Making the World a Better Place

Exchange student Riddhi Gupta from India is hosted in Batavia with AFS-USA. Each year approximately 1,100 U.S. families open their homes and share their lives with high school students from 55 countries around the world. Through such exchanges AFS aims to improve intercultural awareness and create conditions for a more just and peaceful world.

As part of an activity to develop leadership skills, Riddhi demonstrated exceptional initiative. Having learned about the work of Hesed House, a shelter for homeless people in Aurora, she organized a drive to collect items needed when families move out of the shelter and into a home. In January she conceived a plan and went to work. First she made a flier explaining her project, listing items that would be useful, and giving details of collection dates and locations.

She said, “The plan that first came to mind was to put fliers in neighbors’ mailboxes and ask that donations be left at my house. I then decided that working with a group or organization that meets regularly would be better.” In the end, she decided to partner with her host family’s church, Batavia United Methodist. She arranged to have her flier inserted in the weekly worship bulletins in February. She also received help from Pastor Anderson, who called the drive to members’ attention during services. The response from the congregation was tremendous, yielding a van full of bedding, clothes, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, paper towels, personal care products, and more!

Riddhi wrote in her report about this project, “The last day of this drive was March 5th. The outcome was very positive. The results amazed me! People were very supportive and generous, which made this a huge success. On March 12, I got up after the sermon and thanked everyone for their kindness and for participating.”

What do students learn from activities such as this? Riddhi says, “I learned that to make anything a success, one needs help from others. And it is important to talk through ideas, plan ahead, keep a schedule, and not procrastinate.”

If you are interested in more information about AFS hosting or scholarships to study abroad, visit www.afsusa.org.