Family Affair – In the Service of others

In the joy of others, lies our own” – ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj.’

Who We Are

“family affair” is a non-religious group of a family and good friends from Singapore who have come together to do voluntary charity work

The group does one “project” annually in India at an orphanage chosen by the team members. In 2013, we did our first project outside India (in Nepal) and are now open to locations, as long as we find the right orphanage.

One of the missions of “family affair” is to bring happiness and offer a ray of hope to less-privileged children, who have nothing and literally no one to care for them. Our project involves several activities which impart certain skills to the children that they can potentially use to earn a living, and includes recreational activities such as games, an outing, a trip to the movies, etc., many of which are a first-time experience for these children. Above all, the very fact that a group of people take so much interest and showers affection on them means so much to the children.

How it started ?

Ours is a closely-knit family. We have gone on holidays together, picnics, movies, dinner parties……….numerous happy occasions where we have bonded and grown to know one another.

Yes, we have also gone through some very turbulent times – losing a loved one, troubles, disputes. Yet, we have always managed to stay intact. In fact, the troubled times have made us grow closer and appreciate each one for what he / she is; and we have come to value each one for what he / she is.

We do not come from a privileged background…working class family. But, to return back to society has never been far. Our parents and older siblings have always been involved in doing some sort of charity work – be it for the boys of the Sri RamaKrishna Home or for the visually handicapped.

We grew-up in such an environment, where we were taught to care for those less privileged in society and not be self-centered.

We were told that we must not live just for ourselves, but remember to return back to society…………………….such was our up-bringing.

So, it was during one such family gathering that the idea to do volunteer work as a family was mooted. All were in favour…but what should we do, where should we go, how are we going to do this charity work ? Numerous questions, with hardly any answers…but we knew that we had to do something for society.

And, it took us almost two years to get things sorted-out and our first family affair I project was launched in 2007.

Since then, we have fine-tuned many things and have amazed ourselves as to what we each are capable of.

It is now almost ten years down the road, and we have come a long way….a very long way…yet, the zeal and enthusiasm are still there, the want to do more grows each year and our lives have been changed forever – the things we have seen, what we have experienced, the love and warmth that we have received from the children in reciprocation – have made indelible marks in our lives. We are not what we were many years ago; we have come to appreciate live for all that it offers, love and cherish those around us and most importantly, grateful and thankful for our parents and elders who have ingrained in us, this important value of wanting to return, to return back to society.

“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go” – Mother Teresa

One of the major objectives of family affair is to bring happiness, joy and laughter to less-privileged, deprived children. All of the team members have had the privilege to have grown up in very loving, nurturing family situations and feel that this feeling of being loved and cared-for, should be created and imparted, even for a short period of time, in the lives of these children, many of whom have grown up only in institutions and have probably NEVER experienced love.

Apart from showering love and affection on the kids, a primary intention of our visit is also to involve the kids in activities, from which the kids can learn skills that they can be potentially used to earn a livelihood. What we do is to try and make a lasting impact on the kids.

An important component of our project is recreation for the kids through a visit to the movies and an outing (to a park, a beach, a mall), which in most cases is a first-time experience for the children. Besides, we provide sumptuous meals throughout the course of the project and end with a grand farewell dinner. Where possible, and funds permitting, we also leave a goodie bag for the kids while leaving.