Some memories stay with us not because we remember every detail, but because they quietly become a part of who we are.
Recently, while looking through some old belongings, I came across a certificate that I had almost forgotten about. It was issued by HelpAge India on 7 October 2002, when I was a student of Class XI-B at St. Francis School and had participated in their Student Action for Value Education (SAVE) programme. I held that certificate in my hands after more than two decades, and for a moment, it felt as though a small piece of my childhood had suddenly come alive again.
The certificate recognises my efforts in creating awareness for the care of the elderly, irrespective of race, religion, caste or creed. It was awarded to me for my participation in HelpAge India’s initiative, and seeing those words today made me realise something I had never really thought about before: perhaps my journey of social service began much earlier than I realised.
I do not have photographs from those days. Back then, we did not document every activity and every moment the way we do today. There were no phones constantly capturing memories, no social media posts, no digital albums. What I have from that time is this one certificate—and somehow, that makes it even more special.
At that age, I don’t think I fully understood the larger meaning of what I was doing. I simply knew that it felt good to help.
Looking back today, I realise that feeling was perhaps the most important part.
My affection and respect for elders have always felt very natural to me. As a child, I grew up spending time with my grandparents, and I loved sitting with them, talking to them and simply being around them. Caring for elders never felt like an obligation; it felt like something that brought warmth and meaning.
Even today, caring for elderly members of my family continues to be an important part of my life. These experiences have taught me that sometimes service is not about doing something extraordinary. It can be as simple as sitting beside someone, listening to them, making them feel cared for, or being there when they need you.
Perhaps that is why finding this old certificate felt so meaningful.
It reminded me that the values we carry as adults are often quietly shaped by the experiences we have as children. At eleven or seventeen, we may not understand the significance of every small act. But those acts can leave an imprint on us. They can influence the way we see people, the way we respond to those in need, and the causes that remain close to our hearts years later.
Today, my journey has taken me into a much larger space of social work. I am associated with Public Research Foundation (PRF) as its Chairperson, where I continue to be involved in initiatives focused on community welfare, education, empowerment, health and helping those who need support.
When I look at the work I am involved in today and then look back at this certificate from 2002, there is a beautiful continuity between the two.
The scale may have changed. The responsibilities may have changed. I have grown, learned and experienced much more since then. But the basic feeling remains the same—the belief that if we have the ability to help someone, we should try.
That is perhaps what touched me most when I rediscovered this certificate. It was not simply an old piece of paper. It was a reminder of a younger version of myself who was willing to step forward and contribute, without knowing where that little step might eventually lead.
And maybe that is the beauty of social service.
We don’t always know where a small act of kindness will take us. We may not even realise its importance at the time. But sometimes, years later, we look back and understand that those little moments were quietly shaping our journey all along.
I am grateful to HelpAge India for being a part of one of those early moments in my life. What began as a childhood effort to raise funds and create awareness for the care of the elderly became, in retrospect, one of the earliest chapters of a journey that continues even today.
I may not have photographs from that day.
But I have this certificate.
And every time I look at it, it reminds me of something beautiful: The journey of helping others may have started with a small step in childhood, but the desire to serve has stayed with me.
And perhaps, that is a journey worth continuing.
This blog has been written by:
Harshita Dwivedi
She is the Chairperson of Public Research Foundation (PRF), where she is involved in initiatives focused on community welfare, education, empowerment and social development. She also serves as the Director & COO at KIHMT Skills, combining her professional experience in education and management with her continued commitment to social service and community initiatives.
