WBDesk brings you closer to our employees! Find out what goes on behind the desk, what the job entails, the daily routine, and what is the inspiration behind joining Wishes and Blessings!
Naina Chauhan
Operations and Youth Manager
I have never known a home, or that constant pillow to fall back on when times get tough. I don’t even have a hometown to call my own or even a country. Some would say I am well-travelled, but I would call myself a confused gypsy.
Born on the 7th of May 1993 in Edmonton, Canada, my schooling years were divided between Delhi, Gurgaon, California, Tamil Nadu, Chicago and then finally Dubai. Ever since I was a child I loved eating food, tasting different kinds of food, cooking food, reading about food, watching TV-shows about famous chefs and so I joined a Hospitality University in Dubai. Unfortunately, my education was cut short by 6 months and I was shipped back to Delhi.
Struggling to find a job that excited me, within my own field, I tried and tested various jobs to figure out where I belonged. I finally found a job inquiry on Facebook, to work for a non-profit. I thought to myself, “It’s still hospitality, right?” Instead of working thankless hours for the rich, I would work gratefully for those that really needed my help, and I sent in my resume! I still vividly remember Dr. Geetanjali Chopra, the founder of Wishes and Blessings, replying to my resume saying, “Interesting CV, please come in for an interview”, and as they say, the rest is history.
Rediscovering Delhi, myself and this new job; all at once, was a very overwhelming, yet an adventurous experience! Meeting our beneficiaries – our street children, women, men and elderly people, from all walks of life, was one of the most overwhelming and enriching experiences. I still remember joining the organization 7 days before my birthday and cutting my cake with all the street children at our shelter home in Nizamuddin. A week after that, standing with those same kids on the road, because the administration demolished the entire shelter area, due to big drug infestation. The organization really taught me how to think on my feet, feel passionate for the causes we stood for and feel compassionate towards everyone that came our way.
Learning basic odd jobs, initially, like Windows Movie Maker, PowerPoint presentations, budgeting, designing CSR proposals to finally heading a project– Youthlights, the youth wing of Wishes and Blessings… I was ecstatic! Every day, I learnt something new and I was proud to have learnt varied skills all on my own! As I continued to work for Wishes and Blessings I found my profile expanding and the responsibilities mounting on my shoulders which I gladly took on.
One of my proudest moments was setting up our very first old age home for women- Mann ka Tilak. The old age home started off as a vision by the founder, and we aimed to fulfil this vision to the best of our capabilities. The project started off by fundraising which included organizing my very first Charity Pop Up to online campaigns, spreading awareness on elder abuse, to running in a marathon; each and every measure was taken to receive the required funds to start this endeavour. Soon, it was time to look for the perfect home to house all our ammas. Dr. Geetanjali and I travelled far and wide to find the most ideal place to start the project, and after 1 month of searching, we found it! After the cleaning, painting, refurbishing and setting the house up with basic necessities, we were ready to look for ammas that needed a loving and caring home.
I am on cloud nine today, Mann ka Tilak has been a platform where we have given a home to many elderly men and women who have been abandoned and mistreated by their children. Providing a safe home to more than 15 residents and ensuring they are well looked after has become the organization’s dream come true! It is safe to say that just like how Wishes and Blessings has a provided a safety net for thousands of our beneficiaries that suffer from lack of access to food, shelter, education and health, the organization has also taken me under its wing and I am proud to say that I am finally home.
