My Life Journey in the Voluntary Sector
From Searching for a Job to Finding a Life’s Purpose
I never imagined that my search for a livelihood would one day become my life’s mission.
The Beginning: A Search for Work (1994)
In 1994, while I was still a student, my classes were held at night. Like many young people from modest backgrounds, I needed to find work during the day to support my education and manage my pocket expenses. At that time, I was simply looking for a job — not a career in social development.
A friend of mine, who was working with a non-governmental organization (NGO), introduced me to his organization. He spoke to the Director about me and highlighted my practical experience in advocacy. By then, due to my own family’s long legal struggles, I had already developed a deep understanding of how to deal with legal matters, government systems, and administrative procedures. In many ways, I had become a “semi-lawyer” even before completing my law degree.
Coincidentally, the organization was looking for an Advocacy Coordinator, and I was offered the position with a monthly salary of Rs. 1,500.
Although the NGO sector was entirely new to me, the work itself was not unfamiliar. Standing with people, raising their issues before the government, and navigating administrative systems had already become a part of my life. Because of my existing connections with local administration and my confidence in public advocacy, I was able to take up the role effectively and quickly built a positive reputation.
However, my first formal journey in the voluntary sector lasted only one year.
The First Lesson in Institution Building (1995)
After leaving that job, I returned to my studies. But within a short time, a number of colleagues from the same organization resigned and approached me with a proposal: they wanted to build a new organization and expected me to lead it.
At first, I resisted. I did not believe I was ready for such a responsibility. But after several rounds of discussions and collective meetings over nearly ten days, we finally decided to form a new organization.
In 1995, with pooled contributions and collective determination, we registered the organization. Hoping to strengthen our efforts, we brought in an external associate who we believed would support us. Unfortunately, that decision proved to be a serious mistake.
The organization had been established, resources had begun to come in, and work had started. But suddenly, because of the actions and behavior of one individual, the entire team walked away. Overnight, I found myself completely alone.
That day, I also decided to leave the very organization I had helped create.
This was one of the most painful yet formative lessons of my life. It taught me that building an institution is not only about vision and registration—it is also about trust, shared values, accountability, and the right people.
That lesson has stayed with me forever.
A Shift Toward Law and Professional Maturity (1996–1999)
In 1996, I completed my law studies and began practicing at the District Court. For the next two to three years, I immersed myself in legal practice and developed a deeper understanding of judicial systems, legal procedures, and the realities faced by ordinary people seeking justice.
These years sharpened my analytical thinking, strengthened my ability to present cases, and deepened my commitment to public causes.
Yet, while legal practice gave me valuable experience, it did not provide stable financial support in the initial years. I began to reflect seriously on how I could build a livelihood while remaining connected to people’s issues and grassroots realities.
Building an Organization from the Ground Up (1997 onwards)
In 1997, with a few committed associates, I took the courageous step of establishing another organization.
This time, I was more cautious, more grounded, and more aware of what it takes to build a meaningful institution. But the journey was far from easy. It took four to five years before the organization began to stand on its feet.
The early years were marked by struggle, uncertainty, and survival. Gradually, we received a small fellowship, then a small grant, and eventually a project. From there, the organization began to grow steadily.
Over the years, we worked on issues close to the lives of marginalized communities and tried to ensure that development remained rooted in people’s participation, rights, local leadership, and social justice.
From that point onward, my work in the voluntary sector was no longer just employment. It had become a deep and enduring commitment.
A Productive Phase of Grassroots Work (1997–2012)
From the late 1990s until 2012, we carried out what I consider some of the most meaningful work of my life.
These years were not defined by comfort or abundance, but by purpose, struggle, learning, and impact. We worked closely with communities, local institutions, and grassroots groups, and tried to create spaces where people could voice their concerns, claim their rights, and strengthen their own leadership.
This period also helped me grow not only as a social worker, but as an organizer, trainer, documenter, and institution builder.
However, just as the work had begun to stabilize and mature, life took an unexpected turn.
