Moving right along...

I just wrote a press release for the opening of the Deep Griha sponsored Muktangan Mitra Nutrition Centre in Goltekadi and included the DMAV under the list of dignitaries present. Enough said.

Speaking of the Nutrition Centre, it opened on Monday morning and will serve the HIV infected IV drug user community by providing them with nutritious meals and soon vocational training opportunities to help rehabilitate them and assist them in living their lives as healthy PLHIV. The ceremony itself was nice, and I can personally vouch that the food served here is especially tasty.

The signage outside the centre notes that it is for HIV infected persons, thus the status of those who visit the centre will be known by passers-by. I would say that I am not sure how I feel about this, whether or not their status should remain in their own confidence, or if it should be common knowledge. If stigma didn't exist then their status being common knowledge wouldn't matter, but we are a long way from stigma regarding HIV disappearing.
Our new ad campaign for Wake-Up Pune will specifically address stigma as its main focus, and coupled with the bold "REJECTED" that is emblazoned upon the flank of the DMAV it will be direct. Will people listen? The new add campaign will be bold and "in your face", I think they will listen, the difficult bit is whether or not they will apply it. We need to reach everyone. How do we do this? We have awareness sessions in communities, in schools, in businesses; we have posters; we have concerts; we have marches; we have vigils (May 20th-MG Road); we hopefully soon will have stigma chakra statues made by local student artists able to be moved around Pune. Once we reach everyone, what more can we do? It is up to the individuals to apply it to their actions as "HIV positive" people free from stigma.

"we have sessions": The opening yesterday just kicked off the day for the DISHA crew. Spinning off the opening ceremony, the Goltekadi community was the staging area for two more awareness events. I'm beginning to feel like a groupie on tour with a rock band. We were separated from the DMAV for the first time in a while and that absence was noticed as it crimped our capacity for not only volume and visibility, but most importantly for the semi-privacy that it affords our condom demonstrations. While we should have used it for the first session, given to a mixed gender and age crowd of about 100, the second session's geographical setting within the community prohibited the entrance of the DMAV. Both sessions featured more women than we usually get, the second was probably the most women I've ever seen at an event, which was great. To combat repetition, the team employs several different presentations to rotate and keep themselves fresh and the information sharply delivered. In the second session Meera really stole the show, not that this is new, but I think a forthcoming blog will present a retrospective on her acting talents and her ability to really engage the audience in both a humorous and serious way. Although I don't speak Marathi and only know the general outline of what is said in the presentations, I feel like they are well presented and efficient, I always leave feeling good about the potential outcome, and at least the fact that it will spark conversations about the material within the community for days to come.
More to come this week: Wake-up Pune meetings; all day training session for students on HIV awareness; interviews with young people about ways they gain their information about sex (especially important if sex-ed in Maharashtra keeps getting hamstrung); DMAV sessions in the city and in rural areas; the beginning of the ambitious cultural survey of the Tadiwala Rd. community; a multi-day conference in Lonavla on HIV and the Church.

Onward...

DMAV on the loose outside of Pune!

On Tuesday the DMAV expanded its operations outside of Pune, and its crew deployed to Kedgaon on Market Day to give shoppers, pedestrians, and merchants exposure to the DISHA HIV awareness presentations. The motto might be join the fight, but on Tuesday, DISHA brought the fight to them.

Two audience participants who joined the fight

As this was the first foray of the DMAV outside of Pune there were a few kinks, but these were ironed out and the professionalism that the team has acquired really showed through.

Problem 1: Dodgy (I’m becoming more British in my speech daily) microphones. While the amplification of the DISHA team’s voices over the ambient noises that are unavoidable in India is perhaps the greatest benefit the DMAV provides, the sound system is not immune to techno-snafus and unfortunately we ran into this. I was very impressed how seamlessly the team coped with this. As a performer one can be shaken easily by equipment malfunctions of this sort, and likewise the crowd can lose interest if a performance has hitches or complications. The team recognized the situation with the microphones as it unfolded and very professionally rotated mics, made some adjustments, and overall didn’t panic when things didn’t go absolutely smoothly. Their experience guided them through, and with flying colors at that. No one will ever accuse the DISHA team of speaking too quietly, and with or without microphones they tried their best to ensure that the message was not lost on the crowd.

