Having been raised in a family that made giving a part of everyday life, Himath Singh Gahir grew up following in these footsteps. His grandfather, the family patriarch, had cultivated this virtue among his children, and the same was done for Himath and his siblings. When he was a teenager, Himath decided to become actively engaged in charity work, and so he joined the Ramgarhia Youth Association.
Ramgarhia Youth Association is a charitable organization which was founded more than 30 years ago. It is a subcommittee of the East African Ramgarhia Board mandated to serve needy communities and give back to the less fortunate. Himath’s father had been the chairperson of the parent organization for several years, and so he ushered his son into this work of selflessness.
As a junior member of RYA, the importance of charity was inculcated into Himath. He attended various drives organized by RYA and assisted in handing out donations. This brought him closer to the community he was serving and helped him understand the importance of the work done by RYA. Not long after joining the organization, Himath’s hard work saw him advance to the role of assistant secretary. It was not always easy to give and expect nothing in return, but Himath would remember how much joy his work brought to people’s lives, and that feeling was priceless. Himath continued carrying out his duties diligently and taking on new roles until he became the vice chair of Ramgarhia Youth Association. His core duties involve overseeing of all welfare and charity projects organized by RYA and its partners, and one of these projects happens to be the Adopt a Family initiative.
In March 2020, Himath and his team at RYA faced the onset of the pandemic’s impact in Kenya. True to its mandate, RYA rallied its resources to help those whose livelihoods had been taken away. A call was issued out to members and partners to mobilize and raise funds, and this call was heeded. Donations of relief packs consisting of two-week and one-month food rations began going out to those in need. Families from Kibera, Kawangware and Mathare were some of the first beneficiaries of these relief efforts. After catering to needy households in the first few weeks, RYA expanded its efforts to also include several children’s homes and retirement homes around Nairobi. In order to reach more families, Ramgarhia Youth Association has partnered up with Giza Systems – Kenya, an organization which is keeping the giving spirit alive during this crisis. The two organizations are currently working with the Kenya Red Cross Society to distribute these relief packages in adherence to the safety measures set out by the Ministry of Health.
Himath’s work has enabled him to always find a silver lining no matter how dark the cloud. Asante sana, Himath. The giving spirit rooted within you reaches out to touch the lives of many, and we applaud your efforts to make the world a better place.
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#TogetherWeStand
