Kiel Moses Interning with Samarthanam...

I was lucky enough to volunteer with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled from October 1^st through November 14^th, 2013 in a variety of capacities including teaching theater/martial arts/English to students, working on the Samarthanam expansion to the US, as well as the recorder for books for the blind/visually impaired. 

I started out at the primary school that Samarthanam trust operates for children with and without disabilities.  I taught the younger kids theater skills through the use of the various animals they knew.  I had them rolling on the ground sounding and acting like their favorite animals.  I taught the older students English and grammar skills.  This work at the primary school felt gratifying.  However, because I didn't speak their native language, the success that I had was limited.

As a result, I got linked up with the overseas coordinator at Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled who wanted me to help her with various aspects of expanding Samarthanam in the US.  I read over many parts of the website that had been created and came up with ideas that the new branch in the US could potentially pursue.  This felt very gratifying to be a part of.  This experience in assisting in the expansion of Samarthanam to the US felt great.

I also visited various parts of the trust (such as the call center/BPO) that gave me a deeper understanding of the trust and potential businesses that people with and without disabilities could be a part of.  These field trips proved fruitful for me to experience because it reiterated that people with disabilities can be successful in various sectors of the trust. 

I appreciated the interactions with the staff and other beneficiaries that I talked with during my internship.  I met members of the blind dance troupe as well as others who I felt a great connection to/with.  These various conversations left a powerful and positive imprint on me.  Every staff member and beneficiary that I interacted with treated me as if I were an essential part of the Samarthanam team/family.  This type of treatment felt great to me while I was interning at Samarthanam Trust. 

I also taught self defense/martial arts skills to older adults.  I had two regular students who attended my classes.  In a three week period I had them being able to punch, block, and kick.  I even taught a young man who was blind these same techniques with great success.  I felt really great about this being that the two adults had no prior experience in self defense or martial arts before meeting me.

Overall I had a great experience volunteering in Samarthanam and feel that I made a difference on many different levels on both a personal and professional level.  I will never forget this experience because of the life lessons and pragmatic skills that it taught me for my professional career that I will have.