Well it is only fair to say that this has been an excellent programme for all involved.

The challenges have been significant:

• The food  (I myself clocked up 67+ curries)
• The heat and dust (Some terrible roads and unbelievable traffic)
• Indian time (Hours of waiting)
• The projects ( some of  which worked brilliantly  whilst others needed  more efforts to be successful )
• Cultural differences and expectations on all sides
• Toilets and hygiene

From discussions and feedback this has clearly been a life changing month for many of us and memorable for us all.

Some  of the special days and events include:

• The Ekjut’s children’s party
• The Red  Cross blood donation camp
• The trainings volunteers gave at Rajiv Smriti, Digdarshika and Sangini
• Special moments working with and trying in our own ways to help others
• The smiles on the faces of those we have worked with.

On a more recreational note:

• The cultural event the UK volunteers put on…
• Trips out to Sanchi and Bimbetka
• The trip to Pachmarhi, hotel, monkeys, waterfalls, temples and all
• Trips to New market and DB Mall
• Evening meal at Wind and Waves

On a personal note:

• Face painting for the first ever time!
  
• Witnessing  the team  in their projects and listening to the volunteers recounting their often touching and moving daily experiences.
• Using fundraising monies to help others in so many ways
• The team work and support we all gave to each other
• Working with Vrati and Indian volunteers
• The band at Pachmarhi

Some problems:

• Transport in all its complexities especially timings
• Too many projects to manage well
• Missing the Indian volunteers after the first week which made translation and acceptance by the projects at times difficult
• That hotel!

This has been a superb volunteering trip. I am sure each member will take away something which will last a lifetime from this month in Bhopal. There is a  lot to learn, to take away and ponder.  I am already planning for Bhopal  2012.. which says it all!

The Projects:

In 30 days we have:

• Supported with therapeutic  play and other activities, and basic English teaching :
• ·         Bachpan  a Non-Governmental Organisation which provides basic food and shelter for 35 boys rescued from  railway platforms
• ·         Ekjut a children’s home run  by a family for 27 children rescued from  railway platforms, the streets and physical and sexual abuse.
• ·         Arushi a clinic  for children and young people with special educational needs
• Helped organise a Red Cross  blood donation camp and doubled the number of donors from the previous camp.
• Held a 1 day picnic at  Leeds Metropolitan University Bhopal Campus  for Ekjut children
• Provided a basic English conversation course for  trainers working for for Rajiv Smriti, a NGO which provides occupational training for survivors of the Union Carbide gas tragedy. This will enable trainees to  have more capacity for income in their work.
• Helped in the production of herbal medicines for  Union Carbide survivors.
• Delivered a training  in Autism for trainees at Digdarshika a private organisation working with people with learning difficulties and mental health problems
• Delivered  group  therapy to people with mental health problems at  a residential unit operated by Digdarshika.
• Delivered trainings in therapeutic skills and assertiveness skills for Sangini a NGO providing support from women living in slum dwellings  experiencing domestic violence.
• Provided therapeutic support for  women experiencing domestic violence.

• We have agreed to build websites for
• ·         Sangini
• ·         Rajiv Smriti

With fundraising monies we have:

• Provided an exercise bike, physiotherapy  items and walking frames for children with disabilities
• Supplied 35 shirts , mattresses and blankets plus floor covers and buckets for toilets  for children rescued from railway platforms
• Paid  the education costs for all  27 children in a children’s home one year
• Provided lighting and improve the outside toilets at a shelter for platform children.
• Bought websites for two NGOs
• Provided games, mats, table covers , relaxation CDs and a CED player for a unit for people with mental illness
• Provided games and a special voice recorder for children with disabilities
• Provided games and a DVD  player  for 27 children at a children’s home
• Sponsored the purchase of blood sugar meters for the Red Cross.
• Purchased chairs and training equipment for NGOs.
• … and so much more…
  

This has been an amazing effort.

Thanks to the volunteers and their sponsors for making all this possible.

