Taya and Dilshaad

In February and March of 2009, the Wall/Davis family of Sherwood Park, AB, Canada volunteered with One! International in Mumbai. This was the first family to volunteer, as a family, in India. Perry, Wendy, Taya(12 years) and Harper(10 years) have been supporters of One! for over five years in a variety of capacities; both Taya and Harper are passionate in their desire to help their peers on the other side of the world.

The following story was written by Taya Wall about an incident that occured with her Mumbai friend Dilshaad.

Dilshaad by Taya Wall - 12 yrs.

Last year in February and March, when my family and I were volunteering for One! International in Mumbai, India, I made some very good friends at the Khar school. One of them, Dilshaad, I became close to almost right away. We first connected when we both started laughing at something funny in an English class that I was a student in. She spoke good English, so we were able to communicate easily, and we would talk and laugh whenever we were together. As her paid job for the school, Dilshaad cooked dinner for us and the other volunteers. Everyday we rode back to the volunteer apartments in a rickshaw with each other. One of the ways that she chose to express our friendship was to give me small gifts. These gestures really touched me because I knew how little she had.

Mum, Dad, Harper and I had been in India for two months and we were getting a bit uncomfortable with how hot the climate was. Both Harper and I were eager to go swimming, so we began the search for a pool. One of the other volunteers, Zoe, regularly went swimming quite close to the volunteer apartments where we lived. She offered to take us to the pool. On a hot afternoon after the school day, Zoe, Mum, Harper, Dilshaad and I were riding back to the apartments (Dilshaad was coming to cook for us). Zoe had the rickshaw driver stop outside the courtyard where the pool was located. We were a little surprised to see the clean and upper-class building, but excitement and intent on swimming rushed us past the guards. We were already most of the way in when I noticed that Dilshaad wasn't with us. Immediately, with a numb realization, I knew something was wrong, I searched for her and saw her sitting outside waiting, not even attempting to try and come inside. When I think back on it now, I think this is what upset me the most. That Dilshaad knew her place, and was so used to being treated like she was in the lowest class, that it wasn't a second thought to her. She just knew that she would not be allowed inside by the guards. For me, this experience was one of the most emotional and distressing during our stay. It saddens me to think that Dilchaad is the same as me, but is treated so differently by many people in her own country.

After that experience we decided that we didn't want to swim at that pool anymore. One! is working at changing the kids' attitudes towards themselves, as well as the attitudes of society around them. Already little by little it is working. For example, on Saturdays volunteers and teachers take the kids to the park or the beach. Afterwards, they take them to a restaurant. The restaurant used to not like it when we brought the kids in, but now they call Tania if the group is late, to check and make sure that the children are still coming. I still keep in touch with Dilshaad and my other friends over the phone and Skype. I miss them very much, and I'm sure that our relationships will still be the same when I go back.

Taya has very astutely described what the children and families face every day of their lives. As Taya says: "little by little" change is happening.


Tune in next blog for a poem untitled " First Day" by Harper Wall.

The G(irls)20 Summit

Over the last week in Toronto,Ontario, Canada, 21 girls from all over the world have gathered prior to the G20 leaders meeting. They have been discussing and raising awareness of the issues affecting girls and women from around the world.

The Globe and Mail newspaper has been running a series of interviews each day of the young women.

Tanvi Girotra, aged 19, from India, was asked: "What's the No.1 thing G20 leaders must do to improve the lives of girls and women?"

Part of her response was: "In India, every day, a girl is forced into prostitution by her own husband. Another one is raped on a lonely street. Hundreds of women go through domestic violence in their homes due to insufficient dowry brught by them. Each and every day, a girl ceases to exist. She dies inside."

When asked what she hoped to gain from attending the G(irls)20 Summit, she replied:
"Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." I hope to meet those thoughtful and passionate groups of individuals who, like me, believe that together we can work toward a world where women are not repressed but respected for who they are."

