Some childhood memories never leave us. They stay with us, help us grow, and shape who we become. For me, those memories come from a small village where I lived until I was 10. It was a simple and warm place where people cared for each other. But many families there found it hard to afford even basic things like food, clothes, and education.

Living in that village taught me a lot at a young age. I saw what it was like to live with very little but still stay hopeful. As I grew up, got a job, met new people, and built a better life, those early lessons stayed with me. I always wanted to give back and help others, but I wasn’t sure how to start.

Then, something simple like a school reunion changed everything.

I reconnected with old classmates from 1995. At first, it was all memories and fun talks. But soon, we knew we shared a wish to give back to our roots. Before we could act, COVID arrived and paused the world.COVID-19 affected the whole world, but for people in faraway villages like the one I grew up in, it was even harder. People lost their jobs, couldn’t travel, hospitals were full, and it was difficult to get basic things like food and medicine.

I was so worried, I couldn’t sleep.

Small Efforts, Big Impact

I kept thinking about my village and how people there might be struggling in silence. It made me feel very sad. I couldn’t just sit and do nothing. So, I joined with some of my old classmates, and we decided to do something to help. We started calling people we knew relatives, old neighbours, and anyone still living near the village.Some people we found by talking to others. Some we even found through social media.

Around that time, I also started using LinkedIn more. I didn’t plan to become popular or grow a big network. I was just sharing what we were doing and hoping someone would notice and help. And it worked, people saw it and responded.

Sharing our story really made a difference.

People started getting in touch, some wanted to help, and others needed help. It felt like a lot, but in a good way. Because of our efforts and the support from others, we were able to help many families in really important ways.

We helped them by:

• Giving support to people who were very sick and needed medical help
• Helping children continue their studies when their schooling was interrupted

We learned something new at every step. It wasn’t easy. We had to check who really needed help, collect money, and plan how to send the support. We gave our time and stayed patient. In return, we saw people smile again. Even through video calls, their happiness showed, and that made all our efforts feel meaningful.

We often wait for the right time or a perfect plan to help others. But I’ve learned that starting now, even if things aren’t perfect, is better. Something as simple as a school reunion can turn into something powerful and bring real change.

Helping others isn’t always about giving a lot of money or doing something big. It’s about caring, listening, and doing whatever you can with what you have. Sometimes, even saying something kind or sharing someone’s story can make a big difference.

We only get one life. True happiness doesn’t come from what we have, it comes from what we give. Going back to my village and helping others taught me that our past can be powerful. Instead of forgetting it, we can learn from it and use it to make life better for others.

So here’s my question to you: Have you practised giving back to your community? If not, what’s holding you back?