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Published: April 10th 2012
I returned to Faridabad for a few days before continuing on to the next destination of my journey- Guatemala. I felt an overwhelming sense of relief once I arrived back at my “home away from home”. How comforting it is to walk around a familiar community, stay in a familiar house, sleep in a familiar bed, and have the company of familiar people. It really is the best feeling (and many of us take it for granted)! Natalie, Heather, John, and I have lived together in close quarters for nearly eight weeks and have grown to be like a family. Of course we have not seen eye to eye on all matters and we have likely gotten on each other’s nerves once in a while but those moments have been far outweighed by much fun and many laughs. We have taken care of each other during illness, offered each other advice and support, gotten to know each other’s families, and we have had the opportunity to share and learn from each other. How lucky I feel to have been a part of this group! I am truly going to miss these amazing people!
While I was travelling around India, our
“chosen” children continued to be tutored each afternoon by some Carmel Convent school teachers, Hindi speaking community members (ie: Mitlesh, Deepa), Natalie, John, and Heather. With all this support, the children had shown enough progress to start the first day of regular classes with the other Carmel Convent School students. The children’s daily schedule now consists of regular classes every morning from 7:00 a.m-1:00 p.m and then the children return in the afternoon for extra tutoring from 3:00 p.m- 5:00 p.m. Although it’s a long day, the children continue to be enthusiastic about school and you can see the effort they are putting in to make the Sisters, teachers, volunteers and their entire community proud. The parents continue to be supportive and enthusiastically walk the kids to and from school daily.
The Squalor to Scholar Program continues to receive much support and many of the slum children have been paired up with sponsors from all around the world. I would like to send a huge thank you to my good friend/coworker Sandi Barnie and her husband, Don, and daughters, Darian, and Peyton as they have donated $250.00 towards Akansha’s first year of education. Akansha is the daughter of Mitlesh,
Mitlesh's daughter, Akansha, and I.
The Barnie family has sponsored Ankansha's first year of education.the slum school social worker and translator. Mitlesh has been a very valuable resource over the last few months as he has assisted in translating many of the conversations between the Hindi speaking community members and the English speaking volunteers. Mitlesh’s involvement was necessary during the selection process of “the children” and the interviews with their families. Mitlesh was born and raised in the slum and has been making an effort for years to raise awareness of the importance of an education. Although Mitlesh knows that an education at the Carmel Convent School is a great opportunity, he could not afford to send his own children to this prestigious private school. Also, Mitlesh’s children did not fall within the age range we were looking for to fill the “15 spots”. To show appreciation for all of Mitlesh’s help and commitment over the past years and especially the last few months, John and Sister Pushpa were able to make a spot for one more child in the kindergarten class for Akansha at the Carmel Convent School. The Barnie family has contributed to Akansha’s education by providing school fees, a custom made school uniform, shoes, a back pack, and books. With the
encouragement of her family in India and the generosity of the Barnie family on the other side of the planet (Moose Jaw, SK, Canada), this shy little girl is sure to have the support necessary to guarantee her success. On behalf of me, the other volunteers, and Akansha’s family, a very heart felt thank you goes out to Don, Sandi, Darian, and Peyton.
I would also like to thank my awesome co-workers at the Five Hills Access Centre in Moose Jaw, Sk for their collection of $150.00 towards the Squalor to Scholar Program. How great it is to continue to feel the support (while travelling the world) from the amazing women I work side by side with in my regular life. I have grown and learned so much from these women during my three years of employment and I have a great appreciation for them and the work that they do. On behalf of myself, the children, their families, and the other volunteers I would like to thank my coworkers at the Five Hills Access Centre for their contribution to educating the slum children and making unrealized dreams possible. Also, Thank you for continuing to think of me and
Pratima
Stitching the handkerchief she gave me later that afternoon. support me in the work that I do. I miss you all.
