Editorial - Tom Wilmot

Every year, Development in Action recruits and trains volunteers here in the UK to go and work with our partner organizations in India. In line with DiA’s primary aim, these volunteers reflect on their experiences in many ways. They produce projects in various forms, inspired by the work they have been involved in on their placements, and they share their experiences with friends, family, sponsors, and sometimes with a wider audience in the UK through workshops, presentations and providing resources.

DiA is constantly striving to expand this side of its work and there are some very exciting developments underway. For example, a touring exhibition of some fantastic and innovative volunteer projects is nearing completion and more volunteers are contributing to the volunteer reflections section of the DiA website. Meanwhile, photos and ever more communication with volunteers on placement provide an ever deeper insight into the experiences of volunteers, development workers and ordinary people in India.

As DiA continues to develop effective and sustainable ways to communicate this understanding of development to a wider audience, this issue of the magazine focuses on volunteer experiences and reflections during their time on placement at DiA’s partner organizations.

Kirsty Walton shares her experience of working for Sharana, an NGO working towards sustainable development in a village community close to Pondicherry. She examines the local, national and global implications of the way in which the village is developing, and considers its role as a microcosm, or at least as a potential model example, of development for rural communities all over India.

Steph Champion describes her experiences working at the Barli Development Institute for Rural Women in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. She explains how she became part of the community during the time she worked there, and how the trainees and volunteers all use the opportunities the institute provides to develop personally, but also to contribute to sustainable development in a broader sense.

Nadeya Zaman reflects on her experiences of interviewing empowered women in the heart of some of India’s most deprived slum areas in Pune. She shares her surprise and inspiration at what she has learnt during her time at the Deep Griha Society’s Women’s Empowerment Project.

Finally, Sarah Pole discusses the issues facing young people growing up in the midst of the cultural conflict of modern India, including some diverse case studies from all corners of the country.

And finally... we are hoping to set up a facility on these pages to allow readers to comment on articles and stimulate discussion. In the meantime, please email newsletter@developmentinaction.org with questions or comments.

Tom Wilmot

DiA Magazine Editor