Every week, for about a dozen years, ProPoor has been sending out a newsletter -- and along the way, we added good news stories. Earlier this year, we realized that we had an archives of more than 500 positive stories -- so with massive help from Jayendra (our dedicate team member in Sydney), we tagged each of those stories and posted it up on the MBL site so it's easily viewable. In addition, we are piloting a ProPoor mirror on the NGO Space section of the MBL site.  Our hope to expand our searchable database of close to five thousand NGOs with 'dil ki kahani' ('from the heart') stories of nonprofit founders (like Khushroo) and Yelp-like peer-review system of their volunteer programs.  To make all this happen, we are all bringing several new volunteers on board -- all in all, these are exciting times for the team :)

For me, adding stories for our weekly newsletter and re-reading them during the tagging process has been enriching in many ways. Particularly, the gap between thought and action keeps coming into focus. Usually, after doing the ProPoor newsletter, I go out and plant a seed or put out some water for birds. And that energy is precious as it fills me (and the act) with gratitude for all the work these people that we profile, do internally and externally. I definitely feel like I'm standing on a thousand shoulders all at once.

And a huge thank you to Yoo-mi, Kanchan and the tech team for anchoring this service at various times, training us and putting in so many hours to make this service personalized and valuable for Indian NGOs.

And 12 years ago, I did not expect a service with no glamor quotient to do this to me. :)

In response to a gratitude thread, Madhur shared a very sincere and articulate response:

I benefit in multiple ways by being a part of ServiceSpace family. This was so much of an honour for me to be trusted by you, for work which required regular commitment and representing ServiceSpace team. I have now started feeling a part of this great movement through Propoor platform (earlier my contribution was very sporadic, even though I have known the group since 2004).

I started documenting how I got benefited by doing Propoor work and the list left me amazed -- so many deep-rooted benefits, which transformed me in much needed subtle ways. One thing that I realised was that with all those mail templates, I still had so much to learn in doing this task of responding to emails and posting blogs. Over a period of time, I was surprised that there was still scope for improvement.

My communication skills and practice of respecting others was enhanced, because instead of judging or disregarding an irrelevant, incomplete email, I had a template which made it easy to answer to them but also include them in my heart.  I started doing the same in life in small ways and answer respectfully, even though I had nothing special to give to them. Priceless development indeed.  And many more such treasures I have gained.

I never before did any task regularly at a fixed interval. I was having some kind of reservations of doing new work each time, as any work which was repetition seemed so mundane to me earlier. Once in a while, this feeling did come back for Propoor mails too, and I felt sorry for those times. However, as I was very particular about my tasks all these years at my work, it was just human to experience that feeling here.  A little inspiration or love is what I needed at such times to get me back on track.

It actually leaves me surprised to realise that with the love and respect I held for the group and gratitude for its many members, this trust kept me going with dedication for 2+ years. I was doing it for a ServiceSpace family, which supported me so much. I was serving, and felt rewarded when NGOs sent emails suggesting their trust and benefit from this work.

Sometimes it became difficult to manage newsletter content/timelines due to other work, sickness, travel or stress but in my heart, I wanted to get this done, whatever it takes and on few occasions, I did take some out-of-my-way steps to make it happen -- like once I had been sick in bed for 3-4 days, didn't do anything else but got up to respond to Propoor mails. It makes me feel happy when I remember such incidents. :)

I now realise and respect what a great commitment exists within the team when not a single DailyGood or Awakin reading or Saturday call gets missed -- and this is so inspiring!

Propoor work has been transformational, fulfilling and I received benefits, and good feelings while doing the service itself. There is no external appreciation or applaud required, although I would always welcome your compassionate blessings. :)

I am so thankful to ServiceSpace and please continue to receive my humble effort, all my life. You can even demand so, if I ever get misled. :)  This way you would give me a chance to transform my own being, as is the most essential learning for me.

Hugs, gratitude
With respect, Madhur