Three Incredible Resources

 - Not to be missed

 

I have a long list of Blogs I want to share with you but finding the time seems to be an ongoing struggle.

Today I am going to put three of them together.

During the last couple of weeks I have been exposed to three incredible films/videos/resources. I want to share them with you.

A - "It's a Girl"  

In 2012 the United Nations created the "Day of the Girl" to be celebrated each year on 11 October. Some people may ask why such a day is necessary.  It is true that opportunities for girls have improved in most western countries.  However that is not the case in much of the world.

On October 11, 2013 I had the opportunity to watch the film "The Three Deadliest Words in the World...It's a Girl".

The following description is from the web page (link below) which also contains a trailer of the film. The film can be purchased relatively inexpensively if it is for personal use.

In India, China and many other parts of the world today, girls are killed, aborted and abandoned simply because they are girls. The United Nations estimates as many as 200 million girls⁽¹⁾ are missing in the world today because of this so-called “gendercide”.

Girls who survive infancy are often subject to neglect, and many grow up to face extreme violence and even death at the hands of their own husbands or other family members.

The war against girls is rooted in centuries-old tradition and sustained by deeply ingrained cultural dynamics which, in combination with government policies, accelerate the elimination of girls.

Shot on location in India and China, It’s a Girl reveals the issue. It asks why this is happening, and why so little is being done to save girls and women.

The film tells the stories of abandoned and trafficked girls, of women who suffer extreme dowry-related violence, of brave mothers fighting to save their daughters’ lives, and of other mothers who would kill for a son. Global experts and grassroots activists put the stories in context and advocate different paths towards change, while collectively lamenting the lack of any truly effective action against this injustice.

The Three Deadliest Words in the World

It is one thing to know intellectually that 'gendercide' exists, it is quite another to see it and hear it from the women themselves.

This is a powerful film and a 'must see' for anyone who has a girl in their life.

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B - "Schooling the World - The White Man's Last Burden"

On the strong recommendation of my son Trevor who is a teacher in British Columbia, Canada, I downloaded this film ($5.00), watched it, and will watch it again and again.

There is also a 51 page discussion guide and companion to the film that can be downloaded. The guide contains the history of formal education, other ways of knowing information, statistics, stories, quotes, and raises many questions for all of us who are in the business of teaching. 

http://schoolingtheworld.org 

About the Film

Taken from the web site.  

SYNOPSISIf you wanted to change an ancient culture in a generation, how would you do it?You would change the way it educates its children.The U.S. Government knew this in the 19th century when it forced Native American children into government boarding schools. Today, volunteers build schools in traditional societies around the world, convinced that school is the only way to a ‘better’ life for indigenous children.But is this true? What really happens when we replace a traditional culture’s way of learning and understanding the world with our own? SCHOOLING THE WORLD takes a challenging, sometimes funny, ultimately deeply disturbing look at the effects of modern education on the world’s last sustainable indigenous cultures.Beautifully shot on location in the Buddhist culture of Ladakh in the northern Indian Himalayas, the film weaves the voices of Ladakhi people through a conversation between four carefully chosen original thinkers; anthropologist and ethnobotanist Wade Davis, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence; Helena Norberg-Hodge and Vandana Shiva, both recipients of the Right Livelihood Award for their work with traditional peoples in India; and Manish Jain, a former architect of education programs with UNESCO, USAID, and the World Bank.The film examines the hidden assumption of cultural superiority behind education aid projects, which overtly aim to help children “escape” to a “better life” – despite mounting evidence of the environmental, social, and mental health costs of our own modern consumer lifestyles, from epidemic rates of childhood depression and substance abuse to pollution and climate change.It looks at the failure of institutional education to deliver on its promise of a way out of poverty – here in the United States as well as in the so-called “developing” world.And it questions our very definitions of wealth and poverty – and of knowledge and ignorance – as it uncovers the role of schools in the destruction of traditional sustainable agricultural and ecological knowledge, in the breakup of extended families and communities, and in the devaluation of elders and ancient spiritual traditions.Finally, SCHOOLING THE WORLD calls for a “deeper dialogue” between cultures, suggesting that we have at least as much to learn as we have to teach, and that these ancient sustainable societies may harbor knowledge which is vital for our own survival in the coming millennia.

