Thoughts such as, what does helping mean, what it is all about and what its different facets are, may enable the facilitator understand it better. Some such thoughts about helping are given below.)
1. It is a gesture or an action meant for the wellbeing of others.
2. It is an effort by a person for improving others’ lives, surroundings and the nature and environment.
3. It is about giving assistance to others and providing relief to people.
4. It is a gesture of gratitude towards others to share and reduce their burden.
5. It is one's effort towards making the environment friendly for everyone – living and non-living.
6. It is the assistance provided to make work easier for people at home, school or people at large.
INTENT
(The objective of the facilitation process is to help each participant explore the topic for himself, individually and independently. Following are some of the objectives of the session.)
1. To understand what is helping
2. To analyse whether one needs to help others
3. To analyse whether helping impacts oneself, others, situations, outcome
4. To explore whom can one help
5. To explore ways and means of helping
6. To explore if there can be conditions for helping people
QUESTIONS
(These are some leading questions that the facilitator may contemplate on for understanding and connecting with the topic.)
1. What is the meaning of helping?
2. Whom / what can we help?
3. Can our help benefit the school, home, society or the nature? If so, in what way?
4. Can we gain in any manner by helping another? If so, how?
5. How would the society be without any help from any segment of the society or nature?
6. What is the difference between helping others and helping yourself?
7. How can one help society, school, home and nature?
8. What would happen if the nature and environment refused to help the society and vice-versa?
2. One evening, I had parked my car in
front of the mall and was waiting for my
wife to finish the purchases.
I saw a man coming across the parking
lot. From the looks of him, he had no
car, no home, no clean clothes and no
money.
3. There are times when you feel generous, but there are
times that you just don't want to be bothered.
This was one of the ‘don't want to be bothered’ times!
"Hope he doesn't ask me for money," I thought.
He didn't.
He came and sat in front of the bus stop. However, it
didn't look like he had enough money to even take a bus
ride.
4. After a few minutes he spoke.
"That's a very nice car."
Though he was ragged, he had an air
of dignity.
I said “thanks," and started wiping off
my car.
5. He sat there quietly as I worked.
The expected plea for money never came.
As the silence between us widened, something told me
that I should ask him if he needs any help."
I was sure that he would say yes.
6. "Do you need any help?" I asked.
I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand.
But Instead, he spoke three words that shook me,
"Don't we all?" he said.
8. Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the
streets.
He had made me feel poorer than what he possibly was by
making me realize that help is not merely by lending money.
But in many more ways too…
Maybe he was more than
that.
