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A Walk to Belonging

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Ria Singh
Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Gurugram, Haryana

Dear Diary,

Stranded in the city with no work opportunities at hand, I walk with my companions. Yes, my feet ache, and I am exhausted, but I yearn for the comfort of my belonging, my home, my village far away. I have forever loved my village, the pond, the trees, and the sense of belonging in the whiffs of air that stroke my hair. Sustenance and ambitions drove me to the city, where I often feel lost. The air is unclean, and survival is brutal. I work day in and day out to earn a meagre sum for my family. I live in filthy slums with a lack of basic civic facilities. So, I walk. As if the heat was not enough, the virus haunts me too. I don’t know what exactly it is, but I know that it’s dangerous. With no transport, no aid, I evoke the resilience beneath my vulnerable yet tough exterior. I walk to the soil of my belonging, where life is simple and beautiful.

As I continue to walk, days pass by. With minimal resources, there is an urgency to reach the land of my origin. I have no idea where and when I will have my next meal or where I will find a place to rest. Sleeping under the stars on the muddy streets or some grass on fortunate days, I wonder what is it that keeps me going and helps me fight all odds. I realize that it is the hope to reunite with my soil, with my near and dear ones, and the camaraderie that I share with the place I grew up in. I also wonder if I would have left my home behind and come to this strange land of uncertainty had my village offered enough work opportunities to sustain a living.

As I continue my journey ahead, my thoughts keep switching between the past and the present. I keep going back to all the bitter-sweet experiences I had in the last few months. I remembered how once my employer accused me of stealing a gold chain that was found later, and I came out clean as luck would have it. My thoughts also went back to how my employer made sure that I got complete rest and three-square meals when I suffered from dengue. He stood by me as each cell healed and fueled me with the energy and enthusiasm that he always loved in me.

I kept thinking about how life was a roller coaster of events and how every experience left me with feelings of joy, sorrow, happiness, or worry. I was thinking of a past that I wanted to run away from and yet cling on to.

Proceeding towards my destination, I wondered what it was that left me unhindered despite such hardships and impediments. Though every day brought along some new challenges, not once did the thought of giving up cross my mind. There was an unwavering inner strength that came in along with these hardships.

After days of walking, reflections of my life, going through numerous ups and downs and facing multiple adversities, the walk to my belonging concluded. As I saw my son run towards me with happiness that only his eyes could speak, every obstacle seemed worthwhile.

As Warsan Shire once said, “No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark.” I fling a plea to the one who listens that my land prospers and thrives, and no one is ever compelled to leave the land of their belonging.

Social Dimensions

Ojass conducts sessions on ‘Mindfulness: The Real Me vs. The Screen Me – Understanding Our Digital Selve’ in Gurugram Schools

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Ojass Takhte Trust conducts sessions on ‘Mindfulness: The Real Me vs. The Screen Me – Understanding Our Digital Selves’ in various schools across Gurugram, Manesar, Sohna and other subdivisions.

The sessions conducted in schools followed an interactive and child/teen-centred pattern designed to promote healthy screen habits and digital mindfulness among students. Each session was structured to combine learning with participation, ensuring that children and youth could relate the discussions to their own daily screen experiences. The workshops began with a warm welcome and icebreaker activities to build rapport and introduce the goals of the session. Students were then guided through discussions on different types of screen use—educational, recreational, and social media—and informed about recommended screen-time guidelines for their age groups.

Through engaging presentations developed by experts from Ojass Takhte Trust and real-life examples, volunteers as facilitators highlighted the physical, psychological, and social consequences of excessive screen exposure, such as eye strain, sleep disturbance, attention difficulties, and reduced interpersonal interactions. Participants then explored strategies for balanced digital use, including creating tech-free zones, scheduling breaks, prioritising physical activity, and practising mindfulness.

Further, group discussions encouraged students to express their ideas and co-create “Healthy Screen Habits” suited to their lifestyles. The workshops also included focused discussions on the role of families and schools in shaping responsible digital behaviour, emphasising the importance of open communication, consistent boundaries, and collective responsibility in managing technology use.

Each session concluded with a Q&A segment, followed by an “Action Commitment” exercise, where students pledged one personal change to improve their digital habits.

The training model successfully blended education, self-reflection, and practical strategies—empowering students to become mindful, responsible, and balanced digital citizens.

Volunteer with Ojass!
Ojass applauds students from NorthCap University who have volunteered as facilitators for cascading the message under this project. Ojass welcomes other college students to join and volunteer and can give back to society, build their portfolio, and earn community service work hours meaningfully through social impact projects.

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Social Dimensions

Standathon on World Mental Health Day: “Zero Net Hour – Being Mindful”

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Continuing its observance of World Mental Health Day, Ojass Takhte Trust organised a Standathon on October 11 at Huda City Centre Metro Station—one of the busiest transit hubs in Delhi NCR—to further spread awareness on the theme “Zero Net Hour: Being Mindful.”

The event drew enthusiastic participation from seventy youth volunteers of The NorthCap University, embodying the energy and social consciousness of Gen Z—the responsible citizens and changemakers of tomorrow.

The volunteers stood in solidarity, holding placards with thoughtful messages encouraging commuters to pause, reflect, and embrace mindfulness in their daily lives, reinforcing the campaign’s call to disconnect from screens and reconnect with self-awareness and real-world connections.

Volunteer with Ojass!
Students interested in giving back to society, building their portfolio, and earning community service work hours meaningfully through social impact projects are welcome.

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Social Dimensions

Ojass launches Quick Pat Project

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Rabies is indeed 100% fatal if untreated; it is also 100% preventable, a fact that remains largely unknown to many. The lack of awareness, especially regarding the urgency of timely post-bite treatment, coupled with limited access to free anti-rabies vaccines for economically weaker communities, creates a critical public health gap. This fear and misinformation often translate into hostility towards stray animals, with calls for their blanket removal, a trend that could extend from dogs to cats and even monkeys. The absence of preventive measures, awareness, and vaccination drives not only sustains this cycle of fear and inhumane treatment but also places both humans and animals at continued risk.

Ojass Takhte Trust values coexistence and strives to foster harmony between humans and animals. To bridge the gap of fear and misinformation, the Trust, under its Quick-PAT project, will prioritise raising community awareness of rabies prevention and first-aid practices. As part of its commitment, the project will ensure treatment for 100 underserved individuals affected by animal bites, providing free Anti-Rabies Vaccination (5-dose regimen) and Anti-Tetanus injections under medical supervision. Simultaneously, it will vaccinate 1,000 stray dogs and cats against rabies, thereby reducing transmission risks. Through these efforts, the Trust aims not only to safeguard health but also to promote humane and compassionate practices that reduce fear and hostility toward stray animals. This one-year initiative seeks to set the foundation for long-term community safety and coexistence.

Ojass is with FundCorps and started the fundraising campaign to work for this cause, and Ojass is heartily grateful to all those contributors who have been thoughtful and donated for this cause. Please spread the message and continue supporting us.

Volunteer with Ojass!
Students can give back to society, build their portfolio, and earn community service work hours meaningfully through our social impact projects.

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