A Period of Personal and Institutional Crisis (2012–2016)
By 2012, my health had begun to deteriorate significantly. As my physical condition worsened, the organization also began to weaken.
Eventually, due to prolonged health challenges, the organization had to be shut down.
This was an extremely difficult phase of my life. Not only did I have to step back from work that was deeply meaningful to me, but I also faced a severe financial crisis. Rebuilding life and work from zero felt overwhelming.
It took several years to recover physically and mentally.
This phase taught me another powerful lesson: that even the strongest commitment to social work must also be supported by personal well-being, institutional resilience, and financial sustainability.
Re-entering the Sector Through Partnerships (2016 onwards)
After gradually recovering, I re-entered the development sector around 2016, this time through collaboration with national-level organizations.
Since rebuilding an independent organization from scratch was not immediately possible, I began contributing at the state level in different roles. I supported organizations through consultancy, facilitation, documentation, reporting, advocacy, and capacity-building processes.
This phase allowed me to reconnect with the sector, rebuild relationships, and continue contributing meaningfully—even without a strong institutional base of my own.
A New Beginning with Renewed Courage (2018 onwards)
In 2018, I once again gathered the courage to establish a new organization.
This decision came not from convenience, but from conviction. I knew the challenges. I knew the uncertainties. I knew how difficult it would be to begin again without financial backing. Yet, I also knew that my commitment to people’s issues had not diminished.
Because of limited resources, we were not able to launch large independent projects. But rather than waiting passively for funding, I chose to remain active through meaningful and practical efforts.
As a consultant to several national organizations, I began organizing and facilitating state-level workshops, trainings, and capacity-building programs. These efforts helped me return to the field with renewed energy and credibility.
Current Work: Community Platforms, Advocacy, and Public Engagement
Although we are still striving to secure stable funding, we have continued to work through low-cost and voluntary initiatives.
At present, some of the key efforts I am involved in include:
1. Revitalizing Gram Adhikar Manch
We are currently working to strengthen and reactivate Gram Adhikar Manch, a grassroots platform formed some time ago. Through this platform, we are helping communities address local issues and pursue solutions through advocacy, collective action, and public engagement.
2. Creating a Jan Judaw and Social Media Platform
We have also developed a social media-based Jan Judaw platform that serves as a common stage for sharing:
grassroots success stories,
community voices,
local innovations,
NGO initiatives, and
examples of positive social change.
This platform aims to bridge the gap between field realities and the wider public by bringing authentic stories from the ground into public discourse.
3. Capacity Building of Grassroots and Civil Society Organizations
In collaboration with national institutions and networks, I continue to support and organize trainings, workshops, and learning spaces to strengthen the capacities of grassroots organizations and social workers.
The Reality of Livelihood in Social Work
People often ask me a very practical question:
“If you are doing all this social work, what is your own source of income?”
It is a fair question.
The truth is that my personal expenses are met through small professional assignments such as:
documentation,
report writing,
proposal support,
training facilitation,
workshop moderation, and
serving as a resource person for organizations.
This income is highly irregular. Sometimes work comes, and sometimes it does not. There are periods when I receive no assignments for several months at a time.
And yet, despite these uncertainties, I continue.
Because somewhere along the way, this work stopped being just a means of survival.
When Work Became Service, and Service Became Passion
I never noticed exactly when my job transformed into social service, and when my work quietly became my hobby, my commitment, and my life path.
Perhaps it happened because of my connection with people.
Perhaps it came from my own struggles.
Perhaps it emerged from lived experience, curiosity, and concern for justice.
Or perhaps it was simply destiny taking shape through everyday choices.
What I know for certain is this:
I did not enter the voluntary sector with a grand plan.
I entered it while searching for work.
But over time, I found something much greater than employment —
I found purpose.
And even today, despite uncertainty, limited resources, and many unfinished struggles, I continue to move forward with one belief:
If change is possible anywhere, it begins with people — and with standing beside them.
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