Friday, December 25, 2009

Friday, December 18, 2009

Warm Greetings from Cold London

Hi Mareile and Karolina

Greetings from Cold London!

I would like to share what i experienced before landing in Heathrow Airport. I really felt that how I am going to manage, lot of anxiety and also little fear. This experience made me to remember the overseas volunteer who are coming to our country, how much they would have struggled till they get settled. till now i did get cultural shock. I met Nikki -Scope organisation, she is very much interested to associate with us, we need to see how and what need to do in future. As of now i am very much settled in london, today morning the cold was extreme but i managed as if i am the resident of london.

thats all for now!

Take Care

RAM

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Appreciation to Mareile and Karolina

Dear Volunteers

Advance Christmas and Blessed New Year wishes from the Children and staff of SAMA Foundation. Firstly i am appreciating the efforts taken by Mareile and Karolina in developing this blog. I am very much confidence that in future this blog will become vital resource to the new volunteers in terms of understanding the culture, practices, disability and other developmental issue, food, dress code etc.

Lets all join hands to understand and serve the HUMANITY.

Thank you

G.RAMANATHAN
Executive Director

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

About Sama Foundation

Sama Foundation is a voluntary organisation managed by a group of people with disability, aiming to develop a society where "All are eaqual". The special focus is a based on children with disabilities. The aim is that they can lead a life with dignity and in independence. To achieve this, Sama Foundation ensures medical rehabilitation through physiotherapy, providing aids and appliances and organises screening camps to identify the type of disability and inititiates a disabled firendly school. Once a year there is an adventure camp for children with disability and economically poor children. This is a part of the all round education because it shows their abilities which gives new slef -confidence to the disabled chldren. It is a first step towards integration in society.

SAMA's Mission Statement:
STOP separation in the name of DISABILITY
START inclusion in the name of HUMANITY
HUMANITY is ABILITY and DISABILITY

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Us volunteers and our work

Definition: what is international volunteerism?
International volunteerism is living in a foreign country, interacting with different culture and personalities, working in social projects, facing challenges based on language, habits or living conditions, benefiting of great variety of life experience.


I’m Mareile Willert, from Germany. I work in Sama Foundation for one year, from august 2009 onwards. I’m 20 years old and just finished high school. After this year I would like to study work with disabled.

My work is not very easy to describe. But I can say it is sort of project based work, together with ‘Communication and Fundraising’.
When I came, I got a long term project called ‘Life Skill Program’. Together with the whole staff I had a training on these skills. Afterwards I started developing a training based on games. My colleague and I visited different schools to ask if we could give this program to their students. The purpose of these skills is to lead to a satisfied life and therefore useful for stressed students. Up to now (dec. 09) I gave one two-days training to the staff of another organisation. I prepared the schedule and Ram (the director of Sama) and me provided the training. This will be continuous over the year, but it is only a small part of my work. I support the work of Anice, the ‘Communication and Fundraiser’ in Sama. That means that I write texts about different programs, letters to communicate with possible supporters and go on school and appartement visits. Beside this we have projects like setting a stall. There we get in contact with people and tell them about our organisation. Sometimes there happens to be a different project like a trip to the park with some children or the adventure camp. If it is possible I also join in these activities.


After half a year assistance in Communication and Fund raising I changed my workplace partly to the Center in Heganahalli. In the morning I go there to support one teacher and the assistance. 6 to 12 children come everyday, nearly all of them in some way mentally retarded. The center is located in the governmental school, one small room is provided for those children who are not accepted in the normal school or who need special attention. The day starts like in every Indian school with the prayer and national hymn. After some minutes “Om” concentration the lessons start. Every child has a writing book and gets single tasks, due to it’s abilities. Some get writing tasks, some coloring and some just color all they find. 12.30 is lunchtime and the children collect their part like everybody else. After lunch is activity time. Sometimes singing, ball games or talking about a special topic. In afternoon I’m back in office, try to find work or prepare something for the next day. I also try to learn theoretic knowledge about these special children which might help me to teach.

-Mareile-

My name is Karoliina Paavola and I come from Finland. I came to India in August 2009 and I will go back to my country in the end of January. I am 25 years old and I am studying in a university of applied sciences to become a management assistant.
I work at two child activity centers: in Hegganahalli and in Yelahanka. Some of the children are mentally retarded or suffer cerebral palsy which is a brain damage that affects your muscles and movements. I do not have experience in that field of work, but I do my best to create some activities or to teach the children some basic things, like the names of body parts etc. Sometimes it is very difficult for me to try to teach the children something because of the language problem. I think it would be better for them to learn things in Kannada and not in English, but I know only a little bit of Kannada. The children are always very happy to see me, so even the fact that I am there brings some joy to their lives. The sad thing is that some of the parents do not care about their children due to their disabilities. Especially at the center in Hegganahalli, some of the children are very dirty and their clothes have not been washed for ages. Maybe in the future Sama Foundation can provide facilities where children learn how to wash themselves and their clothes, and maintain some level of personal hygiene. In Hegganahalli, there are three siblings who are all disabled. I asked the reason for that and I learned that it is because the parents are related. It was shocking to hear about that, but it is actually quite common. When doing home visits I have seen many families like that. I think people do not have knowledge about the problems caused by marrying your relative, and it seems to be an old tradition in some parts of India to marry your cousin or even your niece.



