Welcome
"be the change you wish to see in this world"
MK. Gandhi
ll cultures and faiths recognise in some form or another that community service is important. In ancient India, as a practice, ‘sewa’ was believed to help one’s spiritual growth, and at the same time contribute to the improvement of a community. Taking our lead from the practice of sewa, as observed by South Asian cultures, we believe we all have a responsibility to help the communities we, individually, benefit from being part of. We believe that sewa is enriching for everyone involved, donor and recipients. We believe that a little time and commitment can change things for the better. On Sewa Day, we encourage and support people who want to help their local community. We do not ask for money, we want as many people as possible to get directly involved in activities that enhance the environment, relieve poverty or bring joy to the community. We promote Sewa Day, the day when our friends dedicate themselves to selfless service. Sewa literally translates as Selfless Service. Sewa Day has grown in popularity since its inception and has resulted in the number of people take part increasing dramatically over the past three years. We started in 2010 when 5,000 volunteers took part in local projects across the UK. In 2012, over 50,000 volunteers took part in Sewa Day, in over 20 countries! Three years on, we can safely say that Sewa Day has found a place for itself. Whether one day of activity can make a real difference is not as important a consideration as whether the individual volunteer develops a wider understanding of the challenges faced by local communities and his or her role within that. Sewa Day has the power to help people like you make a difference to the lives around you. As Mahatma Gandhi said: “Be the change you wish to see in this world”. We hope you enjoy reading our Annual Report. Be the change!
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