concern writing competition 2013 - haiti
2ND Place SENIOR Category
Eshlin Vedan, Age 17 | Wingen Heights Secondary, Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa
(Note: Eshlins entry was one of the few that chose
to take up the challenge of writing an acceptance
speech delivered to the Nobel Prize committee in
recognition of work done to improve the lives of
the worlds poorest people.)
I am absolutely speechless right now. Growing
up, this was my dream but I could never, ever
have imagined that it would become a reality. No
words can describe the absolute thrill that I am
experiencing right now.
I would like to thank the general public, my family,
and friends for all of the support that they have
provided me with over the years. Without any of
that valuable support, none of this would have
been possible. It would all have been an unrealised
dream.
I am extremely humbled to be receiving this award.
It definitely has to go down as the greatest moment
of my life. I would also like to share this award with
the people that I have worked with over the years.
As a child, I was extremely shy to the extent that I
used to hide behind objects to avoid conversation
with people, even my own relations.
My parents felt a need to introduce me to extra-
curricular activities in order for me to become more
socially adept and mature. One such activity was
volunteerism.
I believe that volunteerism is a beautiful tool which
can transform the ideology of todays youth and
create a better world. Growing up, I was very lucky
to have been a privileged person. My parents were
able to provide me with much more than my basic
necessities. I had more luxuries than most people
my age.
Volunteerism helped me realize just how lucky I was
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to have had all of those privileges. It was through
volunteerism that I realized that there were millions
of young people worldwide who dreamt of being in
a position like me.
I worried my parents for many material items
thinking that they would bring me happiness. They
didnt. I have learnt through my experience that
the greatest feeling that one can acquire in life is
from the feeling of putting a smile on the face of
someone who is in desperate need.
Today it is a harsh reality that many highly capable
people are never achieving their true potential due
to plain laziness and wrong ideology. Moreover
issues such as obesity, suicide, and depression are
growing worldwide. In my opinion, volunteerism can
reduce these problems. Interestingly studies have
confirmed that people who engage in volunteerism
are likely to live longer than people who do not.
It has also increased my work ethic through
exposure to great people as well as improvement
programmes.
I was an absolutely lazy boy who fortunately
managed to undergo a metamorphosis. When I
was sixteen, I joined a youth non-profit organization
which was based in my hometown of Shallcross
Durban South Africa.
The organizations aim was to improve their
community which was being ravaged by drugs,
crime and other societal ills. Through that
organization, I was exposed to those in abject
poverty, whose lives were ravaged by drugs and
crime and who lived utterly sad lives. It was through
those experiences that I also managed to realise
how lucky I was, and that as a privileged youngster,
I should help those who are in desperate need of
assistance.
 concern writing competition 2013 - haiti

The most vivid memories that I gained from being

in that organization though, was from the youth
soccer tournaments which we used to organize.
Shallcross was a soccer mad community and
realizing that sport had the power to transcend
barriers, we organized sports tournaments. Some
of the boys who used to play in our tournaments
have now managed to break the poverty barrier and
live happier lives through the confidence that they
had acquired from playing in those tournaments. A young man helps in the reconstruction effort. Jennifer OGorman,
January, 2011
Upon graduating from school, I joined many other
youth groups. I did not really enjoy partying or
playing sports like most other youngsters, who Through the support of many great organizations
were my age, so I spent most of my spare time and people, our organization managed to deliver
with those groups. 30 million food and water supplies and build 30
I was confronted by many personal problems and schools across those nations thus far.
spending time with those groups brought me my We aim to escalate those figures and grow from
greatest happiness and allowed me to grow as a strength to strength in the future. We are very proud
person. to have achieved this as eight years ago we were
But upon joining the HRS student organization, just a student volunteer organization compromising
I know that the organization could organize eight people.
something which could improve the lives of millions In conclusion I hope to inspire you by a great
of people and even animals. I was very honoured to quote by the great Martin Luther King which has
have been appointed secretary of that group at 19. remained etched in my mind since I was a child,
We began trying to make a difference in our a person has only started living once he can rise
community by organizing food parcels to be above the narrow confines of his individualistic
delivered to some of Durbans poorest people. concerns to the broader concerns of humanity.
After the project became a huge success and
received overwhelming support from the public
those figures grew to 50,000 two years later and
300, 000 three years later.
After receiving positive reviews for our work, we
decided to carry out our projects in other African
countries as South Africa is arguably the most
privileged and luckiest nation on the African
continent. We carried out work in some of the most
worse-off countries on earth such as Sierra-Leone,
Sudan and Somalia.
Through the great reception received for our
work in South Africa, our volunteer base grew up
to as much as 8000 and we managed to grant
memberships outside South Africa.

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