Entries categorized as ‘Reconstruction Volunteers’
Volunteer of the Week, Chaital Naidu
The Sanskrit word ‘seva’ translates as ’service’ in 21st Century English, and it’s been an integral part of Chaital Naidu’s life since childhood. From her great-grandfather’s involvement in his local Indian village to her work with the national non-profits CARE USA and Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, Chaital’s service is an integral part of who she is. She also demonstrates ’seva’ through her practice of Karma Yoga – the path of selfless service.
It’s hard for me to see service as a sacrifice. It stretches me, and I often get more back than I give. It doesn’t feel like I’ve given up something to serve, it reminds me what I’m capable of.
Chaital has traveled all over the United States as both yoga student and instructor, primarily for the global non-profit Isha Vidhya. A firm believer in how volunteering can bring people together, Chaital actually met and fell in love with her husband Ravi while volunteering over a year’s time across the country. They’ve since traveled to the state of Tamil Nadu in Southern India, supporting Isha Vidhya’s local mission “to raise the level of education and literacy in rural India and to helping disadvantaged children realize their full potential.”
Closer to their Atlanta home, Chaital and Ravi are supporting Isha Vidhya’s efforts to build the largest meditation dome in the United States. Located on the Cumberland Plateau, an hour north of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the 33,000 square foot dome structure called Mahima is the most significant feature of the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences and is scheduled for completion later this year. That is, assuming volunteers continue showing up to help.
Since construction began in 2006, hundreds of global volunteers have served as construction crew, landscapers, and kitchen staff. Chaital has made many trips to the Institute, some with Ravi and some solo. She’s spent long weekends shoveling dirt, grading floors, and laying tile, among many other necessary but thankless tasks.
Service is a priority in our marriage. I guess we watch less TV than our friends … we don’t go to clubs or bars all that much. We make the time to do the things we want to do – help our communities flourish.
To learn more about the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences, volunteer for a weekend in beautiful Tennessee, and potentially find your true love, simply click here or send them an email.
Categories: Community Volunteer · Reconstruction Volunteers
Tagged: Construction Volunteer, Cumberland Plateau, Isha Foundation, Isha Vidya, Tennessee
Meet Adam Weingarten, our first Volunteer of the Week
We met Adam in New Orleans last November where he was serving a year with Rebuilding Together New Orleans through AmeriCorps as a Housing Captain. By that time, he’d already helped rebuild several homes that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, he’s had a hand in finishing many more and witnessed their owners return.
Adam’s featured in our trailer – second volunteer profiled, red Rebuilding Together sweatshirt – and his experiences exemplify what thousands have felt while helping rebuild NOLA:
I was originally working for an accounting firm in Chicago. I’ve never been to New Orleans, I just wanted to help people. I knew it was bad down here, but until you come and experience it, you don’t know how bad it is.
Adam started his AmeriCorps year in late August, leaving his accounting job with Ernst & Young in Chicago for the Big Easy. Here’s what he had to say in late December about the experience:
It has been over four months … since I’ve been gone and I can honestly say that joining AmeriCorps and moving to New Orleans was the best decision I’ve ever made. Every day here is a new day and I’m having experiences that I never imagined.
Not only is Adam managing teams of rotating volunteers from City Year, local universities, and schools, he’s also an amateur musician. After scraping off the paint and bandaging sore hands, he’s enjoyed the swingin’ sounds of Bourbon Street on the weekends. To read more about Adam and his experiences, check out his blog and drop him a note.
For you Chicagoans, Adam has a special request:
If anybody wants to send me a couple of frozen deep dish sausage pizzas from Lou Malanatis, send them to Adam Weingarten, 5836 Willow St., New Orleans, LA 70115.
Categories: Reconstruction Volunteers
Katrina Reconstruction Volunteers - Adama, Sean, Ashley, and Amanda
City Year volunteers donate a year of time and work through AMERICORPS. Currently in New Orleans, most City Year vols are working at inner city high schools. Once a week, they head out to Rebuilding Together New Orleans job sites or other volunteer projects to do whatever needs to be done. We shot at a Rebuilding Together neighborhood re-construction site. Stay tuned for a future episode featuring these volunteers!
Categories: Reconstruction Volunteers
Tagged: Americorp, City Year, Katrina, New Orleans, Rebuilding Together, Volunteer
