Volunteers Speak Out ----------- Part Three

...hard experience for someone who comes from a develop country, very rich in terms of experience and learning, for sure, I think I will recommend to everyone to be able to open their minds, be more tolerant and appreciate what we have.  The kids were amazing, full of energy and joy, even in than circumstances, they always teach you the real importance of life.         I.P.

Teach them as well the importance of hygiene, despite is quite a challenge and probably not the priority, but will help them a lot in health care, provide them better conditions at the school, ventilation, toilets...and organized,if possible better work structure and previous information to the volunteers.       I.P.

Be aware of where are you going to do, volunteer it is not a 'romatice idea' of helping others, some of us can, some others can not deal with it, be aware of your capacities, enthusiasm abut the job and what are you willing to sacrifice, if you still decide to go, search for information and try to stay longer than a month, to be able to learn, teach and know the kids, the other teachers and about the One! and the work they are doing. Over all, I will recommend everyone to go through such an experience, despite the incommodities; I think you learn so much more of what you can provide them in return.                             I.P.

I think an orientation upon arrival would have helped immensely.  I arrived when Tanya was in Canada and I feel that I missed out a bit on how I could have best contributed to the organization.                                                   C.L.

Except for the massive and ongoing water shortage .....the accommodation was great and suited the needs and aims of the program.  I did not volunteer to teach in Mumbai and expect a single bedroom/five star hotel - and I would have been disgusted to have been given such things! :)                            C.L.

Most difficult was the heat (I would recommend explaining where to buy oral re-hydration packages to the volunteers) and the general inequality in the treatment of women in India.  I was once groped close to the apartment by a random man during broad daylight while walking back from he store with another volunteer - it was a hard situation to get over but in the end it did not tarnish my entire experience.  It was a great experience to be so quickly integrated into the One! family and allowed to witness the culture of India from the inside out.         C.L.

Speak to a past volunteer!            Keep doing what you're doing!!                 N.J.

Maybe there would have been a good idea more information about how the teaching works.  About the different levels, and more exactly what kind of things the kids should learn, just to get started with the teaching a bit faster.     E.B.

You are an inspiration.  You show both the kids and the volunteers that it's possible to make a difference.                             E.B.

Be well prepared, be ready to work hard, and don't expect volunteering to be a vacation.  E.B.

Preparation.  Whoa! This is a tough question to answer but I would say "No". I had been to India before and understood what the culture is like, especially for foreigners, but it was still challenging many times.  Regarding One!, I had done my own preparation and talked to teachers about how to manage classes and how to teach.  But nothing is a better teacher than real experience and I soon discovered how ill prepared I was. But, One! has in place a volunteer peer system that overlaps the tenures of the volunteers so that new ones learn from he experienced ones about the organization, the city, the accommodations and the culture.  Plus, the regular teachers at One! wee always available to help and their efforts were extraordinary.  One! also has an excellent support structure via J and A who ensured that volunteers were taken care of.  So although I answered that I was not prepared, One! has all of the levers necessary to make the transition and succeed.                              M.V.

Children.  Unbelievable.  They gave me far more than I could ever give them.  I had an extremely favourable experience with the kids.          M.V.

Balance is created by the individual.  I found myself working many hours in the evening and several weekends so I didn't have much free time.  But it was my choice to do so and never imposed on me.  It was not a burden but a labour of love.     M.V.

Incredible India! I loved it and many, many times I hated it.  However, today, I know I am a better man because of it.                         M.V.

Strongest Points.  People! It is true in any organization.  It starts at the top with the leadership.  Tania runs a tight ship and it is absolutely necessary.  But at the same time,she gives everyone a long leash to improve themselves and the school.  She provides infinite support to teachers, staff and volunteers and is even willing to let us fail and help us in order that we can get better.  The teachers and support staff are outstanding and took great care to look after the volunteers as did J and A.   Integration and acceptance of numerous cultures - India is a xenophobic country.  But at One! people were accepting of other cultures and everyone took great efforts to know the individuals and the cultures.  Another point I think is so strong is the modesty and honesty of the organization.  There is no government support nor do we try to solicit pity.  We are there to help these children and their families.  And even though One! International may not be recognized by many for our outstanding efforts, the angels in Heaven appreciate us.         M.V.

