Power Of Simple Acts To Drive Societal Change

It feels amazing to think back on how a simple health campaign made such a big difference in someone’s life. This story stuck with me because it shows how small actions can lead to real change. It’s about my neighbour, whose daughter I tutor. She’s a bright seventh-grader, and her family is kind, but her father’s smoking habit casts a shadow over their home. Every time I visited for tuition, the air was filled with cigarette smoke, lingering like an uninvited guest. Her father often sat in the living room, casually smoking, unaware of how it affected those around him.

One day, I walked in and noticed my student deeply focused on her drawing, adding final touches with quiet intensity. Curious, I leaned in to see what she had made.  The powerful image showed a family affected by smoking—a father with a cigarette, his worried wife and daughter beside him. The drawing powerfully depicted a family affected by smoking—a father with a cigarette, his worried wife and daughter standing nearby. Across the top, the title read: The Harmful Effects of Secondhand Smoking.

Awareness

Curiously, I asked her why she was drawing this. She explained that it was for an art competition linked to a campaign called "Smokers Are Not Selfish", launched by the Dr. Om Foundation. The campaign engaged thousands of students through quizzes, art, and poetry to raise awareness about smoking and its harms. Her eyes lit up with determination as she talked about wanting to participate and make a difference.

While we discussed the competition, her mother praised the drawing, hoping for a prize. Her father also walked in, noticed it, and stepped closer to see. But it was his reaction that left the deepest impression. He stood in silence, staring at the drawing for what felt like an eternity. His eyes moved over every line and detail as if he were seeing his life reflected on the paper. For a few moments, he didn’t say a word. Then, with a heavy sigh, he handed the drawing back to his daughter. In that moment, his eyes revealed a mix of guilt and realisation, a silent understanding of how his habit was affecting his family.

That evening changed everything. What had seemed like just another school activity turned out to be something much more powerful. My student’s drawing wasn’t just a piece of art; it was a mirror showing the worry and pain her family felt because of smoking. Her father, faced with this reality, began to rethink his choices. The campaign’s message that quitting smoking wasn’t just about him but also about his loved ones deeply affected him.

The next time I went to teach her, the strong smell of smoke was gone. Her father, once always with a cigarette, now had empty hands. He had taken a significant step towards quitting, supported by his family and the campaign’s awareness. Though it wasn’t easy, I could see the same determination in his eyes as in his daughter’s while drawing.

The campaign was more than awareness—it became a turning point. Timed with Valentine’s Day and Vasant Panchami on February 14, 2024, it symbolised love, wisdom, and change. Over 1,700 pledged to quit smoking, while thousands of students spread awareness through competitions. Besides highlighting Nepal’s 29 per cent adult tobacco use, the campaign offered free health screenings and follow-ups, ensuring quitting was a supported journey.

The campaign’s impact extended beyond individual smokers. It inspired real change in families. My student’s father was one of many who decided to quit, motivated by the awareness his daughter had helped spread. But this was just one of the many initiatives led by the Dr. Om Foundation.

Simple acts 

Beyond health awareness, the foundation supports education through a scholarship programme, providing Rs. 2 million in aid to bright but financially struggling students across Nepal’s 77 districts. Just as my student used her talent to drive change, many others are given the chance to continue their education, showcasing the foundation’s impact on health, education, and social transformation. The campaign highlighted the need to educate young people about tobacco use, as most smokers start early, with an average initiation age of 17.8 in Nepal. School-based programmes, like those by the Dr. Om Foundation, use competitions and awareness sessions to prevent addiction. By reaching out to children early, these initiatives protect future generations and empower young minds to influence their families and communities.

This experience showed me how small actions can deeply impact individuals and families. Simple acts like a campaign, a drawing, a moment of realisation can bring about real change. My student’s artwork didn’t just win a prize; it gave her family a chance at a healthier future. It taught me a lesson far greater than anything in a textbook.

(The author is a student at the GoldenGate International College)