Avi Taneja (SMILE volunteer)  

      A two-way street

Kids in the US are living in a decidedly advantaged world, entangled in all-consuming materialism. Yes, we are raising a generation that is over-sheltered and living in a protected bubble. They don’t know hunger. They may know the dictionary meaning of adversity, yet they don’t know what it means in real life. Furthermore, they do not understand inability, and they do not know what is disability, let alone what it may mean to be disabled, more so being disabled in an underserved world. Parents here fuss over the tiniest scrape or scratch, and kids are never allowed to experience pain or sorrow.

Home of Hope enables children like us to take a peek outside this privileged world and look beyond the protected bubble. There lies a world where life is not so perfect, a world where get to see a child in need, yet no one fussing about it after all! Indeed, a disparate work from the one we inhabit, a world lacking in amenities, a work limited in basic tools of education.

Yes, a world where a child could use someone fussing over them! And that child needs ‘someone’.

Someone who cares to reach out, someone who believes they can make a change 

Someone who dreams of a more inclusive tomorrow 

Someone who believes that we can, and we shall overcome these gaps some day.

Furthermore, someone who is willing to step up, someone who is willing to share their talent

Someone who wants to give a gift of time 

Someone who will advocate that disability is a human condition and not a flaw or imperfection 

That someone is a volunteer in HOH ( Home Of Hope), inspiring a change and growing with these children into a brighter and inclusive tomorrow.

At HOH, we believe no child should be left behind and we inspire future leaders. Leaders who believe, who care, who reach out across borders to build that tomorrow with that child.

Meet Tara Subhrmanyam, She is one of our volunteers now more than ever, we need volunteers like Tara Subhrmanyam for SMILE to exist and thrive. She taught English Communication and improved student's everyday conversation.

I am Divya Mathur, a 9th grader at Palo Alto High School. In school, I have always been a leader. With this role, I am given the task of helping people in the community, from working at soup kitchens, hosting fundraisers for different charities, helping out at home for people with disabilities, hosting canned food drives, and helping out the school in general. I have grown up attending HOH events, with 3 generations of my family now helping HOH. I live in Palo Alto, so when I look around, I see privilege. However, my family is from India, and by going there every year, I can see the struggle that all different types of people are going through. Seeing this in the past has always made me want to try and make a difference, and working at Smiles allows me to do so. When I grow up, I want to continue to be a leader and not a follower. I won’t wait for someone to take action, I will be the one to do something. From academics to jobs to worldwide 

problems, I want to put in hard work for everything, so I can achieve my goals and make an impact on society.

Sahej Singh 

15 years old

10th Grade 

Apex Friendship High School

My name is Sahej Singh, and I am the President of Smiles NC. I heard about HOH through my father, who has been a project coordinator at HOH for over 2 decades. Ever since hearing about it, I have been eagerly searching for ways to contribute myself. I am passionate about generating positive change. I wanted to be a part of the Smile program because nothing brings me more joy than the honour of helping others grow. I understand the importance of education for every child. I hope to ensure children with special needs can receive the same level of education I am blessed with. Throughout my life, I intend to continue doing social work. I aspire to be a leader in my community and a mentor to others, whether that be in my future career or part of my fulfillment.