Advice to Future Volunteers.

You are going to learn so much about yourself that you never knew existed.  Every day will involve struggles that you never could possibly imagine.  But you will learn how to overcome them quickly and be a better person for it.  Ask questions and get to know not only your students but the teachers and the staff.  They all have remarkable stories and character that will rub off on you.  More than anything else, relax, do your best work and enjoy the experience to your fullest because it will go by quickly.                                                      M.V.

We would not be able to do the work we do in India without the contributions of the volunteers who give their time and their energy, and come from all over the world to help the One! children and families.
We are so thankful for their contributions and their commitment 
to                   "Making a Difference".

VOLUNTEERS SPEAK OUT PART 2

                                                               Thaya, Marc & Elin

The teachers and staff are very caring and understanding and try to help the volunteers in any capacity possible (when they are not too shy to talk to them.).                     Shawn.B.

I think the quality can improve if volunteers are more diligent in writing their lesson plans and if they take tome the first few days they arrive to lay out curriculum for the next week or two so as to avoid planning spur of the moment lessons.                       Leah.H.


I thought it was amazing, challenging, and unforgettable experience.  Far from easy a lot of the time, I wouldn't change my decision to go there at all. .......if you have extra volunteers have them tutor some of the older students in English; they are all doing well, but with more one-on-one attention,they could really thrive.                  Leah.H.

Fantastic students who make you feel very appreciated.                         Amy.N.

That was the highlight of the experience.  I enjoyed the 5 days a week and occasional Saturday.  It was the most precious of experiences.                                 K.N.

I think the curriculum that Tania and her team have established is at a strong level......Learning and growing intellectually, but also socially and personally, this is so much more important for them. 

It is such an amazing experience.  There's no comparison really.  It must be lived to understand what it is, and what it is nothing like we experience in North America.  It has changed my perceptions of basic needs and consumption.

Your strongest points are the sense of community created between the staff, the kids, and the volunteers.

Be prepared to have a mind altering and life changing experience.  go with an open mind and an open heart.                                         K.N.

It was nice to feel you were making a difference to people's lives through experience, rather than just sticking  your hands in your pocket. 
I think One! International needs to make sure it gets more commitment out of volunteers though.  People need to realize that they are being put up for free by a charity and that a couple of weeks teaching isn't really enough.  I think for what you offer volunteers, you should make them sign up for 3 months volunteering minimum. 
Loved it.  Miss it every day of my life - wish I could go back.
What you offer volunteers is unique and you should be proud of it.  when I was looking for charity work, there was no avenue for someone like me who wants to make a difference but has no money.  I also really wanted a hand-on experience and this is very difficult to find.  You gave me a chance to feel I'd made a difference to the lives of some exceptional people, without charging me an extortionate amount like most charities.                                                                    Zoe S. 

Family oriented feel of the organization.  Plenty of support and understanding for someone who is new to the country and the experience.                     Nassim J.

'The kids at One! are truly beautiful and they amaze me in that they can come to school each day with a big smile for you even though their home life is so very dismal and at times abusive.  They have an amazing quality that enable them to just be in the moment and not burden themselves with the overwhelming conditions and atmosphere at home.  I suppose this comes about more so from a need to survive on a daily basis where you cannot dwell on what has happened in the past but to focus on where your next meal is going to come from! It seems there is always a lesson about life to learn here and the chance to reflect on the abundances that we enjoy or seem 5o require in order for us to find happiness.       Perry W.

I loved spending time with the children!.  I think one of the best moments was when I did the home visits with Vinita.  I thought it was really interesting to put everything in perspective and see where these kids were really coming from.  I was so grateful that the families were willing to share their experiences with me.    Sofie M.