I don’t mean to focus too much on the negative aspect of the day, but as there were so few negatives, I thought I might get it out of the way first.

Overall the scorecard reads that there were three full presentations given at different locations around the bazaar. All three presentations involved the DMAV, a street play, an educational and informative lecture or session, an HIV positive speaker (an incredible asset to the mission and amazing to see her confidence grew as the day went on), and a condom demonstration and distribution. The first session at the near end of the bazaar featured 75-100 spectators and some eager participants from the audience, the second session at a motorcycle parking area at the far end after lunch featured around 80 spectators, while the third session in the heart of the bazaar had a smaller stationary crowd but featured many transients who absorbed at least some of the presentation before continuing on their way. Considering the heat, it was quite an accomplishment, and despite the fatigue, the DISHA team maintained their high level of performance throughout all three presentations and even had the energy for a laughter filled 50 km ride back to Tadiwala Rd.

The young HIV Positive speaker

Key points: A. Visibility attracts. The DMAV, the red saris, the drumming, the speakers, even the white volunteers (flypaper). Anything to get people to come and hear the message. B. Condoms, unfortunately, many people take to free handouts regardless of what they are. At the third session condoms were distributed before the demonstration. That was a mistake that we will remedy in the future. I honestly believe some of the people who held out their hands thought they were getting candy and were quite confused when it wasn’t. We need condoms to get into the right hands, they need to be in the hands of knowledgeable users, because it is of great danger if they are used improperly, because then word spreads that they don’t work, or they break easily, or anything else that is spread by word of mouth that could undermine all the good we have done in our campaign to try to break down the cultural resistance to condoms.

Quote regarding condoms from a book I’m reading called The Politics of Aids, by Peter Gill, “If the Church is really interested in seeing its followers live, it should back the use of condoms to save its own people from Aids. I am not trying to support immorality by supporting those who cannot abstain and be faithful to use condoms, but there is a need to recognize the weakness of those we are living with and therefore help them to live.” President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni 2005 address to East African Roman Catholic bishops.

After a DISHA meeting this morning the DMAV is getting even cooler…and you thought that wasn’t possible.

Perspective: Taking Advocacy to the Grassroots

Standing outside Nehru Memorial hall, a couple of hours before the much-awaited Youth AIDS day rock show, I absentmindedly watched Ryan talk with other international volunteers as a hundred thoughts crowded my mind. Mentally ticking off a last-minute checklist for the show; going over the afternoon’s conversation with the counselor at Bhojwani school about attitude of teachers towards HIV education; planning out the Phase 2 for YAHAAN and so much more went on in my mind all at the same time.

“…when a housewife in Pune would march on the streets asking for introduction of 2nd line Anti – Retroviral Treatment for AIDS patients…” I overheard Hans telling a group of young volunteers from ILS College who were sitting on the steps not too far away.

I pulled a mental ‘break’ and all other thoughts jarred into a happy collision as this one thought stood defiantly, demanding absolute undivided attention.

What will bring a housewife onto the streets for something related to AIDS – the seemingly tabooed disease?

What will make office-going men and women of corporate India sacrifice their Sundays to protest against discrimination faced by PLHIV at workplace?

What will it take for students to fight for an HIV + child’s right to education?

What will it take to Wake Up Pune to the reality of HIV and AIDS?
What will it take for Pune to Join the Fight against HIV?

It will definitely take much more than just HIV awareness sessions.

Pune may have ‘heard’ about HIV and AIDS. But now, Pune needs to ‘see’ HIV and AIDS.

People need to experience HIV and its ramifications more closely for them to care enough to make a difference.

Pune needs to talk to men and women who have been disowned by their families and thrown out of their homes, to comprehend the agony and pain of being stigmatized;

It needs to hear from those who have lost their jobs, to understand the devastating effects of ignorance and discrimination at workplace;

It needs to see HIV+ people, to learn about ‘positive living’;

Pune needs to meet AIDS patients, to understand the urgency of introducing 2nd line ARV drugs.

Every single person in Pune needs to ‘feel’ HIV and AIDS and only then will Pune truly wake up and join the fight!!!


LET’S WAKE UP, PUNE!
LET’S JOIN THE FIGHT!

