CIEE (being the amazing organization that it is) planned a few day-trips for our group to visit some amazing local NGOs throughout the semester. So far, we have been to two.
Last weekend, we went to Desire Society, a non-profit that works to help children with HIV. Many of these kids are orphans or being raised by struggling, sick, impoverished single parents. Desire Society provides them with all of the necessary medicine, a proper diet, and a healthy, safe, sanitary atmosphere. For those who need it, Desire Society helps kids catch up to their appropriate grade level. They facilitate all of the children's enrollment in schools, paying special attention to ensure that their condition is kept confidential to prevent stigma and discrimination. After school, the children come back to Desire Society, where they do homework, play, visit the nurses on staff, and even learn choreographed Indian dances for some added fun and excitement. They have bunk beds for some of the children to stay full time.
We had an amazing visit with the organization. At first, the children all went around and introduced themselves, and then we did the same. The Desire Society staff told us a little about their organization and gave us a tour of the facility. They are doing amazing work with very limited means.. one room serves as the class room, dining room, play room, dance studio, etc. But they are in the process of moving to a more spacious location, and some of us might go back to help them with that transition. After introductions, we had free time to just interact and play with the kids. They taught us some India hand-clapping playground games and had fun with our cameras. Then, we all sat down, and they showed us some of the dances they have been learning! They even taught us some dance moves, which was adorable on their part and entirely embarrassing on ours.. you're not getting a video of that, haha.
I was in a very strange mood all day-- I was overwhelmed by the true gifts that this organization provides these children and how good it felt to see them happy, healthy, and having fun. But, I kept being hit by a wave of sadness each time I remembered that every kid smiling back at me was sick with this preventable but incurable disease. It was definitely a meaningful and memorable day for all, and I have a feeling we will be back at least once more this semester.
This past Saturday, we went to another NGO, Andhra Pradesh's branch of the MV Foundation, an international organization that works to abolish child labor and defend the right to education. They raise awareness and address policy on a large scale, but also help kids on the ground. We watched this really depressing and enraging movie about young girls working in the cotton seed industry in India, and it totally highlighted the importance of this organization's work. MVF has all sorts of strategies for finding children under the age of fourteen that are not in school and convincing them/their family to choose education. They then catch these kids up to their appropriate grade level, and enroll them in mainstream schools. We learned about the special lesson plans that they have designed throughout the years that are a unique way to efficiently teach older, highly motivated children how to read and write.. truly amazing stuff. I cannot do either of these organizations justice, so you should absolutely click the links and check out their websites.
Again, we got a tour of the facility and saw a powerpoint about MVF and what they do. Then, we got to interact with the kids.. this site had 20-30 girls ages 9-14. We had introductions, and a few of the girls even shared their stories. It was unbelievable to see these energetic, youthful, happy, little girls that have already been agricultural or domestic workers for years. Some of them had just arrived to the center the night before! We all played in the playground, and again, had fun with cameras. Then, we all had lunch. It was incredible to watch these kids eat their rice.. they ate way more than any of us, and with much better coordination and speed. We definitely looked like awkward foreigners, but they got a kick out of it. Suzanne and I got to use some of the Telugu vocab that we have been learning around the house, and the girls' jaws fell to the floor when we said "I ate well, thank you" at the end of the meal.
Naturally, visiting these organizations has gotten me thinking about how I can do my part while here in India. Im not really sure what that means.. I just feel as though I have so much compared to so many around me, there has to be a way that I can use my privilege to better their lives. Just walking from my house to the bus stop every day, I walk past slums-- homes made out of tarps and bamboo with half naked children sitting in front waving and asking for chocolate. 
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| In line to get medicine and snacks. |
Last weekend, we went to Desire Society, a non-profit that works to help children with HIV. Many of these kids are orphans or being raised by struggling, sick, impoverished single parents. Desire Society provides them with all of the necessary medicine, a proper diet, and a healthy, safe, sanitary atmosphere. For those who need it, Desire Society helps kids catch up to their appropriate grade level. They facilitate all of the children's enrollment in schools, paying special attention to ensure that their condition is kept confidential to prevent stigma and discrimination. After school, the children come back to Desire Society, where they do homework, play, visit the nurses on staff, and even learn choreographed Indian dances for some added fun and excitement. They have bunk beds for some of the children to stay full time.
