Note From President Shernaz Vakil
CHARITY AND PARENTING
In a tweet on charity and parenting, Rotary International explained how children whose parents were charitable were more likely to make their own donations as adults.
Apparently, there are five ways that one could encourage our own children to be part of a community that serves, putting them on a path of a giving heart.
ASK the child what inspires them to take action.
INSPIRE them with stories of empathy and the realities of poverty, and the support one can give through charity.
GIVE TIME by finding a cause that the child can visit and spend time in.
GIVE MONEY by finding ways for your child to donate in a small way.
ENJOY THE IMPACT as you see your child grow beyond himself into a compassionate empathetic and emotionally intelligent human.
In our own Club, we have several instances over the years of our members’ children visiting our projects and spending time with the elders or kids bringing gifts and snacks to share with them especially on their own birthdays.
Recently whilst we were on a Zoom with the Lighthouse kids, it was so endearing to see seven-year old Aeden, Rtn. Natasha Treasurywala’s son spend his birthday with the kids, bringing them cake and gifts.
Rtn. Satyan Israni’s son Samaksh has, from an early age, the joy of giving by visiting BY Lighthouse and Salaam Baalak on each of his birthdays and distributing treats to the kids.
Earlier Rtn. Anand Shah’s daughter, Pritam Sanghai’s daughter, Rtn. Vandan and Rtn. Ptn. Ekta’s daughters – Suditi and Meha and Rtn. Alok Sekhsara’s daughter, all regularly contributed in some way to the projects of the Club.
What a wonderful example to set and how much more meaningful a celebration gets when you share an experience with those that would otherwise never get a chance to be a part of it.
It’s a feel-good do-good lesson for the entire family.
As our Club engages with the younger generation, we need to sensitise our kids early, to care beyond themselves and to understand how their privileged backgrounds are not an entitlement but an opportunity to share.
Let’s remind our kids, that their privilege can be used for good; more than the giving, it is the personal growth that comes from it.
As we watch a new generation become responsible citizens of the world, we can be proud that many Rotarians have taught their children empathy and compassion.
— President Shernaz Vakil