The Chaos Within - Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Yesterday I was at the Bojwani Academy. It is a school. A school with a particular philosophy of education that would be alien to other mainstream schools in this city.

At best, in other schools, while the holistic development of a child is often deliberated upon it is rarely followed through with. And when speaking of a holistic approach, integral to developing a child is sex education.

Reports in the local newspapers about sex education being banned, bonfires of new text books with lurid drawings, and the righteous indignation of hard right politicians is tempered with the national report that over 50% of kids in India are 'severely' sexually abused.

Why did the writers of the report feel the need to use the word 'severe.' Is there a kind of sexual abuse of children that is gentle? Acceptable? An anchor story in a newspaper is hardly the vehicle to understand such a complex issue. The report will have to be read!

Bottom line, cries of NO SEX EDUCATION PLEASE THIS IS MAHARASHTRA is a fucked up nonsense.

We work at the grassroots with HIV. The statistic that 85% of HIV transmission in the state is through unprotected sex is not a statistic to us. We see it. Thankfully, Bojwani sees it too. When I pulled out a dildo and flourished it no one batted an eyelid and the 30 something boys and girls (average age 15) watched intently as the condom went on... and then came off. After the session they wanted to try it themselves, of course with all accompanying sniggering that teenagers are wont to do when feeling embarressed or challenged. The questions and concerns these children... young men and women, came up with in the course of an hour and a half underscored Bojwani's approach to education. The questions and comments were lucid and forthright, and also just a little bit awkward, as they should be at this age.

Today put yesterday, and the need for yesterday in to sharp perspective. I walked into the community to visit two of my clients who are very ill. The area in which they live is the same area where Jyoti lived, and as I walked by some recognized me and with a puzzled look they asked - because they knew she was gone - are you here to see Lagad? I smiled, and reminded myself of why I had cut down visits into the community... the 'DISHA Sir's' visits give away the client's status.

The second visit was to a client badly in need of 2nd line ART. It costs Rs.5500 a month. ART is a lifelong commitment. I had thus far refused to help because of the lack of sustainability. Today the family pledged Rs.2000 a month. The client lay on his back unable to speak, his body shivering with pain, his stomach contracting... he lay scrunched up, tormented, wanting nothing more than to die, to end the suffering.

The decisions we take are often onerous... their name is legion.

The client, his family, the physician that first put him of ART (with no adherence counselling), the village elders (thought it best he remain in the city), his colleagues (they are willing to raise funds for him), Maya and Lata (primary care givers), Avinash, Dr. Madhu (our HIV specialist), me (should we have taken this decision earlier, should I have waited until I saw his torment, could I have not ensured that this man was back on his feet by saying yes, we will sponsor your 2nd line ART.)

Every one of us has taken a decision that brought us to where we were at that moment, kneeling by his side, holding the hand of a grown man as he repeatedly convulsed in pain.

What about the others that will now demand it? What now? How do we proceed? What will be our policy towards 2nd line ART? Has it changed because I could not bear to watch a man suffer in front of me when my decision had the potential to ease his suffering? What will we do to strengthen the delivery mechanisms of 1st line ART? What do we do to educate the local doctors and health care givers about ART and HIV? Will our plans work for Tadiwala Road and Ramtekadi? Will Wake Up Pune make the difference we hope for at NACO/NARI run ART clinics by forming a crucial partnership between civil society and the government?

The questions are legion too, and the answers... But we will find them. Together.

The client is now with Dr. Madhu as she determines which regimen of 2nd line ART would be best for him.

We will find the funds.

He will live.

And Tomorrow... the dance goes on.

Stepping Up: The Magnificent Seven

On the afternoon of the day the DMAV was unleashed on Pune, a quieter event also signaled a change in the way DISHA will conduct its activities.
The HIV positive clients of DISHA in Tadiwala Rd. voted to form their own executive board to begin to take control over the running of the organization themselves. This continues the steps towards empowering the clients to live full lives with the virus rather than being forced to withdraw from life due to the pressures of stigma that often rule in India. The clients are now free to plan their own social events, building on such things as the regular terrace parties that blast off on the roof of Tadiwala Rd. in monthly versions of the yearly Celebration of Life.
The board positions representing the 82 person client body are President, secretary, treasurer, and five committee members, including one youth representative. The 18 year old youth representative is being groomed to be a spokesperson for the PLHIV community (People living with HIV), and she will undoubtedly be the face of the PLHIV community here at Tadiwala Rd. for many healthy years to come.
Another step on the way forward.