In just a few hours we will be leaving Bhopal and setting off on our long journey back  home. I can’t sleep so I am sitting and reflecting on the time we have spent in India and what a truly wonderful month it has been. Time has simply flown by for me and it feels as though we’ve done and seen so much. The past two weeks I  have spent at RIMHAS, the mental health clinic at Digdashika, and  I quickly grew attached to the wonderful people who live there. Working with Lois, Divine and Danielle we decided to develop some more structure to the residents day, by introducing relaxation sessions, group therapy and other interaction with them through games and activities. It has been amazing to see the changes occur, in only a short time space, and I found myself wishing we could stay and undertake long term therapeutic work with them all.

Thursday was our very last day there and it was overwhelmingly emotional for all the volunteers, we were so touched by what they had to say to us and I am incredibly thankful I was able to spend time on this project. Saying goodbye was very difficult for us all. The service users themselves are wonderful individuals, as are those who working there who do an excellent job with limited resources and it was great to see them utilising the gifts we bought for the project. Just watching one of the residents smiling as he played with the guitar we left there was a great thing, and seeing them laugh when we all danced made me so happy.

I really hope to stay in touch with the organisation and keep updated on how they are doing as they do brilliant work and it felt lovely to be accepted and welcomed into their little community :)

It has been a very moving month overall and has given me a LOT to think about! International volunteering has been so enjoyable and I would really like to thank all of the Indian volunteers for being so welcoming and friendly towards us, I hope to stay in contact with them and see some of them in Leeds next year :)  Bhopal, you’ve been amazing. I am so sad to say goodbye but hopeful I can come back as soon as possible! Thankyou to our team and to Steve, Gurm and Divine, working with you all has been fantastic and we’ve had a lot of fun…and a fair few challenges…but it has all been totally worth it. Bye bye India, I will miss you.

Ruth xx

Namaste :)

After a week of creating awareness, visiting the Red Cross and making posters to put up around the university campus..today was the day of the blood drive!

The beds had been set up in the Appetite food court ready for the first donor to give blood. Last year not many people donated so we were hoping this year after all the campaigning that the numbers would be higher.

Myself, Steve, Lindsey and Gurm all headed to the food court to welcome the students and to give them some encouragement in donating. A few of the students did look terrified at the thought of giving blood but thankfully everything went smoothly.

The day went well and over 60 students gave blood which was great..compared with the previous year. No-one fainted ..well not to my knowledge anyway, although some were close.

All in all a great success..so thank you to all that gave blood and to all that came down to give their support.

On a final note…we are into our final few days here in India and it for me has been one of the most if not the best experience of my life. Not only have I been fortunate to work with the lovely kids at Ekjut but I have also had the opportunity to work at 3 other projects that have been amazing.

Thanks for reading :D

Christie xxx

Hi Everyone,
Its coming to the end of the trip and its unbelievable how much we’ve packed into these last 3 and a bit weeks and how much we’ve got left to do, not to mention how quickly its gone by!
I spent the first two weeks volunteering at a shelter for boys that had been rescued from the railway platforms. It was the most surreal experience. Tho boys we were working with were aged between 5 and 14 years and had all come from different backgrounds, varying from being left at the platform by their families, running away from home or going missing and then never being traced back. Despite their different circumstances, the boys were all eager to engage in all the activities and lessons we planned and made it the most enjoyable experience ever. Saying goodbye to them was definitely one of the most difficult and emotional tasks I had faced during the trip so far as the shelter was not the best kept or cleanest of places, but we had shared so many laughs with the boys over the last fortnight, I just didn’t want to leave.
After our trip to Pachmarhi, I began volunteering at Ekjut Orphanage. Unlike Bachpan where we were working with all the boys at the same time, at Ekjut only the younger ones are there in the morning and then they go to school and at about 1 the older ones get back from School. Furthermore, where I was working with only boys at the shelter, Ekjut has both boys and girls; it was clear from the start Ekjut was going to be a completely different experience to the last 2 weeks. On the first day, we got there late due to transport arrangements (although delays and disruptions to transport have come to be expected and a regular occurrence here in India.) The delay meant we didn’t have as much time with the younger ones as we had hoped, but we still managed to play a few games with them, find out what sort of activities they enjoyed and help them get ready for school. As there are no Indian students working with us on the projects anymore, there was a bit of language barrier with some of the children and my Hindi was put to the test! Some of the children however, have a good grasp of English and were more than happy to assist in giving instructions and enable conversation with the children; it was a great feeling being able to sit and talk to the kids. After they had eaten their lunch, they asked us to walk to them to school, and we were more than happy to! Although the walk was in peak heat time (half 12) and consisted of walking through streets, muddy fields and alongside an extremely busy highway, it was fun, and interesting to know how these children would usually do this walk everyday together, without any of the supervision they had today.
When we got back to the older ones, they had lunch ready, so we grabbed ours and all sat together to eat. After lunch we played a few games with them and then they asked if we wanted to see their church. The church isn’t too far from the orphanage and had a model of Mary in a sair! It was lovely to see how happy the walk made the children, and after, they took us to see some geese, goats and rabbits in a hutch with pigeons! it was the strangest combination and definitely not what i had expected to go see in India, but somehow it worked and it was nice having the children share these with us. Before we knew it, it was time to head back, and we spent the rest of the time playing drawing games and hangman with the kids until the van arrived to take us back.
To say both the shelter and orphanage are both children-based projects, the contrasts between the two is amazing. Those at Ekjut have uniforms for School and take pride in their appearance, whereas the boys at the shelter have one or two outfits and an be in the same clothes for a few days as well as wear them to school. Their hygiene is also a great contrast as well as their living conditions. It is hard to imagine that both projects are considered to be for deprived children, and yet the conditions are so different.
I can’t wait to find out what the rest of the trip holds, India is bringing us something new everyday! Hennah xx