We, at One! International, believe that a small group of people can make a difference. One of our girl students, Mallika, tells us that she wants to study to be a doctor. She certainly has the ability, and the work ethic to accomplish what she desires.

The fact that Mallika feels becoming a doctor is a possible goal, indicates that "a difference" has already been made.

Teacher of the Year

The following is an article Tania wrote in January 2010, and it is an appropriate follow up to the last blog.

I feel honoured to be able to write this article on our "Teacher of the Year for 2009 - Vijay Balan.

Vijay joined One! International on December 1, 2008. From the first day that he walked into the school,it was easy to see that he was a very hard-worker and had a heart full of love to give to those he felt needed it. He decided that the children of Nallasopara needed his energy.

In 2009, Vijay played a crucial role in helping to organize the school and make it work more efficiently. As this happened, more and more families heard about us and wanted to join.

Vijay is well respected in the area for his no nonsense way of getting work done and helping not only the children, but also the parents. Everyone knows that if Vijay says it will get done - it will. They also know that he will be honest with them and try the best he can to do any task.

The only problem we have ever had with Vijay is that he works too hard. If he had the choice, he would work 15 hour days every day - we had to enforce a rule that everyone leaves at the same time so that he doesn't!

We are very proud of Vijay and lucky to have him as a very important member of our One! International family.

Nallasopara - The Journey to get there.

The real leader has no need to lead-he is content to point the way. Henry Miller

Nallasopara is a community on the northern boundary of the city of Mumbai. Many families moving to Mumbai from the rural areas can not afford to live in Mumbai, and thus settle in Nallasopara.

There are few services in the area. There are no government schools, and only a few inadequate private schools. It is estimated that in the immediate area of Nallasopara where One! operates a school with the current registration of 246 students (over 200 attend regularly), there are well over 100 school aged children who are still not attending any school and closer to a thousand children who are receiving an inadequate education.

The Nallasopara school "Ek Asha" - meaning 'one hope' - is a joint project by One! International and Children's Hope India (www.childrenshopeindia.org)
One! International began teaching in the area in 2007. Expansion of services has been made possible with the partnership of Children's Hope India in June of 2009.

Progress and work at the school will be a subject of a future blog and information will also be posted on the One! web page.( www.one-international.com)

I want to share with you the journey that must be taken to get to the school in Nallasopara - written by Tania.

The journey to Nallasopara from the volunteer apartment in Bandra is an arduous one. They leave their house by 6:30am and take a rikshaw to Bandra Station hoping to get there in time to catch the 7:11 fast train. The train ride is a beautiful one at that time without much rush but it is 55 minutes long. From the Nallasopara train station it is a short 5 minute walk to the shared rikshaw stand where five people are crammed into a 3 man vehicle. The rikshaw ride to Santosh Bhavan (our locality) is 15-20 minutes. From the main road, they then walk 20 minutes in to the school. All in all it is a complicated and arduous 2 hours from door to door.

Many Indian job seekers have come to Nallasopara for a job interview and immediately turned around never to be seen again because of the difficulty of travel and the underdeveloped state of the suburb itself. Our volunteers never complain and just take it as part of the experience. They are very committed and courageous! Some of our staff travel even longer: Vijay and Bhavesh 2 1/2 hours and Vinita 2 hours 45 minutes.

Indian Cooking

I mentioned in the One! International Update, June 2010, that we were so lucky to have two of our wonderful supporters in Edmonton, aution off their cooking skills at our Gala in January.

Sonia and Vijay are excellent cooks and they were wonderful teachers as well. I attended all three sessions, and so I was able to sample all the food presented.

I thought perhaps you might be interested in one of the recipes. I chose 'Butter Chicken' as that seems to be a consistent favourite with most people.

