how sewa day helps
the true value...
a commitment to community
K
Mike Keel, Chief Executive, Keech Hospice, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK
eech Hospice Care charity operates an adult and children’s hospice service from its site in Luton. We were delighted to be introduced to the concept of Sewa by one of our supporters, who is also a champion of Sewa Day, nearly fours years ago. Since then the relationship has grown with both the donors and recipients learning a great deal about each other and how we both strive to improve the world we’re in. The number of Sewa Day volunteers has increased over the years and their ages range from 6-86 years! Many have gone on to support the charity in addition to their Sewa Day activities and friendships and bonds have grown between the volunteers and charity’s staff. Sewa Day is now a part of our language and culture at Keech Hospice Care and the mutual benefit the project provides is immeasurable. The Sewa volunteers make a great deal of difference to our community by their acts of selfless service; they help the charity in achieving tasks and projects that improve the environment and bring joy to our patients, their families and friends.
voluntary group om group
Om Group – for involving 107 volunteers in making the Keech Hospice, in Luton, a brighter, cleaner, and harmonious environment for its residents. This is the third year that Sewa Day volunteers have helped the Keech Hospice in Luton bring a little joy to patients, their families and staff. 107 volunteers painted various rooms; stuffed envelopes; packed goodie bags; tidied a children’s toy room; cleaned charity pots; tidied a path leading through to a nearby woodland area; general gardening chores and painted a ‘Santa sleigh’. The project helped Keech by completing many of the timeconsuming tasks that make a difference to the day-to-day running of the Hospice.
“I had never heard of Sewa day until this year. Its a fantastic concept and we really loved taking part. The people who came were fantastic and it was really wonderful to see a sea of green t shirted people working hard to care for our lavender field. We would love to take part next year and think we will be better organised now we know what to expect.”
Paula Delaney, Carshalton Lavender
Award Winner
12 | Sewa Day Annual Report 2012