In Hosng Stories, experience the story of Elsa being hosted by the wonderful Indian family Jyotsna Shah and Jitendra Shah of Ahmedabad Chapter In the Joy of Volunteering, experience the Community Service conducted in the Anand Chapter The idea behind the service was to help the underserved during

ELSA - A BEAUTIFUL GIRL FROM FINLAND – HELSINKI By Jyotsna Shah and Jitendra Shah | Ahmedabad Chapter

“Elsa, a girl aged 18 years from Helsinki – a Capital of Finland was with us for a shorter period of around two months i.e. August 2019 and September 2019.

Hosting Stories

To speak about Elsa, we all family members agree that she was a very nice girl who easily reached anyone's heart. She was regular in aending school. She was neat and clean in her daily affairs. She was good at dressings.

We also learnt from her one word and that is: OK. She never ever complained about anything while she was with us. Whenever we used to ask for anything, maybe food, breakfast, household work etc. she gladly used to say OK. This is her best quality.

During her period of stay with us, her Naming Ceremony (Finland culture) was falling on 15.10.2019 and we celebrated that day at our house by calling all Host students from USA, France, Japan etc. who were in Ahmedabad. It was an excellent experience for us too.

She was with us during Navratri Fesval too and my younger daughter used to take her for GARBA at different venues. She had the privilege to aend one marriage of my younger daughter's friend. She observed all Indian marriage rituals quite minutely and

thoroughly enjoyed the Indian—Gujara marriage. We took her to our family houses in Ahmedabad / Baroda for pares and to make her know our Indian and specifically Gujara culture of joint family

Important observaon of her is worth menoning regarding all visits by her with us as she was nicely accepted in my family and friends. She enjoyed many family get-togethers. While she was with us and understood our Gujara culture of joint family systems very well while and she too organized her family get- together aer reaching back to Finland. In the same way, we, too, learnt the magical word “OK” from her in daily family communicaon to smoothen the family conflicts /environment.

We shall always love to welcome her again.... and again.”

Community Service - Helping The Needy By Jalpa Shah, Volunteer, Anand Chapter

“I am glad to share that, we have done two community services this month.

On the 2nd September, We donated 35 kg of clothes in detail.

to poor and the needy people. This idea was iniated by a thought to help the people who are not able to afford to get clothes in this pandemic.This community service is just to fill up some bright colour to their life. Mr Vinod Shah from USA(my uncle) donated 140 pairs of clothes including pent, shirt, kurs, dress, coat, chaniyacholi, sherwani, saree, jewellery etc. And our AFS Anand Chapter's volunteers also donated clothes. Because of the Corona pandemic, we are not able to meet and donate the clothes to the needy. But, as we know, when there is a will there's a way, so Mr. Prashant Dandekar and Mrs Ankita Dandekar who live in Mumbai and they are also doing this kind of community service in a pandemic situaon.

On 24th September, We distributed sandwiches, biscuits and ice cream to senior cizens in old age homes. Corona Pandemic being a blessing in disguise, allowed us to try and cook new recipes and dishes. But, senior cizens in old age homes are not fortunate to cook new dishes most of the me. So, the Anand Chapter decided to distribute a new taste in the life of our senior cizens. Because the senior cizens are considered the most vulnerable, not all the volunteers are allowed to meet. Hence, myself and Dip Patel visited them. We observed, pracced and maintained social distancing at all mes while compleng this community service. ”

Adithi Kokonda from Hyderabad