After the NextGen Philanthropy Leadership scholarship program, I came to understand the true meaning of philanthropy. From a young age, I always thought it was simply donating money to those in need and letting others handle the work. I thought that as long as people had the money, their problems could be solved. However, I realized that to be a real philanthropist, more had to be done and as you had to embody an attitude of compassion to help others. We were really fortunate to have guest speaker Viswa Sadasivan and I remember him saying “Philanthropy is not about giving, but about how you give”. This statement has resonated and deeply stuck with me.

Throughout the program, there were several visits to welfare organizations but the one that stood out to me most was the Ren Ci Elderly Nursing Home; This was a new experience as it was my first time visiting a nursing center. Unlike my previous understanding of philanthropy, this time I was not just an observer; I had to be on site and look after the people we were trying to help, instead of just donating money from the outside.

Conversing and assisting them with a coloring activity was a true highlight of the program. A really profound experience was when the 86 year old elderly woman with hearing and visual impairments wanted me to write my name down on the coloring sheet alongside her name. Seeing the elderly’s happy faces and pride after finishing their drawing made me happy for what I was able to help with. After attending the NextGen Philanthropy Leadership scholarship program, I now appreciate that it involves commitment and active participation in making a difference. I am grateful for this program in providing that opportunity as a first step and I also look forward to continuing my philanthropic journey in the future.