When sophomore Amreen Chadha was eight years old, she visited her grandparents in Mumbai, India. As she ventured off into the streets, she was devastated by the abandoned children begging for food and money in empty dishes.
Seeing their tattered clothing, malnourished bodies and innocent faces, Chadha could not resist helping these children. She bought them plates of pani puri which are small, hollowed crisps filled with sweet sauce, onions and chickpeas. Chadha knew that helping these children have a happier life was essential and promised herself that she would return one day to help make a difference.
After this event transpired, Chadha became involved with various organizations such as UNICEF, the Humane Society and the Breast Cancer Foundation. She felt that joining these groups would give her experience in the field of social change so she could better help the children in India. “Helping others is one of the main things that makes me happy. I would go to great extents to help those in need,” said Chadha.
Chadha also annually participates in a holiday food drive in Washington, D.C. with her family. They help assemble bagged lunches to feed the homeless. This past holiday season, Chadha searched through boxes of clothing at her house to donate to the National Spanish Honor Society’s winter clothing drive. She found several pairs of gloves, scarves and two coats to donate.
In the spring, Chadha participates in the annual Avon Walk for breast cancer in Washington, D.C. In order to walk, each volunteer must raise $1,800 in donations. Chadha raised money from neighbors, family and friends by selling homemade T-shirts with facts about breast cancer. “I feel that Amreen’s volunteering is important; it has helped her grow as a person,” said Chadha’s mother Jaspreet Chadha.
Chadha is also an active member of her Gurudwara, better known as a Sikh temple. Along with attending religion classes on Sundays, Chadha helps teach younger girls bhangra, an upbeat form of Indian dance. At the end of each dance session, Chadha gives the girls information on volunteering activities near their homes so that they can influence their communities.
Each Halloween while her friends trick-or-treat for candy, Chadha collects money for UNICEF. This Halloween fundraising conducted by UNICEF provides food, safe water, shelter, education and medicine to children in over 150 countries. This year, Chadha got her friend sophomore Vera Pervitsky involved. “Amreen is an amazing influence. Since I met her I am getting more and more interested in volunteer projects,” said Pervitsky.
Through the experience she gains from each volunteer activity, Chadha hopes to create a program to help impoverished children in India. She has not forgotten and will never forget the children she met in Mumbai who spurred her initial interest in giving to others.