Hello everyone!

What to expect in India:

(Amongst other things)

Heat

Dust (lots of it)

Many many cows roaming the streets

The most bumpy roads ever experienced!

A very warm welcome wherever you go

Really friendly people

Nothing running to time/plan (but if like me, you are a laid back kind of person this won’t matter too much)

Everything is quite cheap to buy

Mega spicy food

Bugs

Sweat

Being stared at (a lot)

Being asked to pose for photo’s (I felt like a z-list celebrity!!)

Being asked why you are so white (lol)

We have been in India for just over 2 weeks now, but it feels like we have been here for a lot longer and we’re all getting used to the different customs and culture of this amazing country.  My first two weeks of volunteering happened at Ekjut, the orphanage which was challenging but very enjoyable, the kids were engaging and so intelligent they made us feel really welcome and their English was of a good enough standard that we didn’t need Indian translators towards the final few days there.  Mine and Christies second week was to be working with the Red Cross and our first task was to design lots of posters to go around the campus advertising the blood donation drive that is happening next week on 27^th so out came our poster paints and paper and we got to work designing about 15 different ones, this took us most of the afternoon.  Along with some other Indian students we then posted them around campus hopefully generating a buzz about the event, we need more than 20 individual donations for it to be a success. 

The next day Christie, Gurm, Huda and Madiha (our Indian volunteers from Saudi) and myself all travelled into Bhopal to visit the blood bank and hospital where people go to donate.  We were greeted by the head Physician there and he gave us a talk about the history of the hospital and blood bank and how they rely on charitable donations to keep it all going.  We then watched someone giving blood are were told all about the procedure which is very much like the way we do things in the UK, all donations must be from people over 18, over 50kgs in weight  and must be in general good health amongst other things.  The clinic uses disposable equipment and the blood is rigorously screened and tested before being given the go ahead to be used. 

We then were shown around the actual hospital which was quite interesting as they allowed us into all of the wards where we saw people on dialysis machines and other such things that would be off limits in the UK due to privacy, but here they didn’t seem to mind. They even gave us all a rose to say thank you for coming to our hospital and fed us cool orangeade, which was really lovely.

The next part of our volunteering will be the blood donation drive which is happening on Tuesday, so we hope to get lots of the Indian students involved and make it a big success.

I’m thoroughly enjoying my time here in India and will be very sad to leave next week, I would love to stay for a little while longer and travel all over the country, I don’t feel like my time here is done just yet!

Thanks for reading; I hope you enjoyed hearing a bit about my trip!

See you all soon

Lindsey xxx

I’ll firstly apologise for how long this entry is, but it’s A WHOLE WEEKEND and I just can’t condense it into a couple of paragraphs. So here we go.

