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Anush Shand, our SDK Engineer, understands how rewarding it is to give back and make a difference in the lives of people and he’s been diligently working towards it.
Let’s hear in his own words how tiny things can make this world a better place for all of us to live in it together.
I’m based in Pune, where my parents and brother also live. My extended family is also close by, and community has always been an integral part of my childhood.
As a child, my mother used to gather all the kids in the colony on weekends to teach them new things and narrate stories — and she received a lot of love for this kindness. It’s something that has stayed with me ever since. She also used to teach underprivileged kids mathematics and English.
I joined the nonprofit organization U&I when I was in the second year of Engineering because I had free time. A friend of mine was volunteering at the organization and directed me towards it. U&I teaches underprivileged children and provides them with career counseling. I was with them for three years. Currently, I am helping them raise funds.
In the first year, I was a volunteer, tutoring children who needed help with math. I remember one time when I had to miss a session. I didn’t think it would matter too much, but when I went for the next session the child that I was tutoring asked me why I wasn’t there for the previous session. And he told me how much he was enjoying our sessions. I was so overwhelmed with this small gesture and realized the impact I was making through volunteering. 
Sometimes, you feel you aren’t contributing when actually, you’re making a huge difference in someone’s life.
The next year, I was given an opportunity to become a leader at U&I. My job was to manage the
center and create the curriculum for the students. It also gave me an opportunity to hold awareness seminars and workshops in schools about the importance of volunteering and workshops on how one can be a part of this organization. This exposed me to people with diverse backgrounds and different cultures. We had volunteers from different age groups, and it was an amazing experience to hear their stories and learn from them.
Being involved with this organization made me feel included — part of a community. It helped me to become more open to new people and experiences because I am an introvert by nature.
I remember another time when we were preparing a student for his boards. This child was very hard-working and did very well on his boards. Some years later, he joined the organization as a volunteer which just went on to prove that sharing knowledge can be a domino effect. I remember how proud we all were and how much satisfaction that brought those of us volunteering there.
I sincerely believe sharing knowledge is beautiful. The community that we had created was uplifting in every way. We always had each other’s backs, making it an enriching experience. We had a culture, where every volunteer has to share something good that happened in the past week. The leaders that I came across taught me to be inclusive toward everyone, and they showed me how to improve my leadership skills.
The experience has made me a better listener as well. It made me more comfortable in learning different things and sharing ideas without fear of being judged. It also made me more empathetic, as I learned to better understand different people with different experiences and perspectives. Giving back to the community has brought me such genuine satisfaction and has been truly valuable to my personal growth.
I truly believe in every sense, as Mahatma Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
I joined CleverTap over a month ago, and hope to bring this sense of service to my role. The culture and people here are completely in sync with the amazing people that I have met so far in my life. The connections, communication, and transparency at CleverTap are amazing, and I look forward to working with the CSR initiatives that CleverTap is already doing as well.
Ready to help build the future of mobile? Check out the career opportunities at CleverTap.