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C - Barefoot Teachers Training Program

I was referred to the next resource by our Volunteer Feedback Coordinator Marc, who saw an article in a Manitoba newspaper. I am going to quote from the newspaper article and include the links to the three part documentary.

October 8, 2013 8:37 pmLearning how to count or sorting out the alphabet can sometimes be taken for granted.
Yet in some parts of the world children will never step foot into a classroom.With the help of a unique teaching program, India’s poorest kids are getting an education and now the University of Manitoba is looking to help.
“They set up schools in some very impoverished communities, under roadways, overpass, if it provides some form of shelter they will set up a school there,” said Dr. Jerome Cranston, the Acting Associate Dean of Education Undergraduate Programs at the University of Manitoba.Earlier this year Cranston travelled to Calcutta with his research assistant to learn more about the Barefoot Teacher Training Programme.The name stems from the belief you only need your feet to walk.The program doesn’t focus on theory. Instead it gives people in some of the poorest neighbourhoods practical tools to teach children who would otherwise never get an education.One place they teach in are brickfields, where children endure painstaking work to help their families survive.“The seven months they will spend in a brickfield school, which is only a couple of hours a day, is their only experience of schooling,” said Cranston. “They will not attend another school in their life.”With financial help from the University of Manitoba, Cranston put together a three part documentary on the innovative teaching methods used, including helping integrate predominantly spoken languages into villages..It’s an idea that some people say could work on First Nations here and in Canada’s most remote communities.“Taking a person from an indigenous community and training them to be a teacher within their own community is not something we focus on here,” said Elise Ahrens-Townsend, Cranston’s research assistant who also travelled to India.Cranston is working to set up a course through the U of M with the program in India to give students a different perspective on teaching methods.“Doing work but also going over there with a sense of humility and learning from them,” said Cranston.

Story continues below

Tamara Forlanski  

You can view the documentary here:

A look inside the Barefoot Teachers Training Programme

Connecting Child Brickfield Workers to Education

A Santal School's Way Forward for the Adivasi in India

http://globalnews.ca/news/890772/u-of-m-looks-to-help-teach-indias-poorest-children/

 

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When Tania started to 'teach' in Mumbai thirteen years ago, she realized quickly that neither the traditional western educational methods, not the Indian educational methods worked with the street/slum children she was teaching.

It was also not possible to separate learning from the daily life of the families.  Imposing western cultural values is not the way to operate.  One! International has aspects of the Barefoot Teacher Training Program.  The aim of the education that is provided by One! International is not to produce doctors.  The goal is to provide future options for the children and their families.  

I'm sorry this blog is so very long.

I do believe it contains valuable information.

I hope you enjoyed it. 

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      "Let's Get Acquainted" dinner
    Vancouver, BC on July 25, 2013

 
 

 

On Thursday July 25, 2013 78 people gathered in Vancouver to feast on a traditional Indian meal, and listen to Tania Didi and guests talk about One! International - founding of the organization, the work being done at the two schools in India, and the Health Program which is ensuring that "our" children and families in India receive the medical attention they need.

There was a talented guitar player, and two young dancers to entertain the assembled guests, and a wonderful Henna artist  made a couple of young ladies very happy with her designs.

 

 

 

 

One! International has been very fortunate to have incredible support from the Katta family of Vancouver. In the summer of 2012 there was a Blog about Anjan Katta's "Top 20 Under 20" award.  This dinner in Vancouver would not have been successful without the incredible support of Amrutha and Raj Katta.  Amrutha did most of the cooking - with her group of supporters - and Raj sold most of the tickets for the event. 



Amrutha on right overseeing the kitchen.

 

Daughter Anjali who will be helping out at the schools in India for the third time this summer, and who has already facilitated a huge fundraiser at her school, was a shining light at this dinner even though she was not present. 

 

Anjali prepared a video message for the assembled guests. Her message which was played at the beginning of the evening set the stage for the rest of the proceedings. She is a passionate believer of the work being done in India by One! International and was able to verbalize that belief in a clear and articulate manner.

 

 

Anjali's Speech     

 

http://youtu.be/GlWr-b7vwA4

 

 

 

 

One! International is incredibly lucky to have the support of the Katta family. Saying Thank You, no matter how large it is in print, is clearly not enough. But, saying Thank You needs to be said.