Joining the Fight to Conquer the Stigma by Eleanor Tyrrell

During my time at Deep Griha I have been involved in a small research project involving the collection of data to produce a teaching package for health care professionals in Tadiwala Road. Part of the research involved interviewing people living with HIV who come to DISHA for their treatment.

After interviewing a few clients with the aid of a translater I saw more and more on one hand that people living with HIV are just like other people going about their normal daily lives. However, on the other they are not because most of them have been made outcasts among their community, family and friends. In today’s society it is so upsetting and shocking to think that these people are still being discriminated against. This stigma and discrimination comes from the lack of HIV education in the community. With DISHA projects and the current Wake Up Pune campaign these community attitudes can be changed.

Great Expectations? HIV and AIDS Research in Tadiwala Road by Joanne O'neill

Interviewing doctors has always proved a difficult task, at least at home anyway! Long working hours and heavy workloads to mention but a few. Initially I had reservations about going into the community of Tadiwala road slum areas to meet the local doctors. It was my first encounter with a slum so I was feeling a little dubious, for one not knowing an ounce of Marathi or Hindi and then expecting a questionnaire to be completed, was I expecting to much??? I owe a big thank you to Shakuntala for arranging all the appointments and for breaking the ice with the doctors, it was down to me after that to get the data required, so out came the smiles and the “Irish Blarney”!! Each doctor greeted me with a grand Indian handshake, offering chai or a chilled drink. They were more than happy to share their thoughts and personal experiences with unlimited time, in fact I often had to usher my own exit, as I was very conscious of patients waiting outside. Most waiting rooms were crammed with eager waiting patients, in fact some doctors surgeries were more like mini hospitals, with beds of patients connected to intravenous drips and all sorts! So I was very aware of time. Overall it was an amazing experience, despite the lack of resources a feeling of compassion was very present with most of the doctors. They were very receptive and all expressed a desire to learn more regarding the management of HIV. For me, it was a very fulfilling experience and one I won't forget.

Unleash the Beast: Curtains draw on the DMAV

Social work is supposed to help people, not cause traffic accidents.

However, following the debut of the product of Deep Griha’s version of Pimp My Ride...we could be in a bit of trouble on that front.


The D-MAV (DISHA Mobile Awareness Vehicle) is a converted Ambulance, and while its purpose is to help people stay healthy and reduce stigma and discrimination, it did not seem to help Pune's commuters have a smooth ride to work on Monday morning. Several times motorists forgot to move their vehicles forward after traffic signal changes and bicyclists meandered off course with their eyes glued to the messages on the side of the van.
After all, that is the point.

The point is to bring the message of DISHA and Wake-up Pune to Pune...to wake them up and to increase awareness of the epidemic that is in their city. Hitting them with a big, black, bold, rolling statement on Monday morning is yet another arrow in the quiver of Wake-Up Pune.

The blast off of the big black bus officially happened with Major Tom (the Wake Up Pune logo)
getting serenaded by the DISHA team before a ribbon cutting.


Then the D-MAV was loaded for its first mission. Loaded with condoms, loaded with dildos (for condom demonstrations), loaded with awareness, loaded with hope, loaded with loudspeakers and microphones, and most importantly, loaded with the red sari-clad DISHA team doing a corking job replacing the A-team as the soldiers of righteous causes deploying from the red and black beast.

I felt as cool as I've felt in India being invited to join the team and sail along on their coattails, er…sari-tails for the day. Our first stop was Yerwada slum where our partners Sahara Aalhad are about to open a new outreach centre.

Driving through the narrow streets, occasionally blaring the siren, the DMAV became the pied piper. By the time it rolled to a stop at an intersection we already had a following. The rear double doors opened and the DISHA team exited. The sea of red pouring forth from the
black van was a sight to behold.

The new speaker system was set up and soon the amplified voices of
awareness boomed around the slum. The excitement amongst the DISHA
team and the Sahara team was tangible at the prospect of the vast new arena of
outreach that this inaugural event signalled as open territory.

