Just under two weeks ago I arrived in India, I will be living here for three months doing my field placement as a part of my Bachelor of Social Work degree.
The organisation I am at at the moment is called Laya – Laya is a concept based on rhythm, it describes the simultaneous construction and destruction within community and nature. They work with the Adivasi (tribal) of North Andra Pradesh. These people are excluded from society in many ways, their land stolen, low education, poor health, minimal access to jobs and the death of many traditional cultural practice (sound familiar!?). Here Laya run many community development projects including local, community run media (video and radio), traditional herbal medicine training, capacity building, youth empowerment, women empowerment, legal action, micro credit and fiance, natural resource management (sustainable agricultural practice and climate change), and decentralised energy options (solar power, mini hyro-electricity plants. Yep, they do heaps!
I have gained a lot on my first two weeks, my favourite learning thus far is from a local man whose wise sayings captivate everyone at Laya. He taught us that “It is better to drink water while standing than to drink milk while running!” In a simple saying he has captured all the things I have come to know about community work. Many mistakes are made when people are over eager and do not allow time to get to know the community, develop relationships and let them lead. Also, it speaks of the human condition, so often we rush, only to spill our prized milk. In Indian culture this is especially poignant, with cows considered sacred, milk is incredibly precious.
I have experienced many wonderful things and many that make me wonder ‘what am I doing here?’
Unfortunately I will not get to spend my desired amount of time here as the police are on to us! We entered the country on a tourist visa as we are not eligible for student visas because we don’t study at an institution in India. The tourist visa has a clause that says that you cannot stay in one place for a pro-longed period of time. As this area has many terrorist cells active there is a strong police presence and two white girls in a small village is not going to go unnoticed, so we have to leave. In a weeks time we will board an overnight train to spend some time at an organisation called Grama Vikas, they do similar work, but with the Dalits, the lowest caste in India’s cruel caste system. These people are also very excluded from mainstream Indian society, however for different reasons. I will type more on the difference between the Adivasis and the Dalits in due time!
Anyway, here I am, happy that I am not being deported for entering a country on the wrong visa and looking forward to the three months ahead of me.
Wow your placement sounds wonderful Emily, what an experince and an eye opener. I wish you all the best and look forward to being able to follow your placement.
Cath