I have just completed 2 weeks of VSO in-country training in Delhi – which was a good way to have time to adjust to a new country, and to learn about certain aspects of Indian life. The whole training session lasts 3 weeks, but I arrived late due to a delayed visa, so only completed the last 2 weeks. There were only 5 new volunteers arriving in India this July (there are usually more, and volunteers arrive about 4 times a year) – from the UK, Philippines, and Canada, and in India to work in NGO communications or research at different organisations in Delhi and Orissa. We stayed at the Indian Social Institute Residence, and had morning Hindi classes at the Institute’s teaching building. In the afternoons we had sessions on topics such as health, politics, culture, Indian NGOs…but also appreciated some more light-hearted sessions like cooking (lovely Indian food) and watching a Hindi movie (The Three Idiots) at the VSO India office, with popcorn! We also took a trip to the Taj Mahal one weekend in a hired car, seeing elephants, camels and cows along the way.
This week I have started working at Swechha and am in the process of setting objectives with the director for my year here. One of Swechha’s projects involves an informal school in a local slum, and children from the school come to the office in the afternoons to do their homework – they enjoy practising their English with me, and one girl gave us all friendship bracelets. The office is in Malviya Nagar, South Delhi, up many flights of stairs – and the new workshop where bags, purses and objects for the home are made from recycled materials (Green The Gap project) is just next door.
Swechha website: www.swechha.in
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