lessons from my first stint at volunteering...

In My first stint as a volunteer I saw/learnt something that I can never forget in my life, it was with an ngo working with street and slum children aiming to provide them with basic education. I was with one of the staff who was on her usual round of visit, she used to work with street dwellers. We stopped to meet a group of women sitting around in the shade and talking. They greeted the lady with great respect and after the usual chit chat about work and problems they were facing the women asked me what I would have, mind you these women live on the street and all their possessions were packed in 2 gunny bags. I was taken aback and said a polite “no”, but they wouldn’t have any of it and after rummaging through her bags she brought the one that had food and turned it over, it had 4 cucumbers. She insisted that since she had nothing else to give that I take one of them, I was positively horrified at the idea and looked to the lady for help. She instead gave in and I was left grappling for excuses to refuse without stating the obvious reason. I didn’t manage to come up with a convincing one and with guilt gnawing at me insides took it from her. I did not know what to do with it then, to have it ( I knew I wouldn’t be able to swallow) or to give it away to someone else who too was in need (it seemed rude to give away something that had been given so generously by someone who hardly had anything, that it would be disrespectful to them, their feelings) and so I went on thinking……………. And then I made my decision, dunno if it was right or wrong but it seemed the best alternative…..for me as a teenager it was wonderful lesson at a time when I would be cribbing about what I don’t have, what I a denied of, but most importantly how amazing generous a person can be and that claims of  i-don’t-have-enough-so-I ll-be selfish-and-not-share are mere excuses and poor ones at that.