My name is Priya. I was born and brought up in Hyderabad, India. After finishing my bachelors in 2007, I started volunteering at an organization called “Make a Wish Foundation India”.
Make A Wish Foundation – India
In 1995, Uday and Gita Joshi took their little boy Gandhar suffering from Leukemia for treatment to the USA. Gandhar agreed to go only on the promise that he would get to visit Disney Land. In the course of his treatment, Make-A-Wish Foundation® volunteers met the Joshis and went about fulfilling Gandhar’s wish in a way beyond his imagination. His sister, Bhargavi was specially flown in from India by the foundation to join the family on a 6 day memorable trip of Disneyland®. Gandhar passed away soon after their return to India. Inspired by the joy and magic that the wish experience had brought into their lives in a difficult time and in memory of their little boy, the Joshis were determined to bring the same wish experience to children with life-threatening illnesses in India. Thus, the Indian affiliate was established in 1996 and since then wishes have been granted to children across the country and Gandhar thus lives on – each time a wish in India comes true!
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon when I and Rajni Aunty went to the NIMS hospital cancer ward for children. It was there, I met a 10 year old child Yogesh, and he had a charming face, the sweetest smile and the brightest eyes in the room. We went over to him and chatted with him. He was so cheerful, telling us all about his likes, dislikes and hobbies. We asked him what his ambition was; he instantly said “I want to be a Police Officer like my Granddad and dad (who died in an encounter)”. Continue reading →