SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAM

Lord Krishna once gave the following advice in the Bhagavad-Gita. 

“Karmanye Vadhika Raste Maa Faleshu Kadachan

Ma Karma Fal Heturbhuh,

Ma Te Sangotsva Karmani”

Translated in English it means,

 “You have a right to "Karma" (actions) but never to any Fruits thereof.

You should never be motivated by the results of your actions,

Nor should there be any attachment in not doing your prescribed activities.”

In short, you should perform your duties to your fellow humans without expecting a reward. Any reward that you will reap will be waiting for you in heaven.

“Om Saha Naa Vavatu;

Saha Nau Bhunaktu

Saha Veeryam Karavaa Vahai

Tejasvi Naa Vadheetamastu

Maa Vid Vishaa Vahai

Om Shaanti Shaanti Shaanti”

“May the Lord protect us together

May He nourish us together

May we work together uniting our strength for the good of humanity

May our learning be luminous & purposeful

May we never hate one another

May there be Peace Peace Peace”

The program outlined below is our little attempt to aid our fellow men. It has been initiated in Chicago, Illinois to meet the needs of Nepali newcomers to the United States. Most of us can identify with the feelings of being an immigrant to a new country. Immigrants lack familiar community and social support, there are feelings of isolation, loneliness, disorientation, helplessness, anxiety and depression.  In addition they need to learn to negotiate the system.  As people become more settled here in the United States it is only natural that we would like to reach out to people that may be in need of various things such as social contact, guidance/suggestions, interpretation, and daily household items.

Website

 (http://www.peopleofnepal.com/startup/Community/social/help.htm) has been created to publish the news about this program, and it also highlights how you can help and make your donations (time and material).  -

>

> *   Donations (material), for instance, can be any used/new

> household items like furniture, utensils, toys, clothes etc.

>     Donations (time) can be in either of the two categories.

> *   Time allotted to receive calls from the people in need, to help

> answer their calls with any questions they have.

For instance,

They may like to know the closest place for groceries, or

They may like to know how to apply for driver's license or

How to send their kids to school etc. or

They may just like to talk to someone who speaks the same language as they do or think the same way as they do.

We should do everything possible within our reach, to make these people feel welcomed and try our best to answer any questions they may have. If these questions are not something that can be answered immediately, we will bring it up to the committee, who will try their best to provide the answers to the question in concern.

> 1   Time allotted (physical presence required) , once a week or

> twice a week, to socialize with the newcomers, make them feel welcomed, take them for groceries, teach them how to use vending machines and ATMs etc.

>

> The donations we are asking is not something that cannot be achieved

> and it doesn't take a whole lot of time, from your busy schedule. For a moment, try to put yourself in their shoe, and THINK !!!!

>

> All of us here today, would have probably gone through some struggle trying to settle in the United States and achieve the perfect American dream. 

Even for me, the first few months in the US were not easy, when I first came to the US, I barely had money to pay for my first semester tuition fees, I know I needed to work and earn lot of money to support myself, but I wasn't sure how?

I was very glad and grateful that I had a few nepali families who helped me during my struggling years. They taught me how to drive, took me to get the drivers license, found me a job in Pizza hut, advised me which courses to take initially so that I can work as well as study without hampering studies.  They used to invite us over to their home for lunch/dinner etc and made us feel homely.

>

> Well not all of us are fortunate enough as I am, and there may be

> several of us who wished there was some one who could have helped when you most needed it. >

>

> Please come together and help us in this selfless mission, and lets

> try and help the newcomers, and lets not make them go through the same struggle and difficulties that we went through.

>

> Here is how you can do it:

>

> a.  You can fill the form online

> (http://www.peopleofnepal.com/startup/Community/social/help1.htm)  ,

> to express your interest to help , alternately you can also contact

> the following folks below directly :

>

> Ankur Sharma : sharmankur@yahoo.com

> Rummy Pant : rummypant@yahoo.com

> Bishnu Phuyal: bishnuphuyal@hotmail.com Yagna Pant : ypant@yahoo.com

>

> You can also

>

> b.  Template has been created to gather the list of items that you

> want to give away. You can directly click on the template posted on the link to add list of items you want to give away. 

Alternately, you can email me at : sharmankur@yahoo.com , if you have any thing that you want to give away, and I will add it to the list

> c.  Template has been created to gather the contact list who would

> like to offer their time. You can directly click on the template and

> add your name to it, or alternately, you can also email me at :

> sharmankur@yahoo.com, and I will add your name to the list.