Last Friday we set off for a well-deserved rest to mark the half-way point of our trip over here. We all packed into the jeeps for what we anticipated to be a five hour journey up to the hill station, but it came as no suprise that, with “Indian time” it took around ten hours. We experienced flat tires and a car breaking down in the middle of the jungle with no phone signal. Luckily I wasn’t in that one but I imagine it would have been rather scary, stuck with no means of contact and a driver who only spoke Hindi.

However, eventually we made it to Pachmarhi at around 8PM. The remainder of the journey after fixing the car issues was somewhat scary as it was completely dark by then, with heavy rain and lightening, and we didn’t know quite what to anticipate upon arrival. Unfortunately there had been some issues and mix ups and we ended up in a hotel that made us see “the real India” and the basic hostel on campus we’re staying in suddenly seemed like a palace in comparison. We were all very tired after a long, dusty day, so I think a lot of us felt the strain when greeted with dam walls, dirty baths and stained bed sheets. We took it as all part of the experience though, and after having some snacks on arrival and choosing rooms, some of us set out to buy new bedsheets for our own peace of mind. We then spent the evening piled into Danielle and Cerin’s room with its circlular bed(!), had a laugh and tried our best to forget the surroundings.

Saturday morning, we got on the SAFARI JEEPS that made us feel like we were on Jurassic Park, and went on a walk down into a cave temple and then up on top of a big mountain with lovely views. Pachmarhi is known as a place that locals visit to cool off, as it’s up in the mountains and therefore a lot cooler, and we definitely all appreciated it… Although I’m sure it was still really hot by England’s standards. Typically, I ended up suffering with dehydration and stayed in the hotel for the remainder of the day, something which I regret now as everyone said the sights were beautiful.

We then spent Sunday looking around BISON LODGE which was exciting as we’ve been seeing lots of bison around Bhopal. In fact we’ve been pretty enthusiastic about all the wildlife here, much to everyone’s amusement. We had a very interesting and enthusiastic tour guide who took us around the museum and saw some interesting sights, including a cabinet full of jarred animal foetuses. I definitely would have taken a photo but we weren’t allowed. Gutted. We then got shown round some ancient cave temples and once again saw some nice views. Pachmarhi is all about the nice views.

Lindsey, Ruth and I just taking in the view.

At this point my camera ran out of battery, but we then visited some amazing waterfalls and some of the other volunteers had a little paddle. We then wrapped up the day by visiting a herbal medicine shop, and we bought a variety of potions, from face scrubs to hair loss solutions. They smelt interesting to say the least. For our final night, as as a change of scenery, Ruth, Kalisha and I decided to find a different restaurant to eat in, and had one of the best meals of the trip, and for the three of us it came to less than a tenner. 

Despite absolutely loving Pachmarhi itself, we were all quite glad when Monday morning arrived as we all wanted the familiarity of campus and food from the mess. The drive back wasn’t as tedious as the drive there, and apart from a worn out brake pad ten minutes into the journey, it was a problem free drive home.

On a personal note I LOVE INDIA AND DON’T WANT TO GO HOME NEXT WEEK. I can’t believe we have less than a week left! All the students on campus are so friendly and welcoming, and I love the projects I’ve been working on. Next Friday will be a very sad day for all, I’m sure.

Lois XXXXXXX

Monday 19^th - Today I’m back at Rajiv Smriti. As I started later than expected and the lessons are shorter than had been planned we agreed to keep on working this week as well.

I’m teaching English to a group of people working here. This organization trains people affected by the Union Carbide gas disaster in 1984. My students are mainly teachers and trainers at the centre.