 

 

One! International Health Project

 

Optometry and Respirology

 

 

 

 

 

The One! International children have benefited over the years from volunteer medical personnel visits starting in 2002 when a Canadian doctor made a stop in Mumbia to look at the children and make some recommendations.

 

Staff in India have formed relationships with local doctors were possible.

 

One of our rural trained nurse practitioner volunteer proposed a Health Program involving nurse volunteers in the fall of 2010. The program was instituted in April 2011 when Alysha Lust and another nurse from Canada performed medical assessments on all our children and families. Alysha has become the Health Program Coordinator and has set up a number of projects that can be done by nurse volunteers in short term placements. Several projects were completed in 2011 and 2012 including First Aid Training for staff and ongoing assessments.

 

In the beginning of December 2012 Ajitha Sugnanan, a Dentist from Australia, set up a one week dental camp and examined well over 175 children and adults.  These examinations resulted in over 70 extractions, 24 fillings and 84 cleanings. Ajitha has indicated she will return to do further work.

                     -----------------------------

 

Fortune again favoured One! International when Canadian Optometrist Sharmin Habib OD and her husband Alim Hirji BHSc, MD, FRCPC (special Respirology) were refered to One! International by long term family supporters the Meyer family. Sharmin and Alim planned a long travel trip to India for personal discovery and charitable work.  They formed their own charity to raise funds for projects and needy individuals they knew they would meet on their trip.

 

http://www.themakechangeproject.com

 

Sharmin and Alim were in Mumbai from the end of March to the middle of April 2013. Sharmin was also working at the Lotus Eye Hospital during this time.

 

Sharmin saw 265 children, staff and parents to conduct eye examinations.  She referred 55 of these for further tests and glasses to the Lotus Eye Hospital (a charitable organization in Mumbai, India). A further 26 require glasses.

 

Alim conducted 66 general medical assessments. He made detailed recommendations for follow-up with 22 of the assessments. Alim was able to utilize the nursing assessments in deciding who needed further assessment, along with referrals by the staff.

 

This couple also made significant dollar donations from their charity to cover the costs of: the medical assessments and medications given, the costs for the glasses required of approximately $750, and the costs for Kokila's cosmetic surgery, estimated at $1,000 to repair the lip burned in the propane accident of 2011.

 

One! International is fortunate to have had committed health professionals to care for "our children".

 

As part of their travels, Shalim and Alim have been taking videos of the agencies and people who have received donations to their charity or work. Below are three descriptions and video links to the videos showing their involvement with One! International in Mumbai. The descriptions and video links were taken from the Make the Change Project website.

 

Thank you Shalim and Alim. 

 

 

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Published on Mar 31, 2013

The children at the One! International School in the Khar Slums of Mumbai are healthy thanks to Nancy and Janice Grossman & Jessica Wong, who have paid for all their laboratory investigations, medicines and doctor's consultations for over 60 kids there. Learn more about the amazing things One! International has done at:    www.one-international.com  

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX-YGpLUCOA 

 

 

Published on Apr 8, 2013

Kokila is a wonderful 16 year old girl from the Khar slums of Mumbai who was burned in a cooking fire in her home made of plastic.Thanks to Sharla Olsen and Darby Cassidy
& Abid and Farah Dobani, she will be able to have facial reconstructive plastic surgery this summer. Learn about her and the excellent work of One! International.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URJAbrRxADk 

 

 

Published on Apr 10, 2013

In the spirit of their upcoming wedding, Ali Madhani and Nafisa Kassam have donated to the One! International schools in the slums of Mumbai, to pay for all their eye care. This includes covering the cost of glasses, follow ups and surgical care for over 200 children who had their eye's checked by our very own Dr. Sharmin of the Make Change Project!

 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BtLPHMUZGtg

 

 

 

 





FINDING BALANCE

GALA 2013

 



The theme for the 2013 Gala was "Finding Balance". Tania Spilchen spoke of the challenges in finding balance in One! International and in our own lives. 

Not all of the speech was captured by video, so I have included some initial notes before the video link.
                                 ----------------------------------------------------

Ever since I was little, my mama always said – “You have to find the balance, my dear”.  As a kid, my answer was “Yes Mom!” but then as I grew up I began to see that there was actually some truth to this!  You can’t spend too much time on school work or you get stressed out – you have to find the balance.  You can’t eat too much and you can’t eat too little – you have to find the balance.  You can’t spend too much time having fun cuz there are things that just need to get done – you have to find the balance.  You can’t only eat healthy things because then one day you are just going to have a craving and then you’ll go overboard – you have to find the balance.  The examples are endless…

Working with One! over the past 13 years, I have encountered some more great examples of the need for balance in personal life, in professional life as well as in the life of what is One!.

