'Working for the community is the prime goal of life': Dana Le

Special Correspondent

Silchar: "Working for the society around for the betterment of life of people should be the primary concern for social activists. To think and work for community is the best use of one's talent and learning", observed Dana Le, founder and chief executive officer of American based NGO 'Seeds of love worldwide'. Dana Le shared her experiences of coming out of a life of trauma ever since she was born in the war torn Vietnam. She saw the sufferings of people in the aftermath of the war and that motivated her to work for people for the alleviation of their pains and pangs and to give them education and knowledge.

With her grit and determination and some donors coming forward to help her in her mission, an NGO 'Seeds of love worldwide' was set up. She had by then moved to France, and then to California, USA. Her goal to serve people in the economically backward countries which included Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Uganda and India became her passion. Presently, she is in India and the concentration of her work in close association with Tony Walker, member of the Board, is the Chakma dominated areas of South Mizoram, bordering Bangladesh. The target is to select 20 students, both boys and girls, for their advanced studies. This has already started, Dana Le said.

Both Dana Le and Tony Walker shared their best of experiences of community services before the learned gathering of teachers and students of Gurucharan College here today while delivering their oration on 'Opportunities and challenges of managing US based non profit programme in India' under Indo-US lecture programme at the conference hall of the premier institution. She spoke brilliantly about the apprentices, marginalized communities, agent of change and higher education opportunities as the basic components of the structure for implementing and the mission.

Tony Walker stated the model of their organization and the methodology of their work in this part of the country and inspired the students to work towards the development of society. Nothing is more noble and sublime than to dedicate oneself for the services of others. Both Dana Le and Tony Walker maintained unless an NGO works with transparency and accountability, its very lofty objective will get frustrated. Many questions will pinch the minds of those who embark upon doing service to community, they pointed out. It was no doubt most enlightening and inspiring for the students who were also invited to join interactive session with the commitment to work for society.

Dr Bibhas Deb, principal, while welcoming Dana Le and Tony Walker to the programme and the august gathering wanted such programmes to be held frequently to inspire the younger generation to get engaged in social activities. Senior journalist Prof. Jyoti Lal Chowdhury, president of the governing body of the College, shared his own experiences of being involved in services to the community and exhorted both teachers and students to have the mindset to follow the examples of Dana Le and Tony Walker. Prof Ashes Bhattacharyya, vice principal, stated social work is the need of the day for students which will provide them proper exposure. Ashok Nath, secretary, NGO, Sanatan Unnayan Sangstha (SUS), spoke about the social services they are rendering to the various communities around.

The programme drew curtain with vote of thanks offered by Dr Abhijit Nath, assistant coordinator, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC). The programme was organized by Biotech Hub, Bioinformatics Centre, along with IQAC and SUS. Prof Jaydeep Bhattacharya, coordinator, IQAC, introduced Dana Le and Tony Walker before the assembly. The programme was ably conducted by Shatabdi Bhattacharya, research scholar, Bioinformatics.

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