The work is being challenging and inspiring, I have to deal with unfamiliar traditions, different ways of organizing work plus a varying level of students every day. The lessons should start at 11:00am but that depends on the time my students arrive, I usually start with 2 or 3, then a few more will come in. Some time mid-lesson one or two will leave, then come back. About an hour before finishing (in a 3 hours lesson) two or three more will join the group. I definitely can’t say it’s boring J Sometimes I call for a break and others they announce me: “Tea time, Nilsa” … there’s another break J

Anyway, the whole group is gorgeous, I think they are enjoying the lessons as much as I do. We’ve improved quite a lot since we the first day: I’m able to pronounce their names right, they can pronounce very well the letters of the alphabet, numbers and basic vocabulary, I’ve learnt a few words in Hindi, They can talk about themselves using simple structures, I’ve learnt a few Bollywood steps and they give instructions to do Some Brain Gym exercises. I do call that an intercultural exchange J

I’ve included some pictures of my students, here’s Diyvia, Joytsana, Azaz, Vaibhav.Rafia, Shaelja and Manish, the Indian volunteer.

Today Diyvia didn’t go the centre. Vaibhav said that she had had a motorbike accident last Saturday. She won’t be working for a month. I’ll miss her, she’s a wonderful student, she’s so eager to learn and has such a lively personality.

And she was my interpreter since all my helpful translator started their lessons and had to leave us alone. The first two weeks I was extra-lucky to have superb translators: Shara, Hamza, Manish, Jyotsana and Aman. They did help! It can be tiresome and very time consuming trying to get myself understood and explaining the reasons why I was doing certain activities. Here’s when all the Indian volunteers worked with us. I want to thank them all for their patience and support.

Well, I wrote that three days ago but I haven’t been able to connect to internet for the last three days L sometimes either computers or connections don’t work very well here.

Today it was my last day at Rajeev Smriti, I was really emotional … my students and the manager and some people studying there made me cry … well they were tears of happiness in a way, to see all those people caring for me, giving me gifts, preparing surprises and writing cards in English. I’ve learnt more from them in three weeks than what I could have taught them. We created a bond, we ‘connected’ in a especial way. I do know we’ll keep in touch, I’ll send them tasks, activities to keep practicing the language and they’ll write back to me with the answers. We’ll talk to each other through Skype, they’ll tell me their news, about families, jobs, daily activities and I’ll tell them about my life in Madrid. I’ve stated a long term relationship; it’s the best that can happen to a teacher. Teaching a language is not just passing on knowledge; it’s sharing what we know about the world, about us, the whole person. That’s what has happened to me in Rajeev Smriti.I share my life with my students. I feel honoured to have done so.

Nilsa

These boys live in a warehouse which is a shelter for them. They possess virtually nothing.

Like all half-term reports this is a little late….

We are now two thirds into this adventure in Bhopal. The first word that comes to mind is challenge. There is a lot of it about at the moment!  The challenge of difference: country, food, customs etc. The challenge of new demands on oneself: new people, projects, new skills and ways of relating. The challenge of stretching: when one’s own way of doing things no longer seems to work.

There have been a lot of  personal challenges we have all had to encounter on this journey:

• The realisation that 9.30 might actually be 10.15.
• The realisation that the bus is coming means it will be setting off to pick you up soon and will therefore not arrive for at least an hour.
• The realisation that for some Indian food just is not palatable.
• The realisation that  some bathrooms are just too different.
• The realisation that English traffic will never ever again seem to be congested.
• The longed for restful hotel for our mid tour break.

Out of these challenges comes new learning and growth.There is a tremendous acceptance of the way of things in this vast country. For me it is  challenging to let go of my expectations of what we should achieve and how we should achieve it… and out of it things actually happen.

On this trip I have also made myself step back and let others take the initiative… which is how it should be in my role as team leader but nevertheless a significant challenge for me!

I have witnessed the great enthusiasm of all members of the team each in their own way and I have seen the impact of this on the people they have worked with, for example:

• The sheer joy of children who have as one project leader put it “no relations” at having and “uncle” or “auntie” come to visit them and play with them.
• The pleasure on the faces of adults who have shared in something with others.

Many of the people we have been working with live in basic accommodation, the children sleeping on warehouse floors, men and women from slum shelters. It never fails to move me to see how the simple things in life can mean so much and can bring some much happiness.

We can’t change the world (or can we?)  but we can each help to make just a little difference in the life of another which may be just that ingredient that in the long term results in new opportunities and new directions.

I am sure that this will be a month that we will all never forget. Some of us are even talking of coming back next year!!

Meanwhile there is still more to be done this time…..

Steve