The team rocked through their street play as usual and the awareness messages were delivered
to a crowd of around 200 who stood in the hot sun to hear the message and see what the commotion was all about.

And yes, a boldly painted van, a dozen women in red saris, two speakers, and a handful of white volunteers in a slum area in India will cause a commotion.

For us, commotion of this sort are good, anything to bring in a bigger audience because once they start watching they may get hooked.

In accordance with the new standards of DISHA, free condoms were distributed out of the back of the D-MAV following a demonstration of the proper use of a condom on a dildo by the male DISHA workers.
The pseudo-conservative culture of India was on display during this phase. The knowledge that everyone is having sex and no one is acknowledging that or protecting themselves, or making themselves aware, led to very few men actually asking for condoms. Two brave young men
however clambered into the back of the van for the demonstration,
and seeing the ice was broken, the proverbial flood gate was opened as men pressed in close to see the demonstration and receive the free boxes of condoms.

All in all, the Yerwada session was the most impressive DISHA awareness and outreach session I've been to, and I've been to several. This, without a doubt, marks a new chapter in the Wake-Up Pune campaign and opens up the communities of greater Pune and rural Pune district to the campaign.

The day did not end there. The team moved on to work with a high-risk group at a truck stop near Sahara Aalhad's centre in Wagholi.

The D-MAV slotted itself amidst the brown trucks and again the red-saried women drew a crowd as truckers emerged from their naps under the shade of their trucks and gathered around.


This time, after the proper technique was demonstrated by the DISHA men, the condom and dildo were offered to the crowd to try themselves and the rest watched intently. A few failed attempts were corrected and, after a successful trial, many more boxes were distributed to the eagerly awaiting drivers.

The day ended for the DMAV back at Tatya Tope.
Even after the sessions finish its day doesn’t end. Every time it roams the streets of Pune it is spreading awareness. This is truly a weapon to use for good.

If the first day was any indication, the DMAV is going to wake up Pune.

n.b. Coming soon, a hip-hop song inspired by a day with the DMAV by TBA. That is how inspiring this thing is.

Mahindra United World College - A Castle in the Sky

When I was asked to go with Hans and the rest of the DISHA volunteers to give a presentation at a nearby international school I was fairly indifferent to the idea although any excuse to get away from the computer for a day was an exciting prospect. Little did I know that the trip would have a pretty profound effect on me and I would still have vivid images running through my head a week later.

The school was called Mahindra United World College and was home to over 200 students (16 – 19) and 75 nationalities. It is perched on top of the mountain that it owns (yes, the school seems to own half the valley). The school is a maze of modern, angular stone and glass buildings, lush vegetation, green (rather than yellow) lawns and ponds filled with fish. One could not wish for a more beautiful place to live and study. It was a far cry from my inner city state school back in England and an even farther cry from the schools and labourers villages that lined the valley bottom. The stark contrast between Mahindra, a castle in the sky, and everywhere else I had seen in India made me feel uncomfortable and unnerved me somewhat. How could there be so much wealth living in such close proximity to so much poverty? It isn’t right although I have learnt that this is a question that can be asked all over India from Koregaon Park to the streets of Mumbai. The extremes are unimaginable but Mahindra seemed to accentuate them even more. I couldn’t quite work out why.
However, the longer I spent at the school the more relaxed yet jealous I felt. The students were in an incredible position to affect social change. It is a core requirement of their international baccalaureate to be involved with the creativity, Action and Service (CAS) programme and students spend three to four afternoons a week working in various social welfare projects. Obviously such wealth, when shared, can have a positive effect on the local area after all.

The students hold regular debates on everything from Sufism to gender and sexuality, weekly discussion sessions on issues of current global concern and follow a course that introduces them to Indian culture and philosophy. I felt that our HIV presentation would be almost redundant in such a liberal, educated environment. Don’t get me wrong, I know that HIV does not discriminate and is as much a problem among the wealthy as it is among the poor but I got the feeling they were going to know everything already.
I needn’t have worried however as Hans changed the focus a little in order not to patronise the students and his graphic, open and honest presentation was listened to attentively before being followed by a high level discussion that focussed on both HIV and the work of Deep Griha. By the end of the session I was feeling incredibly optimistic that a partnership between Mahindra and Deep Griha was on the cards. The school certainly have the resources to really help both Deep Griha and DISHA.

