Daria Making a difference...

I went to an all girl’s catholic school for high school at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Newton, Massachusetts in the United States. We did not have a uniform but one rule we had about clothing was that we were not allowed to wear jeans. The only exception was that on Fridays we could wear jeans if we donated $4 to a specific organization that had been decided on. All the money raised from the girls who wore jeans would be donated to that certain organization.
Not only did my school have a high school but it also had a middle school. I am lucky enough to be the daughter of the Middle School principal and with this luck comes great opportunities. After graduation and two years of college, I found myself at a GVI project and after a month in Thailand I came to Kerala, India. Within a week I heard the story of the family that my fellow volunteer Ana had been following and helping. Their house had been started to be rebuilt but after the father’s death, the rebuilding suddenly stopped. Now the family of a single mother and 2 kids sleeps on the floor in a run down house.
After hearing this story I realized that my school back home is always looking for new causes to donate to. I called my father and asked if he could get a jeans day to fundraise for this family. My father immediately agreed and had that following Friday jeans day raise money for the family. The middle school and high school raised about $425 all together which is over 16,000 rupees.
It has been so rewarding to have both of my worlds connect for a good cause. To be able to have a connection from home that can contribute to a good cause here in India has made me feel like I really can make a difference.

Daria Badini
GVI Kerala Volunteer

Daria Making a difference...