AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA, October 3, 2011 (dailytexanonline.com): This Sunday was the 142nd anniversary of Gandhi’s birth. His challenge, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” sparked the “Be the Change” National Day of Service held this Saturday, and Austin participated in a big way with 1,000 volunteers. (The country’s total turnout last year was 3,000.)
Keynote speaker Vinay Bhagat said the National Day of Service is a good way to kick-start community members into becoming involved in helping others. “We have to view ourselves as a conduit for other people’s giving and other people’s want to help.”
Bhagat described three volunteers who were inspired by passion. “All three of these people I just spoke of are change agents. They have mastered Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘be the change you wish to see’ philosophy.”
Bhagat has founded a social venture software company, Convio, to help nonprofits be more efficient and reach more people.
Following Bhagat’s speech, volunteers got to work on 20 different service projects around Austin. “I love being here as a community on this day to start this great work,” said Harish Kotecha, volunteer and founder of Hindu Charities for America. “Our purpose is to give back to the local communities where Hindus live.”