Well, what a week it's been! The people here are amazing - so generous and hospitable with so little. Yesterday was a blue gloss day for me (Val) and Neil finally finished his artwork in the underwater scene room. The women then prepared a meal for at least 15 people as a thankyou for our work during the week. Yesterday afternoon we went to the British High Commission for tea, having been invited by Wendy Butler, wife of Deputy High Commissioner. It was good to hear how supportive she is of Asha's work - she recently invited 25 children from the slums for tea, which was quite an experience for all apparently! We were joined by another group from St Stephen's in Twickenham, who are working in another slum.
This afternoon we are looking forward to going to the opening ceremony of the Community Centre/Medical Centre we have been painting. We are sure the women will have done a fantastic job cleaning and decorating the room ready for this occasion and we know the rooms will be well used.
One memorable incident yesterday was a young boy who had never seen a football before and was absolutely delighted to be given one of his own! He kept it clutched firmly to his chest!
The lads here seem to use balls made out of strands of old inner tubes and they are incredibly skillful at 'keepey uppey' - or 'tonghi' as they call it.
With a little free time this morning we hope to visit the Moghul Gardens at the Presidents Palace and maybe do a bit more shopping - looking forward to yet another exhilarating auto-rickshaw ride in the cut and thrust of Delhi traffic where the rule seems to be 'he who dares wins!'.
So much more we could share and lots of wonderful pictures to show on our return.
Val & Neil
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Three little maids...or three muskateers...
We have in our midst a threesome whom no man (or woman) shall dare separate. They share the same quarters and spend their pre sleep moments putting the world to rights until the early hours. Rarely seen apart unless Tim is blogging (again) (Judy...he has presents!!!!! You nearly had a carpet too.....it was a close call!)
They swagger into the dining hall, three abreast Al, Dennis and Tim. When I suggested early on in the week if they wanted to sort out a single room for one of them as their space was quite cramped...Al indignantly responded "they'll be divorce proceedings if we do!" Ahhh blessssssss!
We have wondered about changing the words to the G&S "Three little maids from school are we....."
My Newest Friends...
We have finished the painting at last!
It really came together at the end and everyone seems very happy with the work. As we were coming to a close y
esterday we were joined by little Vishal. Although I had met him and a million others before, hand shakes and broken English greetings had soon become very superficial and I was struggling to interact with them. So I gave him a paintbrush and got him doing some seaweed. He quickly showed that he was making the work his own by changing the shapes and colours so I drew him a fish to paint. He competed this quickly and I congratulated him on his fine handy work with many smiles and thumbs up and returned to my section. I turned back to see the most delightful smile splashed across the fish's' face. We both laughed at how wonderful it was.
I also had the opportunity to talk to some lads my age. The were very friendly and we discussed the UK and India, their hopes, the water shortage, what I do etc. I talked a little too much about my life since one said that he was a very unlucky person. However he said this with a smile and as we continued talking he really showed incredible wisdom towards money. He said that the rich have a tension in their life of always wanting more yet the poor can be happy. Now of course he disliked the water shortages and dreams of being a lawyer to better himself; nobody would live in his slum out of anything but necessity, yet he had this real understanding that impressed me so much. I hope he fulfills his dreams. This is also why Asha is so impressive: they give the poor a hand to pull themselves out of their situation, not just throwing cash at them. Money without wisdom is useless.
Two days ago I had met Vishal's brother Eclob. Eclob and I had really hit it off as I showed him my family photos. Today I was humbled again as he gave me a tungi. This is a ball of loose rubber that the boys play keep ups with. It is made from bike inner tubes and is a very simple thing but I have it now in my pocket with the clear instruction to give my brother Chris a go. (Krish as they say, my name is 'eh'shteve) Although I know it is always the case I can't help but be astounded that a child as poor as him be so generous?! I have had the great privilege this week to make some wonderful new friends.
It really came together at the end and everyone seems very happy with the work. As we were coming to a close y
esterday we were joined by little Vishal. Although I had met him and a million others before, hand shakes and broken English greetings had soon become very superficial and I was struggling to interact with them. So I gave him a paintbrush and got him doing some seaweed. He quickly showed that he was making the work his own by changing the shapes and colours so I drew him a fish to paint. He competed this quickly and I congratulated him on his fine handy work with many smiles and thumbs up and returned to my section. I turned back to see the most delightful smile splashed across the fish's' face. We both laughed at how wonderful it was.
I also had the opportunity to talk to some lads my age. The were very friendly and we discussed the UK and India, their hopes, the water shortage, what I do etc. I talked a little too much about my life since one said that he was a very unlucky person. However he said this with a smile and as we continued talking he really showed incredible wisdom towards money. He said that the rich have a tension in their life of always wanting more yet the poor can be happy. Now of course he disliked the water shortages and dreams of being a lawyer to better himself; nobody would live in his slum out of anything but necessity, yet he had this real understanding that impressed me so much. I hope he fulfills his dreams. This is also why Asha is so impressive: they give the poor a hand to pull themselves out of their situation, not just throwing cash at them. Money without wisdom is useless.