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| The munchkin in the stripes quickly became my favorite. |
We had an amazing visit with the organization. At first, the children all went around and introduced themselves, and then we did the same. The Desire Society staff told us a little about their organization and gave us a tour of the facility. They are doing amazing work with very limited means.. one room serves as the class room, dining room, play room, dance studio, etc. But they are in the process of moving to a more spacious location, and some of us might go back to help them with that transition. After introductions, we had free time to just interact and play with the kids. They taught us some India hand-clapping playground games and had fun with our cameras. Then, we all sat down, and they showed us some of the dances they have been learning! They even taught us some dance moves, which was adorable on their part and entirely embarrassing on ours.. you're not getting a video of that, haha.
I was in a very strange mood all day-- I was overwhelmed by the true gifts that this organization provides these children and how good it felt to see them happy, healthy, and having fun. But, I kept being hit by a wave of sadness each time I remembered that every kid smiling back at me was sick with this preventable but incurable disease. It was definitely a meaningful and memorable day for all, and I have a feeling we will be back at least once more this semester.
This past Saturday, we went to another NGO, Andhra Pradesh's branch of the MV Foundation, an international organization that works to abolish child labor and defend the right to education. They raise awareness and address policy on a large scale, but also help kids on the ground. We watched this really depressing and enraging movie about young girls working in the cotton seed industry in India, and it totally highlighted the importance of this organization's work. MVF has all sorts of strategies for finding children under the age of fourteen that are not in school and convincing them/their family to choose education. They then catch these kids up to their appropriate grade level, and enroll them in mainstream schools. We learned about the special lesson plans that they have designed throughout the years that are a unique way to efficiently teach older, highly motivated children how to read and write.. truly amazing stuff. I cannot do either of these organizations justice, so you should absolutely click the links and check out their websites. Again, we got a tour of the facility and saw a powerpoint about MVF and what they do. Then, we got to interact with the kids.. this site had 20-30 girls ages 9-14. We had introductions, and a few of the girls even shared their stories. It was unbelievable to see these energetic, youthful, happy, little girls that have already been agricultural or domestic workers for years. Some of them had just arrived to the center the night before! We all played in the playground, and again, had fun with cameras. Then, we all had lunch. It was incredible to watch these kids eat their rice.. they ate way more than any of us, and with much better coordination and speed. We definitely looked like awkward foreigners, but they got a kick out of it. Suzanne and I got to use some of the Telugu vocab that we have been learning around the house, and the girls' jaws fell to the floor when we said "I ate well, thank you" at the end of the meal.
Naturally, visiting these organizations has gotten me thinking about how I can do my part while here in India. Im not really sure what that means.. I just feel as though I have so much compared to so many around me, there has to be a way that I can use my privilege to better their lives. Just walking from my house to the bus stop every day, I walk past slums-- homes made out of tarps and bamboo with half naked children sitting in front waving and asking for chocolate. I know that finding a way to volunteer would make my semester much more meaningful. Its amazing how much these one-day trips have equally lifted the spirits of my program's students and the children in need. A more permanent relationship could do so much more! Unfortunately, my days on Mon-Thus are atrociously busy, and my campus is pretty isolated from most of the city. But, I have no classes on Friday, so that may be the perfect chance for me to dedicate a day to something bigger than conversational Hindi and bargaining for a new kurta.
Last week, I met with a doctor who works at the VA hospital in Atlanta but is from Hyderabad and has some connections with a hospital here. We had a great conversation comparing American and Indian medical systems and their relations to each given culture. He was so nice to offer to help me find a way to volunteer in the realm of health education and promotion, my area of interest and expertise. I might shadow some of his colleagues at the hospital here. He also put me in touch with an NGO called Life- Health Reinforcement Group, which defends health as a right by increasing the quality of health services to women, children and the elderly and improving health-seeking behaviors and practices. So, I am feeling very excited and inspired. I have high hopes, but I also know that this is one of those times when "something is better than nothing," so I am just going to keep talking to people and offering a helping hand.. hopefully my time and service will be put to good use in the next few months!
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