Projects Abroad India's recent dirty weekend was held at NILORPAVI. NILORPAVI - an orphanage for girls is located at Alaganallur(the place popular for Jallikattu) which is of 30 minutes ride from Madurai. The orphanage is taking care of girl children who was born to illegal parents.These children are totally avoided both by their parents and the society.

Recently from NILORPAVI, Projects Abroad India got a request to paint the few walls that has been left unpainted due to the insufficient fund in the orphanage. And Our Social Management team visited the orphanage and since the requirement is reasonable we accepted and there comes the Dirty Weekend for this month.

On 22nd August, about 15 volunteers attended the weekend activity and we started the work by 9'o clock in the morning.We painted the study room for the kids and the bathroom walls that was not used. Also we made roofings for the same bathroom that was left unused.In the afternoon we had a very good lunch with the children at the orphanage.Atlast we finish the work by 4'o clock in the evening and returned back to Madurai.

All the volunteers and the children at the orphanage were very happy about it and am sure that everyone enjoyed it!!!

And looking forward for the next beautiful day like this.

Contributed by Nadia - Social Manager

Projects Abroad India feels very happy to share about the recent donation to one of our Teaching placements.

The teaching placement named – Pasumalai CSI Boys higher Secondary School students really need a computer for their lab and when the placement supervisor brought this issue to our notice, we really want to fulfill this important need as soon as possible.

And with the help of our system administrator, we bought a computer of best quality and that costs around 17000 IRS and in the presence of one of our teaching volunteer,Our Country Director, Care Program Manager and system administrator we presented and installed the computer in the school and the placement people(both the children and staff members) were very happy about this.The principal of the school presented the sincere thanks to us..

Contributed by Nadia – Social Manager

Last Weekend the first group of the 2 weeks Medical volunteers spent their weekend at Kanyakumari and it was a lovely one. Kanyakumari – is the southernmost tip of India with more opportunities to have fun.

Our volunteers got a wonderful opportunity to visit the Padmanabapuram palace, Thiruparappu Waterfalls and the Hanging Bridge at Mathhoor.

Padmanabapuram palace is very good example of Kerala architecture and volunteers took many pictures from there.

Most of the volunteers enjoyed the waterfalls and they just pulled the staff who was not interested to take a shower..it was fun..!

And everyone had a very good walk in the bridge over there.!

Also we celebrated the India’s Independence Day in Kanyakumari and we visited the Vivekananda Memorial Rock on that special day.

Thanks for all the Volunteers for their continued support and co-operation.

Contributed by Nadia – Social Manager

ここに来てからかれこれ一週間以上が経つ。様々な「初めて」が私を迎えてくれた、見知らぬ世界の友人との出会い、食事を右手で食べること、ゲストハウスでの共同生活、インタビュー、記事の作成、ミニタクシーの運転手との値段交渉。良い思い出と悪い思い出双方あるが、私はこのインドに来たこと、今回のプロジェクトに参加したことを決して後悔などしていない。むしろ私はまだ出会っていない「初めて」に会えるのを楽しみにしている。明日はどんな楽しみに会えるのだろうか、それを想像しながら私は眠りにつく。

Contributed by Nobuyuki Kim - Journalist Volunteer

Last Sunday, the second batch of the two weeks Special Medical programme finished off their placement.

The group started their placement by 19^th July and they got a chance to visit the famous hospitals in and around Madurai like Saravana Hospital,Vadamalayan Hospital,Krithika Hospital and Navamani Hospital and spent their wonderful days worthy by observing surgeries and treatment procedures that is being followed in India.

And the group also got hands-on work in Saravana Hospital.

The group visited the Siddha Ayurvedha Hospital for two days where they did got some knowledge about the traditional treatment in India.

And they did visited the Leprosy Hospital in Manamadurai which is an hour ride from Madurai, from where they observed the treatment procedure for the dreadful disease – Leprosy.

Also Projects Abroad organised their weekend trip to Kodaikanal and Kanyakumari where the volunteers had real fun too.

The Volunteers did asked many questions to the staff in all the Hospitals and were much interested in making the patients feel better.

The Volunteers were also taken to palace,museum,temple and so on as a part of the Social events.

As a whole, the volunteers had a very good time and the staff too.

Contributed by Nadia – Social Manager

Travelling to Tamil Nadu, India was all about adventure. While most of my trip was planned according to my work schedule at the journalism office, I wanted to get a chance to explore the state and its people as well. I realise that’s exactly what I did when I simply crossed the street one day. Instead of sitting around on my afternoon off, I experienced real India, real village life.

 Across the street from my host-family’s home workers were building a house. I trekked on over with both my video and still camera. The equipment and I ended up completely distracting the people from their work though. The children of the village soon surrounded me, pointing to the people I should be taking pictures of. Everyone wanted at least three pictures of themselves. “One picture, Antie, one picture!” One picture soon turned into fifty-one pictures.

As the children led me into their village, I met many new people along the way. Of course I didn’t know anyone’s name, but they were all determined to learn mine.  I must have collected thirty children travelling through the tiny streets. They all trailed behind me. It was like I was in a parade or something. I’m sure this had been a quiet Pasumalai village before I came along. The kids were all screaming at me, each one wanting to get my attention to show me the next picture I had to take. It got to be a bit overwhelming in the end. Some of the kids actually started throwing little pebbles at me because I decided to leave. Some of the sweeter kids wanted me to come back the next day. “You come back yesterday, Antie?” (meaning tomorrow of course). I didn’t end up going back “yesterday,” but I sure am glad I went that one day.

After a month of traveling in a foreign country, you stop feeling like you’re visiting it. Even though many volunteers stayed longer than I did, after only four weeks, I really did feel like I was living in India. I worked full-time during the weekdays and had eventful tourist-like vacations on the weekends. I felt comfortable walking to the local fruit shop for a pomegranate juice and chocolate bar. I could go into town by myself after work to do some shopping before supper at 8:00PM. Actually living in India made my trip unforgettable.  

My host-family was absolutely incredible. I couldn’t imagine not staying with them for my four-week trip. I was totally immersed in Indian culture because of them – and that’s what I wanted. They were always there to fulfill my experience, while still respecting my privacy and personal needs. Like any mother, my host-mother, Latha, was always taking care of me and my roommates. She and our cook made us every meal from scratch and she rubbed ointment on my stomach when I got sick.  She approved of my new Indian clothing and explained the plot of the Tamil movies we watched. My host-father, Ramaguru, also provided for me, but it a different way than Latha. Ramaguru would always tell me stories about Hinduism, complicated stories I could barely keep straight, but ones that taught me about his family’s every-day life – the life I had immersed myself into. He taught me how to meditate, making sure I understood the importance the practice could have in everyone’s life. I loved going home to Latha and Ramaguru – and their countless visitors. They helped me really discover India.

I never thought I could accomplish something like a trip to India, let alone a journalism internship in a foreign country. I always wanted to volunteer abroad, but I never thought I could do it on my own. After India I realised I never was doing anything on my own. Of course my family and friends were back in Canada, but they could only support me through their thoughts and emails and few phone calls. However, my new family and friends in Pasumalai were the ones who made me believe in myself. They looked after me when I got sick for a week from some stupid bacteria from the food. They were the ones who encouraged my designs and creativity for the magazine, Madurai Messenger. They were the ones who opened my eyes to the connection between Canadians, Americans, Germans, Indians, and Dutch and English people. India wouldn’t have been the same without them.

I’d like to thank everyone who was part of my life in India. I am eternally grateful for a true experience of a lifetime.

Contributed by Alyssa Mosher - Alumni Journalist Volunteer