The Win-Win of Contribution
On my official last day at the office in November 2017, after a 16-year career commitment in the same organisation, I flew to Kathmandu (Nepal) to join a team of amazing volunteers organised by and the Acts of Kindness Collective (AOKC). Our mission was to work on site, share stories with the students and raise funds for a new school for 500 children of the Melamchi region, who had tragically lost their building during the devastating earthquake of 2015.
This experience was truly a heart-opener and marked the start of a four-month transformation journey across Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
In early 2020, I returned to South Asia to join two separate initiatives organised by non-profit organisations founded by “human angels” I am honoured to call my friends. Both The ABC Alphabet Club and The Acts of Kindness Collective share an inspiring mission: to positively change the lives of underserved communities and empower them through educational projects.
While we must keep our own cup full before we can take care of others, I discovered that helping others has a “positive selfish” effect on both our minds and bodies. It is the ultimate win-win situation.
Through these volunteering initiatives in India and Nepal, I experienced firsthand the magic benefits of contribution:
- MULTI-CULTURAL: Bonding with locals and tribes of like-minded supporters from all over the world.
- GRATITUDE: A deep appreciation of the impact created.
- PURE JOY: Sharing smiles and playfulness with appreciative children and their communities
- PRESENCE: Observing contrasting realities that make you pause and go inward.
- PURPOSE: Being part of and accomplishing something bigger than yourself and meaningful.
Tips for Self-Care through Contribution:
- Deep Dive into Connection: Join initiatives like the ABC School Projects Deep Dive, where we visited 5 schools and 13 NGO partners to connect with the incredible philanthropist work in the Bangalore communities.
- Get Your Hands Dirty: Whether digging stones for school foundations in Nepal or witnessing the transformation of better-quality books in the “ABC Schools” programme, active involvement is a mental reset.
- Share Your Surplus: During uncertain times, we are asked to increase care for one another—by sharing time, listening, support, supplies, checking in, and respecting collective safety.
By shifting focus to the contribution you can make, you gain the gratitude and clarity needed to lead with power.
If you feel a little stuck and are looking to increase self-care through meaningful contribution, let’s talk about how to find your own win-win situation.