My experience at the school cannot be described as anything less than wonderful.  The children were really eager to learn, and everyone, children and faculty, was kind and helpful.. My coworkers quickly became my friends, and the children unfortunately became like my own.  The school in Mumbai is more like a home for a family, and you cannot help but put a piece of your heart in it.    Georgianna

Georgianna went on to say " It is my opinion that the teachers there are not used to being leaders of others: They are only capable of self-leadership.  The teachers are the spirit of the school and I feel that everything will pick up in pace if they improve their leadership skills."   Georgianna will be pleased to know that the teachers are now taking leadership roles in most areas of the school - they have grown in confidence and skills since 2007.  

My first day working at the school I noticed a little girl named Piyu.  She was so tiny...though she was 3 years old, because of malnutrition she looked only about one.  She sat i the corner staring into space, barely able to move or emote at all because she had no energy or strength.  Three month later when I was getting ready to leave, she was starting to talk, laugh, and even dance with the other children.  It was in watching her that I realized that it does not take anything enormous to make a huge impact in the life of a child.  Simple things we take for granted in the first world like basic meals, vitamins, and even love can make a child who can barely move dance.!  ..............
Being part of One! has been such a special experience in my life.  Not everyday was filled with the "warm fuzzy feeling" I had expected to feel helping out in India.  Some days could be very frustrating when the kids didn't feel like listening, or when they got sick, or when the heat was unbearable.  It is easy to feel discouraged in India because for every child you help, you will see 5 more on the street who need help.  I love the idea of One! International: if you can make a change for just one child at a time, you have indeed made a difference.  The love that I felt from the children was such a gift.  They taught me so much about life: how little you really need to survive, how simple things can bring so much joy, and how small actions really can make a hug difference.                                        Erica V.


IT'S ALL FOR THE CHILDREN.
THEY MAKE EVERYTHING WORTHWHILE

PART 3  coming soon.

                      

VOLUNTEERS SPEAK OUT

Some time ago I promised to share with you some of the comments - positive and food for thought - volunteers have shared with us following their volunteer experience with One! in Mumbai, India.

We do have a Volunteer Feedback Form which I try to remember to send out a couple of times each year to the volunteers who have been in India during the previous 6 months to a year.  We ask for feedback on: preparation for the experience, overall experience regarding accommodation, time with children, education children are receiving, improvement areas for the organization, advice for future volunteers and any other comments they want to share with us.

I thought I would review my notes and do a blog.  Well - I think I will need a few blogs.

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The above picture of Alysha is an appropriate way to start this series of blogs. It is an old picture taken in 2007. 
Alysha has just returned to Canada from her third volunteer trip to Mumbai.
This time her trip was very special.
Alysha and her friend Jenny, both of whom are senior experienced nurses, completed a Health Needs Assessment of 216 children and 71 adults in the two school communities.  Most of the assessments were done in Nallasopara, a community with very little access to any health services. Alysha and Jenny have given One! a gold mine of health and family information which will assist in helping the families to achieve greater health and wellness in the time to come.

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

A group of staff and volunteers during Holi Festival (Festival of colours) 



The following comments are in no particular date order, although I will attempt to go from older ones to the more recent ones. 

On my first day at Khar school I was really nervous, would the children like me?  Would the teachers like me?  Would I be good enough at teaching the subjects?  Would anyone understand me?  It turned out my teaching abilities surprised me, I felt like although I was not there for very long I definitely noticed improvements in the children's English language and even in the teacher's!  The children are the funniest, liveliest, most loving children I have ever met.  Despite making my job difficult at times (like any children/teenagers) having strops and getting frustrated, most of the time they were so excited about learning it warmed my heart and made me even more determined to leave my mark on the school.  I'm not sure now that I did do that but I hope the children look back and if they do remember me that they remember me fondly as I do of them.  The Nallasopara school was another challenge for me.  Working with my best friend helped a lot!  At times it was very frustrating as we had to try and implement new strategies that the children weren't used to, but they soon came round and enjoyed their new regime, especially exercise and drama!  I hope to return to both schools and see the improvements in the schools as a whole and the individuals within.  I will never forget my experiences with One! International, they have made me a better person; a more open minded, appreciative individual.                                                                        Lu

Lu wrote the above early in 2008 and is returning to India to see the improvements and progress of the children in November of 2011.