After a delicious lunch of paneer and papaya we drove down the mountain from the oasis that is Mahindra, returned to normality and was once again engulfed with an unnerving, uncomfortable feeling. I have been trying to shake it off ever since as Mahindra was an incredible educational establishment, doing amazing work and with Nelson Mandela, the honourary president of United World Colleges who am I to judge. Maybe I am just jealous.

City of Child Cricket Pitch- the grand opening

It was an early rise last Saturday for those of us lucky enough to see the opening of the new cricket pitch at Deep Griha's City of Child. We piled into the minibus and drove out into the beautiful countryside that surrounds the City of Child compound. We arrived in time for a quick tour around the pitch and presentation area from fellow Link volunteers. The pitch was a labour of love not only for the volunteers, but also for the locals and the sponsors of the project, Synygy.
Synygy is a local Indian business that supplied 50% of the funds for the building of the pitch. This helped provide for the raw materials- not forgetting the all-important wickets!
Before the first official match, a short presentation was held to honour all those who had contributed to the project. Everyone was happy to receive the garlands and wee roses as a thank you. After much impatience on the side of the City of Child boys, the match began. One team consisted of Synygy employees, and the other of CoC children and Link volunteers. A big cheer went up as the bowler lobbed the first ball at the batsman. It was a short but sweet match, with the usual mix of excitement and tension. Although the match was won by the CoC team, no-one was quite sure what the score actually was! But that didn't matter- what matters is that everyone had fun and a lasting improvement has been added to the City of Child compound. I'm sure there will be many, many more matches to come!

Getting Over the Language Barrier by Kirsten Gauld

Today was the day that I made the first real connection with the teachers and helpers in my Creche at Ramtekadi. Often when the children are asleep we just work in silence. Today I got out my notepad and started to draw. I showed the teacher and helper and they started to copy what I had drawn. Before long it had turned into an English/Marathi lesson through art. I started to draw the outline of a child and then the helper wanted me to draw her. Once I had finished I showed her and she was ecstatic and she showed all the helpers in the creche opposite. Although the language barrier was still there after that conversation, communication was a little easier and now I can't wait to go back!

Small Change, Big Difference by Natalie Armitage

When I was assigned to the creche and balwadi project I was excited and enthusiastic about the possible prospects. At first it was quite slow and going into the balwadis was emotionally difficult and to a certain extent very draining. However, seeing these conditions made me and the others on the team more determined to change things for the long term and have a lasting effect on the conditions of the creches and balwadis within Deep Griha. With this determination in mind Jade and I came together and performed a small puppet show for the children that incorporated hygiene routines before eating and after going to the toilet. All the children became involved in the show by following the actions demonstrated by the puppets. I also made them a poster to put up in their classroom. A couple of days later before the children ate their lunch a bucket of water of water was brought to the class for the children to wash their hands. This had never happened before and that was obvious from the childrens confused looks. They didn't know what the water was for. After the initial confusion all the children were excited and enthusiastic about washing their hands. They treated it as a new game. I was moved by this small simple hand washing exercise. It is little changes like this that makes this experience so special and makes me feel glad to be involved with Deep Griha.

The Chaos Within - The Dancing Queen of DISHA

We forget sometimes on the project how important writing blogs are. Just now a spate of blogs will follow as we encourage young volunteer writers to step up and document their experiences in their own individualistic style... and we are confident that the blogs will not degenerate into "I can't believe I am in Inidaaaa!" blogs that rave about food and rickshaws and beggars.

Blogs give us an opportunity to share our experiences, and also for some of us, the chance to rant, or vent. Sometimes all I do is rant or vent, and while I am conscious of how it helps me, I often wonder if it just makes people shy away from the Deep Griha blog. I suspect it has done, especially my use of a certain word that can grate when overused. Mea culpa.

And I take this opportunity to apologise to anyone who has been offended by my use of language. That was never the intention, nor was it the intention for me to communicate how frustrated I was... no, the blog just helped me exhale.

Last week we had 5 new fieldworkers join the DISHA team.