Staff:

Younger staff with enthusiasm.  Older staff with experience and wisdom. The children can gain so much from both elements.

Professional staff and student helpers or aides.   The younger children see the student teachers as mentors and hope for their future.

Families:

Education vs. Income.  The families struggle with wanting their children to be educated, but needing them to contribute to the family income.

Health Food vs. Cheap Food (evident here in Canada also)   It is often cheaper to buy less nutritional food then food that is healthy.

The rest of Tania’s speech was captured by video.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLONfZmLxC0

 

 

Most members of the Gala Planning Committee

 

 

Most of the evening's volunteers.

 

 

We could never have had such a successful Gala if we did not have such a wonderful group of volunteers who believe in One! International.   THANK YOU 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Today is the day set aside worldwide to celebrate women.

Today, please remember all the women in your life and celebrate them.

Today, please think of all those women in the world who do not have reason to celebrate, nor do they have anyone to celebrate them.

Today, let's think of ways we can make the world a better place for them - a world in which they too will be celebrated.

Today, I want to share with you parts of a speech given at a memorial celebration for Damini, a young women killed in Delhi.  The speech was given by Mariam Thomas, president of the Indo-Canadian Women's Association in Edmonton Alberta on  February 15, 2013.

Today, the words of Mariam's speech should give all of us the incentive to make next years International Women's Day a more encompassing day of celebration worldwide.

Good evening to all the dignitaries and friends who have gathered here to solemnly honour not only “Damini” a daughter of India but all the daughters of the world who have been murdered by violent, horrific and absolutely heinous means
In December 2012, a 23yr old student was brutally gang raped by five men in a moving bus in the Indian capital –Delhi. Her male friend and she were beaten with an iron rod and thrown off the bus onto the road, barely conscious. A minute prior to the incident she was just another one of us, going home after watching a movie with a friend. Then suddenly she becomes the random victim of a crime so mindless and horrific.

Last week in Johannesburg, South Africa a teenager was gang raped, sliced open from her stomach to her genitals and left for dead on a construction site. Last year South Africans were shocked when village boys gang raped a 17yr old developmentally delayed young girl. The crime came to light when one of the rapists made a cell phone video of the rape and posted it on the internet. It went viral.
In Papua New Guinea, a mob stripped, tortured and bound a woman accused of witchcraft and burnt her alive in front of hundreds of witnesses.

All these cases and events have provoked outrage and anger. The gang rape in India has led to a fierce and unprecedented debate on attitudes to women. The walls of silence surrounding sex crime have cracked. It has triggered citizen’s uprising for a collective call for action. In Johannesburg, the rape and mutilation has sparked a rare outburst of anger. In Papua New Guinea, the public fiercely retaliated by stating that it was absolutely reprehensible that women, the old and the disabled are targeted for alleged sorcery or wrong and brutally murdered

Around the world, violence against women and girls is a sad daily reality.
Statistics compiled by the United Nations shows that abuse and brutality inflicted on women and children are real and increasing at an amazing rate. These numbers do not take into account victims who remain in silence for fear of reprisals.
According to the UN, in the United States of America a woman is beaten by her partner every 15 seconds. In South Africa, a woman is raped every 23 seconds. In Bangladesh, almost half of the women have suffered physical abuse at the hands of their spouse. In Canada, every six days a woman is killed by her intimate partner. Every day there are more than three hundred women and children staying in emergency shelters to escape domestic violence. In 2009, 67 women were killed by their husbands or boyfriends. In 2010, there were 582 known cases of murdered or missing aboriginal women. In just one year, 4 hundred 27,000 women aged 15 and up were reported to be victims of sexual assault.

The women who are beaten and tortured every day never signed up for this type of tyranny. They were just fighting for their lives. It’s happening everywhere and no one knows how to contain it...................

Gender based violence affects all of us. It destroys families; weakens the fabric of our society and takes a heavy toll on our communities and or economy. All women have the fundamental right to live in safety and security without fear of violence, abuse, or oppression in their relationship..............