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The following quote was written by a young man who was 15 at the time he worked at the school.  He was visiting family in India and only able to volunteer for a short time.  He is returning to India as an 18year old this coming summer.  He is thinking that he wants to devote his future to some area of education as he has come to realize it's importance in making changes in the world.

I am at loss of words from the brief volunteering I did.  ...........the memories and the gratitude will last a life time.  I still marvel at the genuine affection and intelligence of the children who became not only my students but also my friends and companions who were there to help and offer encouragement at any time.  One of the things I appreciated the most about this trip was that I felt that I learned more than I thought.  More than the Math and the English I taught, the perseverance and the genuine happiness they shared with me taught me something I could never learn from any teacher, parent, or even a chemistry test.    I would really like to thank you for this once in a lifetime opportunity.  ..............................................You have opened my eyes unlike any other thing I have witnessed before. ............I look forward to working and sharing that wondrous experience again in the near future.   

Anjan will be getting his wish in the summer of 2011. This time his younger sister will also be volunteering.

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

Shawn used his volunteer feedback form to make a few suggestions that have been acted on since he was there in 2009.  I think he will notice some positive changes when he returns - more full time teachers and a volunteer coordinator.

If hiring multiple full-time teachers is not possible, maybe one position should be created where one teacher is completely in charge of volunteer training.  Since volunteers are relied upon greatly to teach the subject matter the kids are supposed to learn every semester, maybe it would help if there was one full-time staff member that knew what was going on at all times and could help the transition of one volunteer to another ( in the sense that they could tell the new volunteer where the old one left off in terms of what has been taught and what needs to be taught. ).....................................I'm Indian, so I'm biased.....but I loved it.  I'm going back to visit/teach in the school every chance I get. 

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I will close this blog with Leah's comment.  Leah went on to do a cross US bike ride fundraiser for One! We are so fortunate that volunteers continue to be actively involved with supporting One! International after they return home from their experiences. Their assistance and commitment to the children they taught helps us to make positive changes in the organization, and help more children.

I thought it was amazing, challenging, and unforgettable experience.  Far from easy a lot of the time, I wouldn't change my decision to go there at all.

CANADIAN NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

You Never Know

                                                            By Helen L. Marshall

You never know when someone

May catch a dream from you

You never know when a little word

Or something you may do

May open up the windows

Of a mind that seals a light

The way you love, may not matter at all

But you never know, it might.

And just in case it could be

That another's life, through you

Might possibly change for the better

With a broader and brighter view

It seems it might be worth a try

At pointing the way to the right

Of course it may not matter at all,

But then again…it might

This coming week is National Volunteer Week in Canada. I wanted to come up with a special way of saying Thank You to all the volunteers that are committed to the children of One! International in Mumbai, India.
Everything I thought of seemed not quite enough.  

          Our volunteers in Canada believe in the words of the above poem.  They believe in  
          Tania Spilchen's mantra of  " One person - helping one child - can make a difference".
         
          People may not realize that One! International does not have any paid staff in Canada.
          All of the work - Board, financial, administration, event planning, and all other areas - is
          accomplished by the dedicated work of numerous volunteers.

THANK  YOU

        One! International in India would not be able to accomplish all the wonderful work with

        the children and families in Mumbai without the dedication of the

               Canadian Volunteers.

       The following anonymous poem seems to say it all, and is a reminder to all of us.

THE POWER OF ONE

One child can spark a moment

One flower can wake a dream

One tree can start a forest

One bird can herald spring

One smile begins a friendship

One hand clasp lifts a soul

One star can guide a ship at sea

One work can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation

One sunbeam lights a room

One candle wipes out darkness

One laugh will conquer gloom

One step must start each journey

One word must start each prayer

One hope will raise our spirits

One touch can show, "I care"

One voice can speak with wisdom

One heart can know it's true

One life CAN make a difference

Each day it's up to YOU!



