Humans find joy when they embrace, interact with and become a part of society. This joy is infectious and keeps on multiplying especially with the positivity that people share with each other. Healing and caring for others is the essence of human nature. We work to protect our own and form connections with one another. This compassion is what binds us together and forms a unique bond based on a pure purpose. The bliss, peace and satisfaction people get from helping others is something so precious and elusive in its essence.
Have you ever been in need of help and someone has been there for you, unexpectedly? A little help in organizing your things, leading the way when you're lost, a reassuring smile, a kind gesture? Small instances like these help us see the beauty in life and within us.
Humans love to give back care and kindness to the world, to return even just a fraction of what we’ve received and been blessed by. Every day, performing a small act of kindness is like a little miracle of our own that creates warmth in our hearts. We witness how the bare minimum, the smallest deed can change someone's day, mood, or their outlook on life itself. The idea of our impact on others and this world is a wonderful notion!
Now imagine doing something infinitesimal to save someone's life, to heal it, to change it. Just letting the prick of the needle hurt us for a second can lead us to experience immense joy. It can help us feel a connection like no other formed with the humanity in ourselves and the person whom we help, the deepest bond is the one created in giving someone the chance to live truly.
Ignorance has caused more deaths than anything in the world. People don't realize the impact and change they can make. The lives which could've been saved, the tears which would have never been shed, the spirits which could have flourished, all gone because people didn't take that one little step, go the little distance they needed to, to make a big difference. But if you do take that step…
A dark hospital corridor, a loved one facing despair, grief, the fear of loss, of days not lived or loved and all of it is suddenly replaced by hope, gratitude, the idea of getting another chance, still fighting, still changing, still living and loving this world- all because of you. A boon, a blessing, from you and for you. It could be you, your loved ones, absolutely anyone in that dark corridor, losing hope, praying and rising again just because someone chose to be kind. You can choose to be kind.
Blood Donation is such a cause which unites humanity together, it saves a stranger but it also saves you. The multiple health benefits of blood donations can maybe save your life as well, reducing risk of cancer, liver and heart diseases, and medical screening helps you identify any underlying health issues which may become a problem later on. It also helps prevent the impact of minor ailments. The psychological rejuvenation from donating blood might just be exactly what you need.
In conversation with the Heads of Blood Drive ‘23…
1) What inspired you to taking up the role of the head of the blood drive and spreading awareness about blood donation? It doesn't have to be concerning your role as the head, but just why you decided to join the blood drive committee?
A. The Blood Drive has always been an extremely special project. People have this assumption that the only way you can contribute to a blood drive is by donating blood- but that’s not what it is at all. You can volunteer to help out on the main day, be a part of the organizing committee, help with fundraising and of course, be a donor. Project Blood Drive gives people a chance to give back to society in more ways than one and helps raise awareness about the cause. This project helps you become a part of something wonderful and creates such a large and beautiful impact on both the people organising it and the people benefitting from it. We’re so grateful to be a part of this amazing community.
2) Why is it essential for people, especially the younger generation to be a part of blood donation campaigns?
A. Younger generations are pivotal in moving our world forward. And this definitely carries on especially for something as serious as blood donation. The youth at the legal age of donating form a huge amount of potential donors, donors at the helm of saving lives of others. As we know every donation can save up to 3 lives, and with an ever adapting amount of young donors the globe around, countless number of lives can be saved. With the advent of technology, more and more youth are tech advanced to the point where 90% of our lives revolve in the online sphere. This too can help spread awareness to even the most remote corners of the world, making people aware of the help their blood donations can provide.
3) How does blood donation affect the donor's life emotionally in your experience?
So actually to answer this question, giving a small sneak peak, we have gone ahead and interviewed a couple of doctors as well as patients, the interviews of which will soon be uploaded on the @sslxaviers Instagram page. Honestly speaking something like a blood donation or transfusion doesn't only help the receiver, but a whole accord of people. From doctors to family members to fellow patients, more and more blood donations increase the chance of survivability and so many people, and with more and more lives being saved, this gives us one pivotal thing to look forward to, Hope. Everyone needs a little hope in life, so may have a lot, some have a little, some may even have none, but it's up to us to balance it amongst us. Hope is something which isn't constant, we all have good days and bad, happy days and sad, on some days we may need a little more hope than others. So to us, extend that small hand, share a smile with someone new, give that person that one last hug. There could be times when you don't need it, but you never know who might. In the end if you have to be someone, be anyone, just be...kind.
4) Do you have a vision for project blood drive this year that makes it stands out from its predecessors?
This year our vision for Blood Drive is not just increasing our donor count, it is to increase the awareness of the entire process as a whole. We don't want it to be just an occasion where a person donates blood once in 6 months and forgets about it. We want to form a positive impact on humanity. We want people to be more aware of the benefits that blood donations have not only on patients but also so many more people. We may host blood drives twice a year, but we want the thought behind it to be ingrained in the back of everyone's mind, the thought of doing something good for others ever so often.
5) Could you share a heartwarming experience that still stays with you that you've witnessed through this work and field?
So very honestly, there isn’t just one thing that makes Blood Drive such an incredible experience. Every single day that we spend working towards this - makes us feel so much more connected to people and leaves us feeling genuinely happy. Right from organising the awareness day - that helps us spread the word in a super duper fun day, to celebrating every time a new person decides to register to donate blood, to making wonderful friends - this project has honestly given us so much happiness. Interacting with doctors and blood banks all while realising just how much of an impact this project can create -makes all the efforts we put in so worth it.
Donating blood for a noble cause, for the first time and over again is truly a beautiful experience that can change so many lives. Take that step, tread that road to humanity, choose kindness and change lives. That is all it takes.
So, join us on Monday, September 11 at Project Blood Drive '23 organized by the Social Service League.
-Maisha Kotyan, SYJC ARTS
-Alaiha Vanjara and Dannon Desouza
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