May 1978, my higher secondary results were out. I had just turned 18 and I was really excited because I knew exactly what I wanted to do in college, English literature. Because if there were two things which I loved more than my parents, they were reading and writing. I used to love writing. I used to write stories, poems, reviews, what have you. So I went to my father. Now my father, he's an engineer, self-made, brilliant, middle class, which also meant that there were just three worthwhile careers to purs ...

Foundation Overview - The Earth CVS Foundation was founded in 2008 by Shri Ravi Kalra to serve abandoned people [2] - The foundation grew from initially caring for 50 people to currently caring for 1,300 people on a 24/7 basis [4][6] Beneficiaries and Their Circumstances - The foundation primarily serves abandoned senior citizens, often rejected by their own families due to age or illness [7] - Many residents lived on the streets for 8-9 years before being rescued by authorities or referred to the foundation [8] - Residents often arrive with severe health issues, including wounds, infections, and disabilities [9][13] Foundation Services - The foundation provides free 24/7 admission, three meals a day, toiletries, medicines, and hospital treatments [8][9][10] - The foundation also offers counseling services to its residents [10] - The foundation addresses the immediate needs of residents, including changing diapers, cleaning wounds, and removing maggots [13] Societal Issues - Abandonment of elderly parents is a widespread issue, affecting people from all socioeconomic backgrounds [11][14] - Family members sometimes abandon their parents at the foundation's gates, even in severe weather conditions [12][15] - In many cases, families do not claim the bodies of their deceased parents from the shelter home [22] Call to Action - The speaker emphasizes the importance of service and contribution from the younger generation to build a better future [27][28] - Individuals can serve in various ways, including environmental work, helping those in need, or simply caring for their own parents [28][29] - Increased awareness and service towards parents could potentially lead to the closure of the speaker's old age home [29]

Social Work & Community Engagement - The speaker emphasized the importance of striving to meet the expectations of loved ones and contributing to society [1] - The speaker highlighted the significance of respecting teachers and elders, which brought her recognition and respect [1] - The speaker realized the importance of feeling the pain of others and helping those in need, rather than focusing solely on personal comforts [1] - The speaker started a dispensary in a less privileged area, providing rations, arranging marriages, and offering medical treatment [2] - The speaker emphasized the importance of serving humanity to gain respect and recounted an instance where she secured resources for providing clean water access to underprivileged children [3] NGO Development & Impact - The speaker founded HOPE Foundation with an initial investment of ₹300 (approximately $3.60 USD), which grew into the second-largest NGO in Pakistan [3] - HOPE Foundation currently runs 22 programs and has spent one अरब रुपया (one billion rupees, approximately $12 million USD) on the people of Pakistan, assisting over 2 million individuals [3] - The speaker highlighted the importance of continuous innovation and developing new programs to serve the community [3] - The speaker secured 4 canals (approximately 2 acres) of land worth ₹22 crore (220 million rupees, approximately $2.64 million USD) in DHA for building a school [4] - Despite facing a penalty clause of ₹3 lakh (300,000 rupees, approximately $3,600 USD) per month for delayed construction, the speaker built a school worth ₹125 crore (1.25 billion rupees, approximately $15 million USD) in 25 months, accommodating 2,000 children [4]