Students turn Samaritans to fight hunger in the times of a pandemic

By providing home-cooked meals with ‘Get Well Soon’ cards to Covid-19 patients, the students and parents of Apeejay School, Model Town in Jalandhar took this initiative to reinforce their faith in the power of humanity.

It’s often said that children are gifts from God and when they prove the same, it is like a blessing. Also, children are never too young to learn the value and joy of helping others. All Apeejay institutions are guided by the vision of Dr. Stya Paul, Founder Chairman, Apeejay Education Society that emphasised upon value-based holistic education that entailed acquiring thinking skills and lessons for life.

Students of Apeejay School, Model Town in Jalandhar have admirably implemented the vision of Dr. Stya Paul in real life. They became good Samaritans by making ‘Get Well Soon’ cards with motivational messages, wishing speedy recovery to Covid patients. As Covid-infected patients in home isolation battled cold, fever and body aches which rendered them confined to beds, these good Samaritans along with their parents provided free home-cooked meals to those in isolation.

Besides this, free meals were also provided to hundreds of those who don’t have a roof above their head and can’t afford even one freshly cooked meal a day. With their earnings having taken a massive dip due to lockdowns, it has been a very stressful time for the underprivileged.

Many parents and students of Apeejay School Model Town lent a helping hand by serving food (cooked meals) to the homeless, the needy and the less fortunate of Jalandhar city. Parents and students conveyed the message that we have to fight this battle as a community as it was not an individual’s battle. The need of the hour is for each one of us to support others.

PRINCIPAL’S VISION
Talking to Apeejay Newsroom, Ms. Sinia Sajith, Principal of Apeejay School, Model Town, Jalandhar said, “That suffering, as unpleasant as it is, often also has a bright side to which people have paid less attention: compassion. Human suffering is often accompanied by beautiful acts of compassion by others wishing to help relieve it.”

She added, at Apeejay School, Model Town, whether it is through prayer symposiums, participating in free meals campaigns or donating books, the values instilled by the founders guide us in trying to provide relief to the society through acts of compassion. “Our students have been encouraged to imbibe the value of being kind and generous. It is worth mentioning that human values such as empathy, compassion, benevolence and gratitude are often quoted but rarely noticed.

STUDENTS’ TAKE
Janya Aggarwal, a student of class 4 and her brother  Bhavesh Aggarwal of class 6, thought of  providing free meals when they read a notice in the newspaper urging people to come forward and help those in need. Teaming up with their mother, the students helped her in packing and delivering food. Bhavesh (11) said, “I feel being compassionate is the first requisite for being a human. We should try to help as many people in whatever capacity we can.” His sister Janya (9), adds, “I am just happy to see smiles on the faces of people whom we provide meals to.”

Pranya Khera of class 6 has a mission in her life. The 11-year-old wants to be able to alleviate the misery of other human beings. She says, “Whenever I see or hear about the struggles of other people, I feel my inner soul pushing me to do something”. Surfatehdeep Singh, another 11-year-old student of class 6, believes in the importance of sewa as mentioned in Sikh scriptures. He says, “I feel it is our duty to be available for helping others whenever we can”.

“The pandemic has caused enough suffering. Now our focus is on rebuilding the faith and trust in humanity.”

–       Ms. Sinia Sajith, Principal