1.5 kg chicken pieces
(can be a mix of breasts and thighs)
2 medium sized onions thinly sliced
2 tbsp oil
1/2 cup yoghurt
1 tbsp butter or cream (optional)
Marinade: 2 tbsp ginger paste
1&1/2 tbsp garlic paste
2 tbsp garam masala
1 cup plain yoghurt
2 tbsp lime juice
1/4 tsp orange food colour
1 tbsp powdered green cardamoms,
cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves
2 cups crushed tomatoes
Handful chopped coriander/cilanro
1 tsp red chilli powder
salt

Add the chicken to the marinade, mix well. Keep aside for a few hours or overnight. In a wok or deep pan, heat oil and fry onions until soft and edges are brown. Add the chicken and all the marinade. Cook covered for 45 minutes or till the chicken is tender. Add 1/2 cup yoghurt and 1 tbsp butter or cream. Mix well and serve.

Butter chicken goes well with rice and a vegetable dish.

Enjoy. If people are interested I could add more recipes from time to time.

Tania's Surgery

Some of you already know that Tania had to go into hospital for knee surgery on June 4rth. On May 6, 2010 she hurt her knee playing soccer with the older boys on Sports Day. After a couple of weeks, she thought things were getting better - took a wrong step and the knee collapsed again. This time the doctor referred her for an MRI and recommended Meniscus Cartilage repair and ACL repair. He did not think it was a good idea for her to try to come back to Canada for the surgery, and so she had the surgery done on June 4, 2010.

She is still in hospital, but the doctor is pleased with the repair - apparently it was a very bad tear. She should be out of hospital tomorrow or Wednesday. She is hoping she will be able to travel by month end and come home to Canada for rehabilitation - monsoon is coming to India and there are not too many smooth sidewalks or roads in Mumbai. She will be on crutches for some time.

It will be a long recovery - back to normal after a few months and hopefully 'better than normal' by year end. Tania has had some difficulties with her knee since swimming days. There will be no golfing with papa, soccer and cricket with the boys, swimming the breast stroke, climbing the rock walls with her nieces, or running anywhere.

It - of course - has been a number of years since Tania needed her mother by her side; however, I must admit that it has been difficult for George and I, her parents, to know your daughter is in hospital and you aren't there with her. Thank heaven for cell phones. Joshua has taken fantastic care of her and will have to until she leaves India. He was very ill and in hospital in April, and so they are taking turns looking after each other.

Thankfully the staff in India - Vinita, Mahendra, Vijay and Chitra have gained confidence in their abilities to manage their respective areas (2nd in command and Social Worker, Teacher Coordination, Nallasopara Administration and Khar Administration). Tania has been able to supervise and consult from home, but staff has 'carried the day'.

Sunil - Grade 10 Exams

One of the difficulties "our One! children" have in furthering their education, is the lack of proof of who they are and how old they are - they don't have birth certificates. Tania, after consultation with the parents, will give the child a birthdate - everyone needs a birthdate for celebration.

In order to properly make use of the Indian school system(access and grade certificates) the children require a birth certificate. Proof of obtaining a grade seven certificate is required before they are allowed to challenge the Grade 10 exams. Passing these exams allows them to go on to college.

One of our teachers, Anil, has been working hard over the last few years to get birth certificates for some of our children. Less than 5% of the children allready have them. Anil has found a few people willing to help and he has already been successful in obtaining several birth certificates for our children.
The next challenge will be to see if One!International can certify that the student has reached a certain level of education.
We have several young people who are close to being able to challenge the grade 10 exams.

However, we are very very proud of Sunil.
In 2009 Sunil wrote and passed two grade 10 exams: Home Sciences and Computer Literacy.
This year in April he wrote three more exams: Math, English, and Bussiness.
We have to wait until August to see if he passed these exams.
Sunil is committed to continuing writing his exams. Sunil is an incredible artist, and it would be wonderful if he was able to pursue such a career.

The effects of him trying to pass the grade 10 exams are already felt within the student population. Several of the older young people are indicating they would also like to write the exams.

What a wonderful role model Sunil has become.