Summer in Action - Internal e-Bulletin
Dear Volunteers,
Welcome to our DiA summer e-bulletin! It's been a busy few months for the Committee with all of you being recruited and trained for your time in India. Lisa and Harriet have been keeping us posted on how you're all getting on so we thought it only fair we update you on all that we've been up to...
News from DiA in the UK
- The Committee recently held its July Committee Meeting in London. The focus was on our upcoming AGM in September and the event we're planning to coincide with it! We're hijacking an established music filled comedy evening to raise money for DiA. More information will be coming your way soon so once you're back bring everyone you know along to support DiA (and have a great evening of course...)
- Half of the Committee have just finished training the 5-month volunteers who will be taking over from you all in September. The weekend went really well and we can't wait for them to continue the great work you've all started.
- As well as training and events we're also working on: developing a dedicated fundraising page for the website, our new 'Friends of DiA' membership scheme, establishing a UK volunteering programme, re-vamping the magazine and launching a short documentary film section on the website (if any of this sounds tempting then don't forget we'd love for you to be involved with DiA when you get back to the UK!)
- Last but definitely not least, IVC Lisa has been keeping a blog of her experiences in India including appearing in a Bollywood film, jealous! Check it out at: www.lisa-durassier.blogspot.com
Spotlight on India
This bulletin we're off to St Gonsalos, thank you Jamie for you excerpt and John for your beautiful photos! Bring us back some home-made chapattis?
- Jamie and John, 2010 2-month volunteers, St Gonsalo Garcia Ashram & School:
Our first three weeks at St Gonsalo Garcia Ashram & School have been very challenging but equally rewarding. We have settled well into quite structured daily routines, starting at 7am and ending at 9.30pm. Jamie Brother/Sir and John Brother/Sir (occasionally Hong Kong Brother) have become part of the family here.
Jamie teaches English Grammer mainly, while John has picked Maths. On top of this we have filled the important gap of Computer classes. The kids' knowledge of this seems to be very limited and the computers were in a mess so we have organised very regular classes taught between us as well as sorting out the PCs. This can be difficult considering the ever-present threat of a power cut - something that can make it extremely difficult to teach Powerpoint or Word!
Outside of classes, we help in the daily two hour tuition sessions in the afternoon before Jamie tires himself out with a 2.5 hour football match with the older kids and John watches on and laughs! The evenings are spent studying or chilling out with the kids. We get all our food prepared for us - John helps making the chapatti every day - and it can be quite delightful, if repetitive.
We are hoping to make a lasting contribution here by creating a funding proposal and improving the website - both will include some of John's fantastic pictures of the kids. It's strange to us that, by the end of this week, we will be halfway through our stay here. We are already being nagged about when we will come back in the future.
The Wider World
What else has been going on in India while you've all been working hard? Well...
- "I'm going to open up my own hotel," says Vijay Singh, a man who is now tens of thousands of pounds richer after selling his farmland in Rajasthan to feed India's thirst for solar energy! Read about India's solar revolution: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10767039
- Remember the temple elephant in Pondicherry? Officials in Tamil Nadu are worried the elephants are at risk of catching human diseases each time they touch the head of pilgrims with their trunks, poor Lakshmi! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10861832
Cultural India
That's enough from us this month, have a great August and we'll see you back in the UK for your debrief! Can't wait to hear about your time in India!!
Your Committee
x
p.s. The recent floods in India and Pakistan have devastated some areas in Northern India, are now unsafe, and seriously limit travel. It's worth checking http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/india or http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/travel-tips-and-articles/42/74711 for more information if you're thinking of heading North after your placements.