People
Giving Back To Society:
How Navjot Singh Sawhney Does Seva
CALLUM CHAPLIN
An internationally renowned Sikh-Briton blogger from Malmesbury is giving up his job to save lives in India.
Navjot Singh Sawhney has been inspiring thousands across the globe with his blog ‘Nav’s Project 365‘, and now he is turning his hand to humanitarian work.
The 25-year-old engineer is travelling to India in September to help develop cleaner stove cookers for families dying of smoke inhalation.
Speaking about the challenges facing some families in India, Nav said: “Every eight seconds, one person dies from illnesses associated with inhaling smoke from open flame cooking. That’s the equivalent of losing the entire population of New Zealand every single year.
“Some 4.3 million people succumb annually to illnesses from open flame cooking, which is more than the amount of people who die from HIV and malaria combined.
“In September, I'm be moving to India to help design cook stoves that are 80 per cent more fuel efficient and produce 80 per cent less smoke. These stoves will save lives.
Nav will be leaving his well-paid job engineering in Malmesbury to travel to India, but feels it’s all part of giving back to society.
“I know I’m lucky: I’ve got a good education, a job and a stable income,” he said.
“I want to use my good fortune to support others, who don’t have the same luxuries, but I want to do this in a sustainable way that will make a lasting change to as many people as possible.”
Working with the charity ‘Engineering Without Borders UK‘, Nav will be working as a research and development manager for social enterprise ‘Prakti‘.
“With three years of professional engineering experience at a global technology company behind me, I’m combining my desire to help people with my engineering skills and making a difference to the lives of millions across the developing world,” he explained.
As a Sikh, Nav has had a sense of helping others ingrained in him from his youth, values he will be taking to India.
He said: “My faith has taught me the values I uphold: seva (selfless service), compassion, helping those in need. Humanitarian work and helping others have always been at the forefront of mind.”
Nav’s blog is now followed by more than 11,000 people in 50 countries worldwide and he will be updating the blog during his time abroad, to keep people aware of the challenges he faces.
“While I’m there, I’ll also be using my blog, ‘Nav’s Project 365‘, as a platform to raise awareness of social issues in India and create change,” he said.
“I’ll be meeting people living in poverty and telling their stories, championing charities and showing my international audience the reality of life in the developing world.”
[Courtesy: Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard. Edited for sikhchic.com]
May 30, 2016