After weeks of juggling our time between tutoring the children that are going to Carmel, teaching the children that remain at the slum school, and spending time with the young women, we finally received some new volunteers that were excited to assist with the many projects available. Merrel and Win assisted with the tutoring at the Carmel Convent School and the English girls spent a few days teaching in the slum school. With the extra hands available, Heather and Natalie took the opportunity to tackle one last project; painting the outside of the slum school. With their mural, the girls hope to encourage and inspire the children in the slum to strive for an education by depicting pictures of the opportunities and professions available to them if they stay in school.
I realized that there will be other volunteers to offer support to the community of Faridabad, but I struggled with a sense of possession as if the slum is “ours”. I worried that I would be replaced and forgotten quickly as the “new” volunteers were accepted as readily by the community as I had been.
Waving good bye.
Me and some of the children and their mothers at my going away party. I was hopeful that I had made some small impact on someone over the course of the past few weeks as many had made a huge impact on me and will never be forgotten. I am confident that the community will be well taken care of once the four of us depart. John is planning on returning to Faridabad next year and Natalie, Heather and I have also discussed the potential of returning one day, perhaps for a reunion? And our house parents (Mamta and Shri), Mitlesh, current/future volunteers and the Sister’s at the convent school will continue to offer their support to the community as necessary.
On my last day in Faridabad, I tried to say good bye to as many people as possible, therefore, I spent the first half of the afternoon at the slum school and I spent the second half at the Carmel Convent School. Following, Mitlesh asked that we return to the slum. All of “our children” and their parents had gathered at the school yet Mitlesh was nowhere to be found. We did not know why everyone was hanging around and were just about to leave when Mitlesh arrived with cake and Limca soda. Still unclear as to what was going on, I decided that all of the children and their parents had gathered to show their appreciation to us volunteers. How very sweet and humbling. After cake, Mitlesh brought out a brightly wrapped package with a card that said “To: Crystal, From: All kids”. All the children put their hands on the package as it was handed to me. For me? Really? Where are the names of the others? I cried. Some of the women and children cried. Could it be true that everyone had gathered together to celebrate and to show their appreciation to me? Just me? Inside the parcel was a laughing Buddha.
If that was not enough, one of the young girls named Pratima presented me with a handkerchief that she had been working on earlier in the afternoon. The handkerchief was embroidered with flowers and her name. The fabric was still damp from the sweat of her hands as she had to work on it all day to have it completed on time. Pratima hugged me and told me that she would miss me. I cannot believe this feeling! As the crowd gathered around, one of the mother's squeezed my hand. I thanked everyone for their kindness and for teaching me so much over the past few weeks. I promised that I would return one day with my family.
As I and the other volunteers started to walk home, the crowd followed us. As I walked, the children stretched out their arms to hold onto my fingers. I felt so overwhelmed with emotions. I felt so undeserving of such generosity from people that live their life with far less than I. Is it possible that I had made a great impact on this community? I wish I would have done more so that I felt more worthy of this treatment. Hugs, hand shakes, and "thank you's" were exchanged before one final gesture. Just as we were about to part ways, the children bent down to touch my feet. I was confused by this and later found out that this act is the traditional way in which the person who is touching the feet is showing his/her respect to the one whose feet is being touched. One such occasion for this tradition, and the one that seems most appropriate in this instance, is to touch the feet of someone that is departing for a journey (to learn more read,
http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-traditions/touching-feet.html). Wow! And I was worried that I would be easily forgotten and replaced by the next volunteers? Silly me. How completely flattered I am to have been a part of this experience.
It is bitter sweet to leave my home in Faridabad. My time in India was a challenge but I feel that I have learned alot about myself and my social work practice while having the opportunity to meet some great people and experience a different way of life. I predict that it will take many months for me to process and truly appreciate all that I have seen and done in India.
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Mom
non-member comment
Oh my dear daughter, you make me (and I know your Dad), so very proud! I feel so amazing, that I too have had the opportunity to share your experiences through your writings. You move me in ways that I could not imagine! I too would feel privileged to touch your feet! God bless you and keep you safe!