Hi Everybody!

My name is Thabea Koeppen, I am 21 years old and my home country is Germany. I came to India in August 2009 but I entered this project in the beginning of March.

Since my first day, I feel very welcome in the Sama Family and overall very comfortable with my new work. I am doing the same work as Karoliina. I am working at the two child activity centres in Hegganahalli as well as Yelahanka. My work over here is very diverse and I love the fact that I have to use my creativity day by day. In the mornings, I am visiting the Child Activity Centre in Hegganahalli where I am mostly working with children who are mentally challenged or suffer with cerebral palsy which is a brain damage that affects your muscles and movements like Karoliina already mentioned.

In the afternoon, I am visiting the Child Activity Centre in Yelahanka where I mostly have to deal with school children. Most of them are not having any disability. As you can see, my work is very variable. In the morning I try to teach some basic English Vocabulary as well as simple English games and songs and in the afternoon I read out stories, let the children play a drama or do other learning skills like dancing, singing and drawing.


Monday, December 7, 2009

Indian Culture (from our point of view)

About cultural differences...

When you come to India from Europe you will most likely experience a culture shock. Crazy traffic, noise, crowded streets, eating rice with fingers, Indian toilets etc. But if you are open minded you will adjust and enjoy the differences. The best way to get to know the culture is to spend time with local people.

In India you see bright, beautiful colours everywhere and the streets are filled with sounds of traffic, vegetable sellers etc.. When going back to Europe one will most likely feel like somebody switched off the volume and the contrast of colours. There are certain rules you should follow if you want to be accepted by the community. As a woman, you should not wear clothes that reveal too much. When working as a volunteer, I think it is best to wear chudidar or some other Indian clothes. In India you can see men smoking everywhere, but if a woman smokes she will get many disapproving looks and will not be respected. The same goes with alcohol.

When entering a house you should usually remove your footwear. Do not stand in the doorway, because it is thought to be something that only beggars would do. It is also disrespectful to show your foot soles to an elderly person – probably because the streets are very dirty. The waste problem is worsening in India and you can see piles of garbage almost everywhere, which is due to the large population and attitudes towards littering. Children learn at young age that it is okay to throw garbage on street, but there is also a lack of garbage bins.

Traffic is its own chapter. Crossing the road can take a long time and the cars do not even slow down when you are standing in the middle of the road. In the city area you can really feel the pollution and one of the main reasons might be the large number of autorickshaws. When you are a foreigner, the autodrivers will usually try to cheat you every time, but do not let them charge you extra. Buses are the cheapest way to travel and you can reach almost any place by bus. But these vehicles are sometimes very crowded and do not drive at night either. At night time you should be very careful - especially if you are a woman. I recommend carrying a flashlight with you, because in India there are power cuts almost every day.

The climate varies quite a lot depending on your whereabouts in the country. In Bangalore, the climate is pleasant – not too hot and not too cold.

One thing I will not miss when I go back to Finland is washing clothes on the bathroom floor; nowadays I really appreciate washing machines! In Indian houses showers are a very rare sight, which means that you bathe with a bucket and a jug – not too complicated. Western toilets are not common either, so one should adjust using Indian toilets.

On the streets you see dogs and cows going through the garbage and eating whatever they can find. The number of stray dogs is very high in India and sometimes it causes problems. The cow is a sacred animal for Hindus so cows are seen wandering the streets every where except in the very city center. Usually you cannot find beef in Indian restaurants or shops, only in some rare places where the Christian and Muslim population is high. Many Hindus are strictly vegetarians, but some eat chicken, mutton and pork. Indian food is, for the most parts, very tasty and can also be divided in different categories, like North Indian, South Indian etc. Indian people eat three hot meals a day and have rice at least at one meal. Rice, like most dishes in India, should be eaten with fingers using your right hand only. It might feel strange at first not to use fork and knife, but you get used to it quite soon – you are using more of your senses and feel closer to food. I am sure I will miss that back in Finland.

-Karoliina-


Yours and mine - (indian family)


In some places there doen’t seem to be a great difference in the belonging of things to certain people. Especially under friends it is usual to use the shampoo, the pen, scribbling pad or even eat the lunch. Nobody will be angry if there is nothing left afterwards, the pen is broken or you have to buy lunch for your own. This is friends service included. One da it will go the other way around. Same thing with money. If somebody has, he will spend it on friends and not only small amounts. You are happy to provide something to your friend…
The other side of the medal is when some foreigners are not used to this behaviour…. I had to learn with around 10 lost pens, that I have to keep it close to me if I want to write something one day. Also the matter of providing something can be discussed. In some peoples mind seem to be the permanent image foreigners are swimming in money, in other places I have to fight that I can pay something back…..
My experience says that this sharing comes from the type of family in which most idians grew up. Big families, easily with ten member living together in a house or same area. Everybody helps each other and cousins of same age are called brother, because they grow up as close as siblings. There is not a big difference between your and my child and also neighbours live close to each other. More earning families help others out with marriage expenses and send regular a lot of their salary to parents at home. Therefore the family supports you if you have problems, is ready to sleep in hospital with you and gives you strength. The family is normally most important to every Indian.

