What began with tears and a desperate plea to book a return flight home quickly became one of the most transformative experiences of Sadavi’s life. The 24-year-old Financial Engineering undergraduate from the University of Kelaniya and the current President of AIESEC in Colombo North recently returned from a six-week Global Volunteer project in India, and the story she brought back is one of resilience, compassion, and the power of human connection.
Sadavi participated in AIESEC’s Global Classroom programme, where she was placed with a local NGO to teach children English, basic IT skills, Microsoft Office, and Canva. Far from a conventional study-abroad experience, the programme immersed her in the daily realities of a rapidly changing Indian city; from food distribution runs to slums and outside government hospitals, to late-night chai runs with fellow volunteers from Japan, Brazil, Kenya, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
“If I hadn’t cried and struggled on that first day, my Global Volunteer journey wouldn’t have felt complete because pushing through that fear is how you make connections, learn to talk to strangers, and end up with a life-changing story to tell.”
— Sadavi, Global Volunteer, AIESEC University of Kelaniya
The journey was far from easy. On her very first day in Mumbai, Sadavi was so overwhelmed by the crowds and the reality of being alone in a foreign country that she called her father in tears, begging him to book a return flight to Sri Lanka. But by the following morning, the warmth of local Indian volunteers in her dormitory who shared food, shared stories, and shared their own culture, convinced her to stay.
That decision changed everything. Over the six weeks that followed, Sadavi formed a deeply personal bond with one student she was assigned to teach. On her final days in India, that student, moved to tears by Sadavi’s departure, gifted her a bracelet that Sadavi wore every single day for years after coming home.
“Still she texts me, asking when I’m coming back to India,” Sadavi shared. “She sends me her results and always thanks me, saying ‘Miss, because of you I was able to get marks for computer.’ That’s another level of satisfaction. Knowing the impact you can create in a single person’s life.”
The experience also opened Sadavi’s eyes to the stark inequalities she witnessed first-hand. Seeing extreme urban poverty in Mumbai, families living on pavements and beside rubbish heaps with no land of their own, shifted her understanding of global issues in a way no classroom ever could.
Beyond the personal growth, Sadavi credits AIESEC’s on-ground support system for making the experience possible. When an accommodation mix-up arose on her very first night, the issue was resolved within hours through coordinated communication between local and host chapter leads. AIESEC EP buddies regularly checked in on her and helped her navigate the city on weekends.
Now back in Sri Lanka and serving as President of AIESEC at the University of Kelaniya, Sadavi has a clear message for students sitting on the fence about applying:
“Do it between the ages of 18 and 30, during your undergraduate years — before full-time jobs and life commitments take over. Stepping into a challenging environment is the truest test of your capacity to grow.”
— Sadavi, Global Volunteer, AIESEC University of Kelaniya
Sadavi has promised her student that she will return to India within two to three years of completing her degree. Until then, the bracelet remains, and the texts keep coming.
About AIESEC
AIESEC is the world’s largest youth-led organization, present in over 120 countries and territories. Through international volunteering, internships, and leadership development opportunities, AIESEC empowers young people to develop their leadership potential while creating meaningful impact in communities around the world.
Learn more about AIESEC Global Volunteer opportunities:
https://signup.aiesec.lk/su/volunteer/cn?q=PR_article1%20May13
