What is the purpose of life?
A seemingly simple question yet old and young ponder over its hidden complexities. From the skyscraper office-inhibitor to the school back-desk dreamer, at least once in a while, the thought dances over our minds. Yet, we push this idea aside and in a flash we begin our personal journey of life – get an education, pass exams, go to university, get a job and before we know it, we are back to square one. However, this time, we are probably lounging late one night in our newly furnished dining room, or swivelling in a leather chair as we admire the freshly bought mahogany table sprawled before us. All it takes is a simple preacher, an idle headline, a passing thought to snap us out of our delicately designed futures with busy lives to remember ‘Oh, how unfortunate’ as we see a 4 year old child dying of cancer. Not because treatment wasn’t available but because a home was not.
Access Life America (ALA) is a non-profit organisation, which regardless of its individual volunteers’ purposes of life, works as one unit to combat this issue. Like battleworn warriors, they charge into the center of the fight, picking up children and families warring against cancer, and bringing them to a safe (and hygienic) haven. Working with AccessLife Foundation (an organisation based in India), they lock horns to improve the quality of life of children, who otherwise would not have the chance to live. Supporting parents and families, providing a home-like environment, recreational activities, educational resources – anything and everything they can do to make a change and help these children.
The shift is truly remarkable.
ALA offers a life revolutionising tour – one that I was very lucky to attend. Due to the current pandemic, I met the staff virtually who then took me through a tour of the accommodation to the playing area, sleeping quarters and even the kitchens. Yet, sitting behind my screen as I smile glossy-eyed, listening to the sweet singing of a boy whose life is changing with cancer treatment and still manages to break into a wide grin with cheerful eyes as he thanks me profusely for talking to him, shifted my goal. Seeing these families laugh, seeing the children smile, seeing the homes that have been provided to them sends you ripples of joy which is almost heart-breaking. It is a once in a lifetime experience that no one can ever replicate. So when I turn to the heroes working to help these families, what can I offer? They have changed children and given the gift of life – a gift so precious that one can never know what it is like to have it taken away.
Yet warriors need armour and hospitals need medicine. ALA has a noble mission: To offer a home-like environment for families arriving for cancer treatment and to improve the quality of life of the children by providing practical support services and recreational programs. To aid this mission, we need funds so that these children can continue to be given the beautiful gift of life. Give a one-off donation or for $25 a month (£20), you can provide a family and be a part of this change. You can donate at: www.accesslifeamerica.org/donation
We all have time to waste on thinking about our paths and purposes but a child living in a rural village, is a minute away is contemplating death over spending all their parent’s savings to get a bus ticket to the hospital. And even if that child gets that ticket and reaches the hospital, then what? The family needs a home, food, water and without these fundamental items, everyone will perish. Take the chance to change lives or minute by minute, a child will die. Are you going to continue to waste your time?
Ralph Waldo Emerson stated ‘The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well’.
So scrap the purpose of life, let me ask you, if you died tomorrow, would you like to have saved a family, a child, a life, and lived well?
About the author:
Devangi Vyas is an avid blog writer, future medical student, a friend and a daughter. She enjoys working with different organizations that focus on giving back to the community and helping families in need. Recently she was part of AccessLife America’s Youth Leadership Program (Thrive for Success) where she spent six weeks learning about non profits, leadership skills, basics of fundraising and mechanics of global philanthropic initiatives. She is the founder of Newstead Soroptimist, a school-based branch of the UN recognized charity Soroptimist International, fundraising to execute unique projects aiding the community as well as women and girls across the globe.
