu immediately went near and tried to help push her wheelchair.

She politely stopped and looked at us with a smile. We saw two bags of merchandise in her lap. I asked her what she sells. She looked at me and said, pens, Key chains and books but all on Christianity. I could hear the bells from near by church. She said she don't want to beg and was living in Chelsea home in Valmiki Nagar till 5 years ago. Last five years after her legs healed from the accident ( that actually took away half of her feet) , she moved to a one room shelter and started living with him.

From that time, he is taking care of her and she comes to beach every morning at 10 am and takes a nap for sometime under the tree in afternoons and gets busy post 3pm. Around 8 pm she wraps up n pushes herself to her home which is like 3 miles from the beach ...

I asked her about dinner and she said she will go and spend time with him for a while and sit in Japam (meditation with a rosary ) and then will have some curd rice and sleep...

Then I asked her why she want to struggle so much. She said, I don't want to burden him as long as I can still breathe and coming to beach and selling gives her money to survive and also send some to church. So I asked her, what does he do ?

Bang came the reply ...he is the only one saving me ma, he is the only one behind my every move..

For a moment we looked at her in awe...she smiled at my confusion and said,. "avar thanney ma enoda karthar ! ". (He is the Lord who is waiting for me at home !)

All this while she was talking to me about her only company in life...Her Jesus Christ!

Raghu said he wanted to buy few things and she offered us pens to buy and as he asked to keep the rest of money, she similingly tucked the few 10 rupees notes back in his hand saying , "are you getting this money free brother?"..

What a beautiful experience on the Easter Eve for us. As she finished the conversation and slowly started to leave, Raghu n I kept watching her for long ...till she went off from our visibility.

Her name is Anandama. As she introduced herself to us saying my name is synonymous to happiness. HE is keeping me happy!

God bless !!! Happy Easter people.

Received 'Sree Shakthi Award' on 30 Mar 2021 - RI District 3232 and Ladies Special Magazine. :-)

 Received 'Sree Shakthi Award'  on 30 Mar 2021 from Rotary District 3232 and Ladies Special Magazine

My heartfelt thanks to Smt. Girija Raghavan,  Smt. Swarnalatha Jothikumar and Smt. Kamala Muthupalaniappan of Rotary District 3232.  I accept this great honour with utmost humbleness and humility.  Thanks to Sukanya for writing that beautiful citation. 

Thank you mystically beautiful March ....now is the time to get back and focus on work, service, education and spiritual quest. Thanks to everyone who inspired us in these journeys. Raghunaths' are truly grateful to you all for all the recognition, affection and support showed to us.

"Peace Build Award" from Rotary International District 3232- 28 Mar 2021

 Ending the March Musings with 'Peace Builder Award' today. This is for sure a great achievement for a "once an angry young bird" who now flies like an peace maker

... transformation takes time. But when you resolve to bring peace within you, life transforms for better! Peace be with you all

Keynote Speaker at Toastmasters International Blitz 2021 Conference - 28 Mar 2021

 Being the keynote speaker at Toastmasters International Conference today was a beautiful experience. Talking on 'Inspiring Leadership in You' is a subject close to my heart. Thank you

Vaisali Sridharbabu  

and Vaikunt for your invitation

. Concluding a weekend in a very purposeful way