This is a time for each one of us to stop, think and reflect. We need to do some soul searching within ourselves. Our attitudes and our mindsets towards women of different color, religion, status and position and ability need to change. We as parents, teachers, educators, need to instill in our children that everyone no matter who they are needs to be treated with respect and dignity. Conversations with our children about treating everyone with respect can start in our homes. We need to tell ourselves that we have the power to work hand in hand with each other and with agencies and organizations at the municipal, provincial and federal levels in combating these brutal tendencies. We need to initiate conversations with our provincial government and municipal council in creating a vehicle through which the voices of women can be heard, ensuring that our voices are included in the decision making process, in the development and implementation of policy pertaining to women' s health and safety

Violence against women is a powerful barrier to women’s equality and a violation of women’s human rights. It is a complex systemic problem that requires a comprehensive approach in developing a solution. Every woman is a human being who needs to be treated with dignity and respect

 

The above is shared with permission, and is taken from the February, 2013,
 Indo-Canadian Women's Association newsletter.  

"Tonight we are One!"

One! International Charity Event

Friday January 25, 2013

Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Indo-Canadian TELEGRAM February/March 2013 Winnipeg, Manitoba

"Few classroom projects have the impact that Priya Tandon’s will have – giving underprivileged children in India an opportunityto get an education and improve their lives. The Red River College student organized a fundraising dinner on Jan. 25 that raised $5,700 for One! International Poverty Relief, a Canadian charity that operates two schools in Mumbai. Contributing to the success of Tandon’s project were volunteers, sponsors and entertainers, including dancers from Manohar Performing.

Priya Tandon

 

A fundraising dinner on Jan 25 at Norwood Community Centre raised $5,700 for One! International Poverty Relief, a Canadian charity that’s striving to improve the lives of impoverished children in Mumbai by providing them with

education and other needs. What began as a project for Priya Tandon’s Creative Communications program at Red River College became a very successful event, as a diverse group of volunteers and sponsors contributed time and money to the cause. One! International is the brainchild of Tania Spilchen of Alberta. During one of her volunteer placements in Mumbai, Spilchen learned that there were far too many young children who were unable to get a formal education, the one thing they and their families wanted most.

Determined to change that, one child at a time, Spilchen returned to Canada and spoke of her mission to friends and anyone else who would listen. With the support of her family, she planned a mission to return to Mumbai and open a school for these children.

With what is still a very small budget through donations from the public sector and some grant money from her provincial government, Spilchen has successfully opened two schools, in the suburb of Khar and in Nallasopara. The schools not only provide an education but also nutritious meals, medical attention, emergency medical care and counselling for the students and parents.

Tandon had also wanted to make a difference, partly because of an experience she had when her father took her to India some years ago. It was a hot day and she had gone out with an uncle and siblings to get ice-cream. She noticed a young child looking at her eating her ice cream and learned that what Canadian children often take for granted – being able to afford ice-cream – wasn’t the case for many children in India.

The fundraising dinner, which drew about 175 supporters, was smoothly emceed by Adam West of 103.1 Virgin Radio. The program began with a beautiful classical dance rendition of a blessing done to a successful opening by Manohar Performing Arts of Canada, led by Devi Kirtan. That was followed by Winnipeg’s sitar virtuoso Joshua Stanton, accompanied by Sandhu Singh on tabla. Ten-yearold Anisha Sharma followed with a classical Indian dance piece that was so well executed that she received a standing ovation for her spirited performance.

The audience, organizers and performers took a break to have a sumptuous dinner and dessert provided by title sponsor Trevor Ahluwalia of Clay Oven. Most attendees went back for seconds, hoping their choices would still be available, and there was plenty for all to have seconds.

Following dinner, Spilchen, founder of One! International, showed the audience a video of her project in Mumbai and spoke about the work being done there.  This was followed by Tandon's story of why she got involved in this event and her heartfelt appreciation for the event sponsors and volunteers in making shtis evening possible.

Then the group "OH HASEENA!" performed vocal tunes, accompanied on tabla and harmonium, and the West Indians United band followed with western drum sets, Indian drum sets, kepboard, harmonium, khalak and percussion instruments.  the music was loud with very catchy music and beats that had the audience taping their toes and bobbing their heads to the music.  Finally thier 8 year old drummer took the stage and went into overdrive, matching beats played on the tabla with the tempo rising progressively.  The audience was on its feet, applauding this thunderous operformance, which brought the evening to a fitting end.

