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Grandpa's Tale
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I had visited my late grandpa during a long vacation along with two of my younger siblings. It had become a regular routine as my parents were too busy to attend to our holiday needs.
While on holiday, we (I and my younger siblings) used to help out with operating my grandpa’s grinding machine and I must confess we did quite a hell of job as customers came in from far and near to grind cereals. It wasn’t as if we enjoyed it though but it was the least we could do to help while on holiday.
After a while, the initial enthusiasm began to diminish and we began to look for motivation. Eventually, we decided we were worth some financial dividends from the work we had done so far. Gradually, it became a habit to constant demand from grandpa, financial rewards for the work we did.

Grandpa noticed our new habit and invited us for a talk in his workshop (he was a blacksmith and his shop was located within the house). We initially thought he was going to complain about our new habit but instead, he ushered us in, in a friendly manner and announced to us that he wanted to entertain us with a tale.
“Story, story!” he cried out signalling the beginning of the story. In his story, a certain woman had several servants who will not work except only if some financial rewards or benefits were attached to it. On afternoon after the rice harvest at her farm, she called out to her servants and announced that she would be stepping out for a while and she had a very important but not urgent task for them. The task entailed that the rice be packed up in bags. She however stated that no financial reward was attached but every little effort in ensuring that the rice is packed up in the bags will be appreciated and she proceeded on her outing.

As soon as she departed, work began. Some of the servants filled the bags with their hands, some with cups, some with bowls, and some with buckets. The woman arrived later and thanked her servants for their gesture. However, surprisingly, she announced that each servant should go home with the number of bags he or she was able to fill as a reward for their service. In the end, Grandpa turned to us and said “which of the servants benefited from the exercise the most; the ones who filled the bags with their hands, or those who filled it with cups, bowls or bucket?” I was instantly dumbfounded by the lessons of the tale which was staring me in the high. The lessons which I summed up to mean accepting delayed gratification have remained the foundation of who I am today.

Today, I work in the development sector and most of the experiences I have gathered have been through giving my time to support development initiative as a Volunteer. Few days ago, I was honoured at an event which was held in honour of the International day of volunteering. An organization had nominated me on the request of the organizers of the event. The criterion for nomination was specifically volunteers that had helped the nominating organization in achieving its set goals and I was nominated. Though it wasn’t the first time I would be acknowledged for my selfless services but the fulfilment that comes with it is inexplicable. I remember volunteering with an Oxfam shop in London and the huge praise showered on me by my shop manager and even people who came into the shop to purchase items. One particular individual had walked up to me to ask me if I was paid for the job and when I said no, “that’s incredible” were his exact word. Each time I felt fulfilled, I remember my grandpa’s tale and of course the huge rewards, privileges and opportunities that comes with adhering to the lesson of the tale.

Today, I support the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals just as many other young people who are doing tremendous work in their various communities all over the world. I am convinced that sometimes we do not need huge platform to contribute to the development of our community as young people but the little we can muster will go a long way in ensuring that change is evident in our community. Positive change is one of the most desirable conditions that we yearn for as young people but Ghandi tells us how to achieve it and that which is:

“Be the change you want to see in the world”
My interpretation is if you want to make your community a better place, take a look at yourself and begin to make that change. Volunteer your time to raise funds for charity, assist the physically challenged, assist to teach mathematics in primary schools, assist in planting trees to cushion the effects of global warming and climate change, these are just but a few things you can volunteer to do. Identify a need in your community today and volunteer a little time to assist and you will not only be making changes but you will also be making the world a better place for all to live in.

-
Best Regards,
'Kayode Ajayi-Smith,
Member, Editorial Team,
Development Report Magazine,
www.developmentreport.org


Youth Action Ambassador,
Young People We Care,
www.ypwc.org
+2348055316398, 07025813561
Young People We Care (YPWC) is a registered youth-led and youth-focused, non-profit organization that is headquartered in Ghana and has satellite offices in the UK, Canada and USA. The organization is operated by young people (ages 15–30) and adult allies working on youth and development related issues worldwide. At YPWC, we are passionate about sustainable development, the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and the promotion of a culture of peace and universal human rights for all. Visit us at: www.ypwc.org

December 15, 2008 | 8:13 AM Comments  0 comments

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