In 2021, Tosang Chang from Nagaland, India experienced firsthand the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I lost two of my dearest grandparents due to COVID 19,” she shared.
In the same year, she witnessed three of her best friends lose their fathers.
When the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, nobody anticipated the impact it would have on everyone’s lives. It was almost as if life and time as we know it paused. Schools were closed, movements were curtailed, businesses shut down and so many lives were lost.
However, in the midst of all the devastation that the pandemic brought about, stories of hope and compassion inspired us all to keep going. To keep believing in better days come.
For Tosang, she leaned on her family, and they in turn offered her support and strength. During the hardest times of the pandemic, the family decided to serve those who needed hope together.
Tosang works with vulnerable populations in her country, particularly those in her native village, working to build their capacity and give access to basic human needs. Her family decided to join her and spread the love that they had received during their time of deep suffering.
On December 27th, 2021, Tosang and her family commenced on their voluntary journey to spread hope and smiles to community members of their native village. Inspired by the saying ‘The joy of giving is the art of living’ they made home visits to all the elderly people residing in the village and distributed warm clothes to them.
The family also hosted a feast for the entire village, 120 households in total.
“I believe pure happiness comes from helping those in need and in exchange for their blessings and prayers.” ~Tosang
Tosang and her family have continued to serve the elderly persons, helping them get access to proper healthcare, and providing basic needs.
“I believe pure happiness comes from helping those in need and in exchange for their blessings and prayers,” Tosang reflected. She hopes to continue volunteering with her family for a long time to come.
Examples like Tosang and her family showed the unbreakable spirit of humanity even in the midst of deep loss during an unprecedented, global pandemic. They opted to walk closer to others when circumstances would have otherwise pushed them away. Tosang’s family became an extended family for the elderly of her native village,. .
At GPW we are proud of Tosang for being a Sunshine Family Volunteer. Our families can rise above adversity as we strive to be a service to humanity. As Barbara Bush once said, 'family means putting your arms around each other and being there’, let’s keep volunteering and caring for each other!
If you have a Sunshine Family Volunteer story to share or your family wants to start a project, email younshim.park@globalpeacewomen.org.