| |
|
|
|
Sanitation
Project Completed |
|
|
Aim:
To build a toilet block for the girls
of Holy Family Higher Secondary School, Alleppey,
Kerala - link with Abbey Grange , Church of
England - High School Humanities College who
raised the money for the materials for the toilet
block through their Global Justice Group's 'Spend
a Penny' Campaign. All the money raised was
spend at the project site by the volunteers
themselves.
Achievement :
The project was completed on time and
handed over to the school authorities.
The volunteers did everything from mixing cement,
carrying bricks, shifting sand, carrying bricks
and painting. Volunteers also helped keep accounts,
pay wages and supervise the building work. They
also helped raise awareness of hygiene and cleanliness.
The school headmaster and class leaders have
promised Yearoutindia and the volunteers who
helped build it that they will keep the toilets
clean and help maintain it so that all school
children can benefit from it. A sanitary napkin
disposal system with incinerator was also introduced
into the toilet for hygienic disposal of sanitary
napkins. The whole project was successfully
supervised by Yearoutndia intern - Miss Esther
Cowdery who assisted the volunteers at all levels. |
|
|
|
Sarah
(17)
Stepping out of the airport at Cochin it finally hit
home that I was on the other side of the world, what
with the sudden heat and the mass of foreign faces staring
back at me. My friend Emily and I were met by Navin,
one of the founders of Yearoutindia who drove us to
the project site at Alleppey on the coast. It was an
experience in itself sat in a small car driving through
traffic on an Indian road for the first time as there
are few rules; if there's a space you go for it, even
if it's on the wrong side of the road.
When we got to Holy Family School, we met up with two
other girls from my sixth-form, Amy and Emily. The children
from the school wanted to know everything about us and
our life in England; they were amazed that we had gone
all that way to help build a toilet block for them.
We were in the local newspaper and on TV. The nuns and
teachers were really helpful, and the children were
great; they tried to teach us their language, which
was often difficult to pronounce. By building the toilet
block, we were helping to keep girls in school which
would, in turn, better their lives. It was such a great
feeling to know that we were having a positive impact
there.
As well as being fortunate enough to see the ‘real-life’
side of India and try and improve it for those children
at the School, I got to do ‘touristy’ things too. One
weekend we went up to the mountains to the Periyar Tiger
Reserve, where we went on a trek through the forest
to see native wildlife and had a ride on an elephant
(which was amazing!). We also saw a traditional Keralan
art form, called Kathikali, and we went on a houseboat
along the backwaters of Alleppey. Kerala is such a beautiful
place, and all the people that I met there were really
nice, friendly and welcoming – the month spent there
went by far too quickly!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in India, so much so that
I can't wait to go back and do another project! I seriously
recommend doing a volunteering project at home or abroad
as it is exceedingly worthwhile, you make great friends,
and have an experience that is life-changing with memories
that you will cherish forever! |
|
|
Emily
and Amy after work |
| |
|
Sarah
with her Henna Tattoo |
|
|
Working
hard |
|
|
|
|
|
Discussions
with school children |
In
the local newspapers |
Emily,
Sarah, Emily and Amy
|
|
|
|
Planting
trees |
|
Exchanging
flags with local lions club president |
|
Elephant
by the tusks |
|
Amy
(17) and Emily (18)
During our stay in India, while at the project site
and during our free time we were looked after really
well. A member of staff stayed in the house with us
where we were staying & arranged for us to be taken
to and from the project site safely. Then during our
time at the site a member of staff was always around
in case of any problems or emergencies
Our meals were all cooked for us at our house so we
knew the food wasn’t dodgy and we had a constant supply
of clean water. Ambadas, who was taking care of us,
also made sure we didn’t get into trouble during our
free time, for example, if we got invited to someone’s
house for tea but they lived in an unsafe area he made
sure we knew about it and were safe. Ambadas also came
with us shopping so that we didn’t get over-charged
etc
The people at the project site were very welcoming;
as we were working in a school next to a convent the
sisters made lunch for us everyday and made sure we
were getting enough rest. They even offered to set up
a bed for us when one of us felt ill. The teachers in
the school were very kind and took us shopping and invited
us for lunch. They made sure we had a free classroom
to hide in when the children got too over excited!
The students in the school were very keen to help us
and were also very interested in us and our families.
It's hard to work when you're being mobbed by children
but if you tell them you have to work they sometimes
understand!
The welcome assembly we received when we first arrived
was lovely. We were given flowers and introduced to
all pupils and staff. When we left we had a leaving
meeting where we got presents to say thank you for all
the work we had done. Everyone was very kind to us and
did what they could to make our stay safe and comfortable.
Overall our experience was a very positive one and we
look forward to coming back to India again. |
|
|
|
Contact
the YOI support team at: info@yearoutindia.com
Call:
+91 484 4020040 (India office) +91 9447231853,
UK Tel: 0845 463 1571, 07092 233122 Fax: 07092 380001
©2005-2009 Yearoutindia. All rights reserved.
|
|
