It’s Time to Give Back to the Community that Once Gave Support!

By Clah Salindato, TeamAsia and My Dream in a Shoebox Alumna

What inspires you to give back? I was asked this question by a dear friend and it made me think. I have always been drawn to helping others and doing different advocacies but I never really thought of why. After a few days of reflecting, I finally arrived at an answer. It was because I was once helped. That’s why I wanted to give back to the community.

Why Should We Give Back to The Community?

In a world where people often focus only on themselves, we forget the value of helping our community. Giving back to the community is like creating a positive chain reaction that benefits both you and your community as a whole. When you lend a hand, you help contribute to the overall well-being of your society and encourage a shared sense of responsibility.

Additionally, giving back shows that we’re all connected. We’re not alone; we’re interconnected like threads in a community fabric. By offering our support, we strengthen the ties that bind us, promoting a feeling of togetherness and unity. It’s about understanding that each of us has a role to play in improving our community collectively.

Exploring My Personal Journey

Ever since I was born, my parents agreed to have specific roles in the family – my mom in the corporate world and my dad handling our family business. Everything was going well not until life happened in 2004 when I lost my mom at the age of 11. 

With my father dealing with the loss, taking care of my then six months old sister, and experiencing challenges with our family business, everything went downhill for us. Due to financial challenges, even continuing my education became a concern for us. Thankfully, we have kind-hearted people in our lives who are willing to give a helping hand to us. Back then, I was involved in our village’s Youth Choir. When our Choir head, who is also like a mom to our group, learned about this she volunteered to support me until I finished high school. She helped with my tuition fee, my allowance, and even school events. 

My Life After High School

After finishing high school, at the age of fifteen, I started working at a fast food chain near our place to support my education and my family’s needs. Being a working student was never easy. However, with the help of my crewmates and managers, I was able to handle it. The management back then helped me take on shifts that would fit with my class schedule. As soon as I turned eighteen, I continued as a working student, employed in a BPO company. Back then, I was also blessed with Supervisors, Team leads, and very supportive teammates. I can remember I was the only one entering our site wearing a university uniform. Given my work and school schedule, I was also allowed to sleep at my station during my plotted breaks. To maximize my time, I was even allowed to use internet hubs in the office with my thesis and the best part is, our management was gracious enough to allow me to take my internship in the same company.

You see, I was sustained by different people who were generous to help in any way they can. With that, I was able to finish my education, learn real-life experiences from mentors and leaders, provide for my family, and pursue my dreams.

My Personal Experience in Giving Back to The Community

After college, my first corporate job was with TeamAsia, and part of my role was to handle MDIAS. This corporate social responsibility program became more like personal advocacy for me. I thought, if we can only give back to the community through support and provide tools for these kids, then they can be who they want to be in the future. They can make their dreams come true. 

To give back to the community, it only takes one shoebox filled with school supplies, one Dream builder to sponsor a year of education or a tablet or laptop that they can use to learn. If we think about it, they seem to be small things. But in reality, these things can make BIG differences in the lives of the kids.

I was once a dreamer whose family had limited resources but also had big dreams. But because I had my family who believed in me and there were a lot of people who helped me along the way, I am where I am right now.

We all have received kindness and support in any way. It made our day, and our lives better. It’s time to give back to the community! One dreamer at a time.You too can make a difference with a simple act of kindness. Pledge your donation today at My Dream in a Shoebox and help make #BiggerDreams happen for our future achievers.