Dignitaries in attendance included MP Rod Bruinooge, City Councillor Devi Sharma and School Trustee Derek Dabee.

Tandon's team of volunteers included Michelle Gazze, Rich Tandon, Jocelyn Jancey Francis and Wajihah Mughai.

The success of the evening was also due to the following sponsors: Clay Oven, LiveWell Chiropractic, AVW TELAV, Royal Crest Granite, Southglen Veterinary Hospital, Tatan Hauling, Elite Lighting, Vantage Studios & Print Shop, Ballycastle Distributors, Party Stuff, Sarah and Nathan Pao of Coldwell Banker, Anita Seth of Royal Bank of Canada, the Guyanese Association of Manitob and Western Financial.

 

MORE INFO

For further information about One! International, please visit www.one-international.com or email the founder directly at Tania@one-international.com .  "

 

 

THANK YOU PRIYA

from

ONE! INTERNATIONAL

 

 

The following link links to a previous article about Priya Tandon and her plans for the fundraiser.

 

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/lance/Student-wants-unity-for-fundraiser-for-kids-187935531.html

 

 

 

and owner of

LiveWell Chiropractic Wellness Centre, and Chantal Raper, massage therapist at LiveWell.

PEARL IN THE GARBAGE DUMP

 

 

 

Did I capture your attention with that title?  It sounds like the title of a book, doesn't it?

 

It is the title of a book.  Marc Valentin, who volunteered for 5 months in India from September 2010 to February 2011 has written a book about his adventures with One! International in Mumbai, India.

 

Marc has developed a Facebook page to promote the future sales of his book.
                   Pearl in the Garbage Dump
             https://www.facebook.com/PearlinTheGarbageDump  

As Marc says on his Facebook page:

Friends, thank you so much for taking the time to support my book. A few things worth noting...

1) it is written but unpublished,
2) I am in the process of querying agents (this is more work than writing the book)
3) More content will be forthcoming (I'm joyfully overwhelmed responding to emails of support).
4) When the book does get published, half of the proceeds I collect will go back to the charity.
5) Yes, that is me on the cover. I will post the back cover in the next day or two so that you can see me when I'm scrubbed up lol
6) I really appreciate all of you. Old friends and new ones, I cannot say "thank you enough" for helping.

Thank you again,

Marc Valentin

 

  About

Whether you dream about making your own escape, are searching for your own sources of strength, or simply love to travel, your curiosity will peak...

 

Description

Longing to add meaning to his life, investment banker Marc Valentin trades the security of a fat paycheck for the uncertainty of teaching the poorest children on the planet.

Although his new colleagues guide his transition from pitching stocks on the trading floors to sweeping floors in a Mumbai schoolhouse, only Marc has the power to validate the life-changing decision. But first, he must confront the brutality of slum life, the chaos of Indian society, and an illness that eats away at his body.  Will Marc, who never gives up on anything, meet his match and lose his self-respect and possibly his life? Whether you are searching for your own sources of strength, dream about making your own escape, or simply love to travel, your curiosity will peak as Marc unveils his firsthand experience across all three. front the brutality of slum life, the chaos of Indian society, and an illness that eats away at his body. Will Marc, who never gives up on anything, meet his match and lose his self-respect and possibly his life?

Whether you are searching for your own sources of strength, dream about making your own escape, or simply love to travel, your curiosity will peak as Marc unveils his firsthand experience across all three.

front the brutality of slum life, the chaos of Indian society, and an illness that eats away at his body. Will Marc, who never gives up on anything, meet his match and lose his self-respect and possibly his life?

Whether you are searching for your own sources of strength, dream about making your own escape, or simply love to travel, your curiosity will peak as Marc unveils his firsthand experience across all three.

Besides being with my family,this dirty, broken road is my favorite place in the world.  Nowhere else on earth am I happier because as I walk up this road to my school, my students come running out from everywhere and give me hugs.

 

Not all of the volunteers, staff, students, families, and supporters who are part of the One! International world family will agree with Marc's observations and comments about the school, organization, students, families, city and country.

This is Marc's story, and it is his journey.

However, I think all of us will agree with many of the observations, and comments; see ourselves in some of the pages; laugh and cry with him in parts of his story.

Please join with me in supporting Marc's project.

One of the many games of cricket we played in the garbage dump.