Two days ago I had met Vishal's brother Eclob. Eclob and I had really hit it off as I showed him my family photos. Today I was humbled again as he gave me a tungi. This is a ball of loose rubber that the boys play keep ups with. It is made from bike inner tubes and is a very simple thing but I have it now in my pocket with the clear instruction to give my brother Chris a go. (Krish as they say, my name is 'eh'shteve) Although I know it is always the case I can't help but be astounded that a child as poor as him be so generous?! I have had the great privilege this week to make some wonderful new friends. A different kind of day
Today I got the morning off to go and sit in on a doctor's surgery in the Asha polyclinic. There were many young women there to discuss fertility issues. It is very important to most Indian couples to have children and to have a son if at all possible. I think there is quite a big social stigma associated with being childless.
We also saw a very worrying case of a young boy who had come to the doctor some time earlier and been given treatment for a nasty infection. We know he is usually quite a strong and feisty child but today he does not look strong, in fact, he walks in holding onto furniture for support. He is much weaker and more unwell. Blood tests show that he is severely anaemic, as well as problems. We can't tell exactly what is wrong without further tests and the doctor wants to admit him to hospital but we are told we can only do this if we are able to find blood for his immediately necessary transfusion. There is no national blood bank in India, each hospital has their own and you need to contribute some from donor if you are going to use any. As I left, the doctor was still trying to find a place to get some. I hope and pray that things worked out as he was getting very ill.
On a happier note, we have finished the painting early!! Thanks to- well everyone, really, for working so hard at it, and Dennis for organising us, but above all, a special mention to the master decorator and paintmeister extraordinaire of great patience, Radishan and also his two helpers. And here he is, pictured.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
The only way for me to get time to blog!
Hi all - this is the first opportunity I have had since we've been in India to write my two-pen'orth! I have achieved it by being up all night with the runs - and being unable to go to the slum today! Life has been going at a pretty relentless pace since we have been here - but it so good to be back.
It is a fairly daunting task taking 14 people out to work in a team in the place we have come to love - the slums of Delhi. What will they think? Will they hate it? Will they work as a team? Well this team have been first class! Right from the outset we have gelled, and had so much fun together. Everybody has got stuck in and all have contributed something special to the whole:
Dennis - our Project Manager who has organised us all
Laura - who has been an absolute star with her mural painting
Steve - who has similarly kept his mural painting skills under a bushel
Riina - who has painted tirelessly
Tina - who has also been a skilled artist, and who has been excellent with the slum kids
Nick - who has been a brilliant ice-breaker with the kids
Neil - underwater mural painter extroadinaire
Val - an all-rounder, never seen slacking, and prepared to ride the bumpy slide
Sue - Another great painter and instigator of our musical masterpiece - "the wheels on the bus..."
Nigel - ...well did you know he could draw and paint fish? AND support Kiran in banking matters
Tim - who has been happy painting, encouraging slum kids and teaching docs
Alan - like me a paint slosher rather than artist - but with such panache!
Julie - last of all who has confidently led the team through Delhi airport, and is frankly "in her element" when in Delhi's slums
Thanks guys 'n' gals!
Anyway I am feeling better and will hopefully be able to get to the prayer meeting in Kusumpur Pahadi this afternoon, followed by the visit to the British High Commission later - what an honour!
Bye for now!
It is a fairly daunting task taking 14 people out to work in a team in the place we have come to love - the slums of Delhi. What will they think? Will they hate it? Will they work as a team? Well this team have been first class! Right from the outset we have gelled, and had so much fun together. Everybody has got stuck in and all have contributed something special to the whole:
Dennis - our Project Manager who has organised us all
Laura - who has been an absolute star with her mural painting
Steve - who has similarly kept his mural painting skills under a bushel
Riina - who has painted tirelessly
Tina - who has also been a skilled artist, and who has been excellent with the slum kids
Nick - who has been a brilliant ice-breaker with the kids
Neil - underwater mural painter extroadinaire
Val - an all-rounder, never seen slacking, and prepared to ride the bumpy slide
Sue - Another great painter and instigator of our musical masterpiece - "the wheels on the bus..."
Nigel - ...well did you know he could draw and paint fish? AND support Kiran in banking matters
Tim - who has been happy painting, encouraging slum kids and teaching docs
Alan - like me a paint slosher rather than artist - but with such panache!
Julie - last of all who has confidently led the team through Delhi airport, and is frankly "in her element" when in Delhi's slums
Thanks guys 'n' gals!
Anyway I am feeling better and will hopefully be able to get to the prayer meeting in Kusumpur Pahadi this afternoon, followed by the visit to the British High Commission later - what an honour!
Bye for now!
Link to Asha in India
If you would like to follow what Asha is doing inNew Delhi, head for www.asha-india.org , visit the site, and also see the updates that have been posted for the Yeovil team. Direct Link to Yeovil update is http://www.asha-india.org/Article.aspx?auid=879
All news and views at http://www.asha-india.org/Newsandinformation/Latestnews.aspx
Nigel.
Food For Thought
As you can read we all went on tours of Kusumpur Prahadi on Tues/Weds. I've never been a guest of such a gracious, beautiful and finely dressed group of women! (Apologies 'n all that mine hostesses past). The women's groups in these slums are a sight to behold- strong, charismatic, determined and effective. Our afternoon visit to Ekta Vihar(?spelling) was overwhelming. A large group of women and children met, and promptly completely overwhelmed us, with the energy and enthusiasm of their welcome. Before long we were all part of a singing dancing crowd. Dick, Julie, Nick and Al were very happy to meet old friends.
This picture is a women's group leader- extreme caution advised if messing with her rights.
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