In a future blog I will talk about all the wonderful volunteers in India and the ones who travel to India from all over the world to help our children and their families.  One! International depends on all of the  volunteers in India and in Canada.

Once again                               THANK YOU  -   ALL OF YOU 

ART CONTEST by The Children of One!

We have started a tradition at our One! International Galas in Edmonton.

Last year in January of 2010, in partnership with the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace, our children were asked to draw "What does non-violence mean to you." We were thrilled at the art works the children produced, as well as their thoughtful portrayal of non-violent concepts. At the Gala we asked all the attendees to vote for the picture they thought best exemplified the non-violence theme.

The first three place winners received a small prize, and all the students at the two schools received art lessons. Attendees commented, in the after Gala survey, that they thought the exercise was a good one to bring India and the children closer to Canada and the sponsors.

"One! believes that every child can be inspired through creativity.  Learning to express oneself, helps develop self respect and confidence." (Julie H.) 

This year on One!'s 10th year anniversary 29 January 2011, the children were asked to draw what 'Happiness" means to them.

Once again, the attendees at the Gala were asked to place their vote for the painting that best represented the concept of happiness. I think happiness is a little harder to pin down, but the children did a magnificent job in their efforts.

This year, the paintings were framed before they were displayed for voting, and were available for purchase after the evenings events. In addition, were possible, a picture of the child artist was put on the back of the painting. Fifteen of the twenty paintings in the contest were sold for twenty dollars each.

Two special paintings were put in the Silent Auction part of the evening instead of the contest: One!s resident artist Sunil's painting, and One!'s blind student Rohit's painting. The one is "too good", and the other received "a little bit of help". Between the two of them, they raised $82.00 for the schools both are so very proud to be a part of.

Sunil - One!s Resident Artist



Rohit - Step 7 - Age 11 (blind)



 ALL OTHER PICTURES (Prior to them being framed)



Ramoo  - Step 10 - Age 17



Karan - Step 7 - Age 12





Vandana - Step 2 - Age 6






Ashish - Step 8 - Age 16





2nd Place
Sunil - Step 6 - Age 14




Parvati - Step 2 - Age 7



Ekta - Step 8 - Age 15



Navrit S. - Step 7 - Age 13




Omprakash - Step 5 - Age 10



Vipin - Step 4 - Age 8





Shashikant - Step 7 - Age 14





Ramesh - Step 10 - age 17



Sanjana - Step 4 - Age 9



3rd Place
Ashish - Step 8 - Age 16




Ramoo - Step 10 - Age 17





1st Place
Laxmi - Step 9 - Age 11



Saydha - Step 1 - Age 5



Gautham - Step 1 - Age 5





Shivkant - Step 5 - Age 11






Shabnam - Step 1 - Age 5



One of our Canadian volunteers Paragi bought one of the framed
paintings and has proudly displayed her picture
for all those who visit her office to see.

I hope you have enjoyed the art work of our students in India.
We think they are quite talented.
If you have any ideas for next year's theme, please let us know.

World Water Day

Today is World Water Day, and although I don't like to copy the work of others, I think today it may be forgiven.

Most of our One! International families have trouble getting fresh, clean drinking water.
Most of our families drink or cook with water that is not considered drinkable by Western standards.
Many of our children walk through polluted standing water that contains many diseases to get to school.
Most of our families do not have access to proper plumbing to meet their hygiene needs.
Malaria is common within our family communities.

Many would not think that Canada would have any problems with access to safe drinking water, but that is not the case.  Many of our Aboriginal communities have no better access to proper drinking water than do our Indian slum communities.
In addition to that, we were informed today on many radio broadcasts, that if we do not take proper measures to protect public access to our water, we will have increasing problems as years go by.

I will let the following quote speak for itself.



"World Water Day 2011


A message from Maude Barlow

Dear friends,

Today is World Water Day and a time to reflect on the gift of water that sustains all life on Earth. While many have access to clean safe drinking water, millions do not. We must come together this World Water Day to commit to a new relationship with water. We must conserve it, restore watersheds, protect source water from pollution – pollution must be viewed as a criminal act – and share it more equitably for all humans, for the future and for other species as well.

