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Hello, we are Jerome and Hélène from France.
From 23rd May to 18th June 2007 we were at Kozhimala,
a tribal village of 80 families in the Wastern Ghat
Mountains of Kerala.
Our project was to build four toilets for four familes
and build a new roof for Leela’s home, a widowed member
of the community with six children. Our first day at
the project site was very disorientating; life in the
tribal village is so different to life in France. Here
the people live in such close communities and amongst
the natural environment. The people have nothing more
than the simplest houses BUT those same people are the
happiest people that we have ever seen. They laugh,
sing and dance all the time.
It's
really good to have Navin's organisation for the first
week for see the photos of the volunteer & Sasi's house;
settle in and see the landscape,etc. it made us feel
more secure.
For
the project the beginning was difficult because the
tribal people spoke very basic English. The first week
we concentrated on buying the material and creating
a schedule for the work. Once the work started we used
our spare time for visiting the area. Kozhimala is located
near a big lake which is so beautiful. We have seen
some extraordinary landscapes. In the final week we
painted the four toilets along with two very nice members
of the village.
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