An adventure to Vellore

We're all different
Yet we're the same
We may have different views
But together we should stay.
For if we work together
Who knows what joy we could bring
To those around the world
In pain and suffering.

This first week in Vellore has mainly been about exploring the city and discovering the local communities in which we shall be working. It was also spent cleaning the house for in 2 months a blanket of dust can quite quickly build up. We are extremely fortunate and have a western toilet and a working shower, even if it it's cold and the toilet actually doesn't flush. We also have mattress for the floor and a water filter. As soon as we cleaned it started to look much better and it already feels like home. It feels natural and normal to wake up to the shinnying sun through my bleary eyes and it is so refreshing having a freezing shower.

The Living Room

The Kitchen

Washing up anyone...

  One week down and the sun is getting hotter and the fans are proving not to be very powerful. We have been to visit the communities which we will be working in and spoken to the local schools about working in them. Sadly as it's exam time we haven't had much success in booking sessions for the older age groups. I have been learning to be more patient in the process, for everything takes a long time to get started.  Planning sessions  also takes time as we are a large group and so we must all discuss, which is good just sometimes less action is taken as we spend so long talking about what to do.  The previous team mentioned in their handover notes, which we got a week and half after arriving at placement, that they left a manual of resources and ideas which they had started so we could continue and have a good starting point. Unfortunately this hasn't been found and so we are starting at the very beginning, which may usually be the place to start (Sound of Music) but for development sustainability of these poor communities I fear  our work in these short few months won't begin to make the impact it could have if we had been better resourced. 

We have however made an amazing connection with the Don Bosco's orphanage and have been given 3 sessions a week at the community centre for women and children. I am so excited. The man who runs the centre used to know and work with Mother Teresa. Brother Lucas runs a week of training for the women where they learn trades such as sewing and weaving in the morning followed by an afternoon of study up to 12 standard (sixform) and then they are fully funded to study future at college and university if they wish too.  

This first week and a bit has been incredible, I have learn't so much about development work; to be patient; how to become involved in discussions and have had incredible experiences with the national volunteers as I continue to discover more about this beautiful culture. I am so used to eating with my fingers now, who needs a knife and fork. 

All my love to my friends and family all over the world,
Thinking of you,

Stay Beautiful,

     Zsofia xxxx