Modern humans see water as a great big resource for our pleasure, convenience and profit and not as the essential element of a living ecosystem that gives us all life - so we pollute it. We dump an amount of industrial and human waste into the watersheds every year equivalent to the combined weight of all humanity. We pump water from watersheds and rivers into mega cities where, if they are anywhere near the ocean, it is then dumped as waste – a major cause of rising oceans. We grow crops with flood irrigation in deserts. We poison water with mining, nuclear, fracking and tar sands production. We let water drain away from ancient rusting pipes because we have "run out of money" for public infrastructure.

The United Nations has recognized water and sanitation as a human right, which means that every government must now come up with a plan of action based on the "Obligation to Protect, Respect, and Fulfill" this right. We expect no less from the Harper government[Canada]. The United Nations must also turn its attention to water conservation and watershed restoration, and to finding ways to make water a means of peace, not conflict.

We must also declare water to be a common heritage, a public trust and a public service, and we need to support the government of Bolivia in its new move to declare that water must be protected as a public right and not allowed to be delivered on a for-profit basis by the private sector. We need water for life. Water can teach us how to live in harmony with one another and more lightly on this Earth if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.


Maude Barlow

National Chairperson, The Council of Canadians

March 22, 2011"


Let's make sure we do not add to the world water shortage.
Let's make sure we respect the life sustainability of water.
Let's do our part to protect the world's most valuable resource.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

International Women's Day celebrated it's 100th Anniversary on 8 March 2011. The very first day was celebrated on the 19th of March 1911.  My comments will be sort of in the middle of these two dates.

Since it was first celebrated Western women have gained many rights: voting rights, rights around the institution of  marriage, employment rights, reproduction rights.

Many of these changes have occurred in the last fifty years.  In the 1960's working women were expected to leave their employment when they became pregnant.  In the 1970's when I had my children, women in Canada received eight weeks unemployment insurance benefits and if they were lucky three months off work. Now, both men and women are able to take paid time from work to celebrate the birth of children and bond with them. 

"When biology no longer determines destiny, any destiny becomes possible." - Margaret Wente

"If you are a [Western] woman reading this newspaper today, you are singularly blessed.  You belong to the freest, most educated, and most affluent group of women in all of human history." - Margaret Wente, Globe And Mail, March 8, 2011.

There is no doubt that women have much to celebrate.  However, let us  not forget that women in the 'developing' world are not as lucky as we are.  And, let's not forget that, even in the western world, many crimes are centered on women; Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse.  

We need to celebrate - yes.  But, there is still much work to be done. 

In the same copy of the Globe And Mail referenced above, Stephanie Nolen tells the following story.

" Two weeks ago, in India's rural province of Rajasthan, I met low-caste girls whose mothers had defied their fathers to insist they go to school.  The girls had turned up on the dot of 9 a.m., their worn uniforms well pressed, their hair slicked down. But, they sat alone and in the dark, because they were too short to reach up and open the shutters, and their teachers had not come - because only women deign to teach in a low-caste girls school, and the teachers can't bear the sexual harassment they face when they take public transport, which is all they can afford, to get to work.  The girls sat in quiet rows with their books open, trying to sound out words, lips working, fingers sliding along the tattered pages. 
There is a universality to sexual harassment, to sexual violence, to the struggle for reproductive rights, and to the more quotidian question of how to work and care for children and older family members.  Women in the developed world see this."

The issues in the developing world for women and girls are far more intense.

One! International tries to make a difference for women and girls.  The girls are encouraged to attend the schools in the same way the boys are.  The major reason One! provides care for pre-school children, is to enable the girls to attend school, and enable the mothers in the family to work. One! also hires the older girls and mothers to do various tasks around the school.  In this way they learn work skills.


We hope that "our" girls will pass on to their children, a love of education and a belief that there are options for them beyond housekeeping and motherhood.

We believe that education is the key to change.

We hope that there will be a International Women's Day in the future that is truly international.