Family in India


This is supposed to be a very big chapter, because here the family is normally the middle of everyone’s life.
Before I start, I have to repeat, that this is my experience in Bangalore and based on what people told me. It is supposed to be the average Indian society I describe.
Let me begin with the childhood. Children are treated like small gods, they seem to be allowed to do everything and get everything they want. I saw this in some families, of cause there are also parents who give the usual restrictions and borders to the children and there are those who don’t care much. The small girls wear usually grant, (absolute kitsch), cute dresses and some put a bit make up every day. The boys are the princes in the house and the parents provide only the best they can afford. Children are always welcome, also on working places, but still there is rarely a place only for them. Big grounds are occupied by cricket playing teens and men and there is no space in a big town for playing grounds. So the children play on the street, all together in the neighbourhood.
When the child grows the girl learns how to maintain the household and cooking. She helps her mother and supports and learns for her future life as house wife. The boys you see more often hanging around in the streets, playing cricket. The marriage time depends very much on the community the family lives in. In villages it is for girls even before 18, 18 or latest 20. In the city it is more around 24-26, in higher classes after the woman finished the full education. The man is often 3 years older, also up to ten years in the village side. Often the girl’s education stops when married, the boy’s goes on until he gets a job.


Marriage


When I explain about the Indian family I also have to explain the marriage procedure. It seems to be the most important event in every Indians life. The mother and grandmother start looking for a fitting husband, a wife. Many things have to be considered. The caste is important (other religion also means different caste), the money of the family, beauty of the woman, age, health, how much dowry they can pay and sometimes much more marry-important thoughts. In this planning the child, man and woman, usually doesn’t intervene, isn’t allowed to. Some things can be said, plans postponed, one or two applications not be accepted but finally nearly everybody agrees.
Usually no side had any close relationship before marriage. It is strictly forbidden, also because it is very important for both sides, that the partner is virgin. Love marriage is also rare, lovers often have to accept that this time will be over when plans come up from family side.
The wedding gets organised and lakhs of rupees are spend, even low earning families spend incredible much money on the marriage. Either it is the dowry or the expence for the actual event. For example I heared about a family who spend 2 lakhs (200.000Rs) for their daughters marriage. The parents are not earning, mother housewife, father retired, the daughter goes to college. Only the son is earning around 5000rs per month.
Weddings vary a lot. It depend on the money, the family origin and religion. But I can tell best about Hindu marriages. It begins with the invitation of everybody barely known. Even all friends and colleagues of brothers, sisters and cousins are welcomed. Often the actual marriage takes place in the early morning, normally only with close family. This is not so interesting for the rest of the community. In the night before is “Reception” when good food is served to hundreds of visitors. Usually in the marriage halls are two rooms. In one are long fixed tables and benches where guests sit in long rows and eat. When they finished their meal, they go to the reception hall. In the front is a stage, beautiful decorated with flowers and colourful cloth. In the middle are two thrones for the couple. There they receive presents from the guests, make a photo or are often even filmed. Next day lunch time is the wedding for the masses. Pooja and blessings from the family and guests are preformed, the thali is tied. The thali is a long necklace with a golden coin in the middle. The man ties it around the neck of the woman who wears it her whole life as a sign of marriage. Loud life music is also played that time, maybe to cover the conversations of the guests who seem to be very less interested in the rituals. After it s finished everybody rushes out of the hall to receive again some food, this time lunch and more basic then the night before. The bride is dressed in different sarees for both days. Very grand for the reception, more traditional but not less expensive in silk saree for the marriage. She also wears lots of jewellery. Painted hands and arms, bangles, necklace, earrings, a chain from the earring to her hair this is covered with flowers, one golden dolore on her forehead, food chains. The man wears best shirt and pants, a golden watch and often a traditional hat.

-Mareile-

Touristic tips from volunteers






If you are doing a voluntary service in India you absolutely should get some time for travelling as well. In the following, I am going to list out my personal Highlights which I can demand without any reservation:

One of the must-see places is surely Mysore. The good thing about Mysore is that it is not that far away from Bangalore and you can visit all the touristic attractions within one or two days like the Mysore Palace, the City Market or Nandi-Hills.

If you are interested in historical places and old Temples you have to visit the place called Hampi. In a totally relaxed atmosphere you can enjoy your Lassi on top of a rooftop restaurant and listen to chilled reggae music. If you want to, you can explore this fascinating place by walking but I advise you to rent a bicycle especially because some of the places are a little far away from the Centre!

For an amazing beach Holiday, I recommend you the “Palolem Beach” in Goa or “Varkala Beach” in Kerala! Both of them are looking like a Paradise on Earth. White sand, clear blue sea and palm-fringed! Another nice thing about the two places is that you meet a lot of other travelers, you can enjoy a cold beer and you can wear whatever you what without getting any view from a rubbernecker!
-Thabea-