Nipun & Guri  - charityfocus.org

Sometime in 1999, a small group of friends got together with the aim of building a website for a homeless shelter back in India. That little project eventually grew into an organization called CharityFocus (http://www.charityfocus.org/new/). Today, this organization has thousands of volunteers working to make a positive change in society. Nipun and Guri were part of that small group that started CharityFocus in 1999. Nipun was the founder and Guri was his friend. Up until then, Nipun Mehta lived a life similar to that of most typical Indians at Silicon Valley. He obtained his degree from a US University, UC Berkeley, to be precise. His degree was in Computer Science and Philosophy. He then landed a job at Sun Microsystems. Then one day, he decided he wanted to do something entirely different. He was willing to work against conventional wisdom and start a charity organization that would be run entirely by volunteers. And this is where any similarity between him and the typical Indian at Silicon Valley ends. Nipun hasn’t worked alone. He had friends and family that were always supportive. He married his longtime Friend Guri Grewal in 2004 and this young couple continued their work with CharityFocus besides embarking on other journeys together. One such journey is their walk across India, what they call a “walking pilgrimage,” living on a dollar a day.

It is not easy to find a young couple working selflessly for years on end, essentially dedicating their life to service. While their selfless service is commendable, it is not the reason this couple is featured in our heroes section. We feature Nipun and Guri because they were willing to move against the tide and take a risk. We feature them because they serve as an example of what each one us can achieve if we are willing to overcome the fear that accompanies change—and embrace a new world. They serve as an example of how much a team can achieve as opposed to a single individual. When Nipun spoke to his friends about quitting his job and dedicating his life to service, his idea was not received very positively. When Nipun and Guri got married, their wedding was by no means a conventional one. After their marriage, it would have been easy for them, as a couple, to let the weight of their marriage and the world tie them down. But they did not let this happen. Their story shows us what a brave little move today might grow in to tomorrow. We share their story with you because it serves as a reminder of the possibilities that surround us, all the time, waiting for us to embrace them. We may choose to change the world of to change ourselves but let us be brave and let us embrace these possibilities together. 
 

© Silent Change, 2007