Volunteers: The Heart & Soul of Twinkles
What makes Volunteers special human beings is their character DNA...
It starts with these fundamental beliefs that give birth to their passion for helping struggling single mothers with a ‘make-over’ of life.
One, they are kind and rooted in the feeling that this is their calling in life, that helping selflessly completes them. They’re thankful for the opportunity to do God’s work. That the strutggling single mother is giving the volunteer an opportunity to complete her life’s journey as much as the volunteer is helping the single mother complete her journey- they’re helping each other.
Two, they believe that every mother, no matter who or where, deserves respect and dignity- period.
Three, they know that dignity will come not from giving the mother a fish but from teaching her how to fish.
Life has shown the mother that hardly anyone has ever really cared for her plight or her story, giving her a legitimate fear of being taken advantage of. If the volunteer talking to her is a man, she is unlikely to honestly share her story. Since there will be no real progress without complete honesty, it is imperative that volunteers be women. Women recognize the powerful role women play as mentors to struggling mothers.
They are trustworthy. That comes from having no ulterior motives, being straight forward, keeping promises, keeping them informed, not violating trust, and ensuring that they convey fact-based hope instead of painting pipe dreams.
Volunteers are effective communicators, separating real issues from noise, listening empathetically and never taking their eyes off the desired outcome. They can manage resources available within Twinkles and connect with resources available at other organizations.
They are resilient because they have the experience of learning tough life lessons. They understand the value of never giving up even in tough times. This resiliency is what sustains their productive presence through the many ups and down of the lifecycle of the mother’s life make-over.
Even if they are not financially independent themselves, they have sufficient financial freedom to not be dependent on others. They believe that ‘of those to whom much is given, much is expected’.
Their social, religious, and educational background has a vast range from being Doctors to never having qualified high school, retired to actively employed, homemakers to professionals, activists to artists, policy followers to policy makers. Regardless of their background, they are likely to be an organizing maverick either already standing up or wanting to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.
Anyone who spares just 1% of their time could make a difference. They could teach mothers in any area, help coordinate, provide emotional support, guide in the area of their profession be it accounting or law or medicine or vocational trade...
If this reminds you of someone, please connect them with Twinkles. Who knows whose life will turnaround because of that connection?
Those who fight for the oppressed are brave and courageous; They may get cut to pieces but they never quit
From: Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji
