Growing Together Through Giving in Trinidad and Tobago

On November 28, 2024, a group of 37 students from SWAHA Hindu College, inspired by their teacher, who also serves as the National Young Adults Coordinator of the SSSIO, Trinidad and Tobago (SSSIOTT), embarked on a journey of service to the South Food Distribution Kitchen of SSSIOTT, located 81 km away. This initiative aimed at engaging students in meaningful service to the less fortunate. Since its inception in March 2021, the SSSIOTT South Kitchen has been providing weekly hot lunches to various vulnerable groups, including homeless individuals, elderly and visually impaired persons, as well as children with physical and mental challenges.

The group comprised 37 upper-level high school students (sixth form) aged 17-18, four teachers and fifteen Sai devotees. Together, they contributed to the preparation, cooking, packaging, and distribution of meals to homeless and socially displaced individuals from Court Shamrock and visually challenged persons from the Blind Welfare Association. On this day, approximately 400 hot lunches featuring fresh salad, pasta, rice, and kofta (South Asian dish of mixed vegetables) were prepared and distributed. The well-disciplined students approached the activity with enthusiasm, joyfully demonstrating their cooking skills.

To maximize their impact, the students were divided into three groups. Group 1 included 10 students accompanied by Sai devotees. They delivered meals to visually challenged individuals and had the opportunity to learn basket weaving from them. Group 2 consisted of 15 students who visited Court Shamrock, where they interacted with residents, gaining valuable insights into the challenges faced by the socially displaced. Group 3 comprised the remaining students who stayed back at the South Kitchen, serving hot lunches directly to homeless individuals who visited the kitchen.

For all the young volunteers and their teachers, the experience was profoundly rewarding and left a lasting impression. The students, teachers, and administration at SWAHA Hindu College expressed keen interest in participating in future SSSIOTT events, highlighting their commitment to building communities and spreading Swami’s message through service.