Kavita - She lives in Ramtekadi. Her husband died of AIDS related illnesses.
Vaishali - An ex-Deep Griha fieldworker from Bibwewadi. She is open about her HIV+ status.
Deepali - She lives in Ramtekadi. She worked as a doctor's assistant in Ramtekadi.
Sunita - Young mum. Green. Intelligent.
Sheetal - Young mum (19). Talented dancer. Came through the Aadhar Kendra Child Sponsorship Programme. She is a DISHA client.

This team of fieldworkers will work in the Ramtekadi Community with Madhuri as their Field Supervisor. Madhuri was a wonderful and committed fieldworker for two years in Tadiwala Road, and we are sorry to see her move, and will miss her energy on the project. Yet, everyone was very proud when she stood there at the party last Friday on the terrace with her new team, eyes shining as the 100 odd people present - clients, volunteers, visitors - gave them a rousing welcome into the DISHA family.

Madhuri loves to dance. Never have I seen someone so restless when music is played. When the time came she stood aside unsure how she should behave now that she was a supervisor. Should this onerous task somehow rob her of the joy of uninhibited movement? I ordered the five new fieldworkers on to the dance floor and then turned to Madhuri and gave the express order that they did not stop dancing until I said so. She was on the floor in a flash! Big smile. Hips unleashed.

Many on the DISHA team are older than I am, still... it was pride I felt watching this young woman shepherd her team for the last week, and then feel comfortable enough in her authority to dance with them. Madhuri has been my teacher like many of my team. She taught me that working late while possible for a young woman from Tadiwala Road, wasn't always popular with mothers-in-law who disapproved of a daughter-in-law forgetting her place. She reminded me that intelligence and wit is both universal and particular and by no means limited to a priveleged education. Madhuri taught me, like many have, that often a smile helps defuse situations when words fail miserably.

I looked around, and watched the dance take everyone away. I watched brows un-crease and forget, eyes light up, and faces contort and lips pucker in efforts to keep up with flailing limbs. Sweat began to drip drip on this hot March (August would have sounded better) night under flickering stars obscured by a city's pollution. But none of us cared. None of us gave a fuck.

Least of all Madhuri. The Dancing Queen of DISHA. We will miss her at Tadiwala Road, but we look forward to her work in Ramtekadi, and we are confident that she will make that community wake up to the dance within.

Getting Stuck In and Getting a lot Out by Zara Leslie

Starting my adventures in India was a challenging thought. When I arrived the heat was intense, the flight was long and I was ready to shut my eyes and go to sleep. However, my eyes opened promptly when I saw the poverty that some endure in this country.
Working for Deep Griha has opened my eyes to some of the conditions that the people living in the slums experience. When I was put on the creche and balwadi project I was enthusiatic and ready to make a difference. However, I started to feel deflated with the progress we were making as it was very slow paced. Motivation was low and the teachers in the balwadis seemed a little reluctant to help. Over the last six weeks working on this project I have witnessed first hand what a little bit of initiative can do and the difference it can make. Our team has shown determination and created improvements within the creches and Balwadis with regards to education and hygiene. For example, children are now washing there hands before and after meals and have a more positive attitude to their surroundings. This progress makes me feel that every little bit of help makes a huge difference to these childrens lives. I am really looking forward to measuring the outcome in five months to when I arrived. Its safe to say that for the next five months and for a long time after I'm gone DGS will certainly open my eyes to the lives that others lead and how fortunate I am.

A Step Into the Unknown by Jade Macrae Henderson

I was stocked up on bug spray, sun lotion and wet wipes. I thought I was well prepared for my six month stay in India. I've been here a month now and I've realised that those items are not as essential as I once thought. All you need here is an open heart and an open mind. I have experienced so many emotions ranging from happiness to anger to sadness. There was one particular day when I woke up thinking of home. By breakfast I was missing home so much that it brought a tear to my eye. On the journey to Tadiwala Road I was serioulsly contemplating that I wasn't suitable for the position and that I should go home.
As I walked into my balwadi the children looked so happy to see me and shouted 'Auntie' at me excitedly. When I sat down I took some time to observe all their smiling faces. It made me realise that I couldn't leave them. I felt I would be letting them down, as well as myself if I were to leave. This thought has motivated me to accomplish everything I can think possible to help and and to assist these children . Now whenever I feel homesick I think of how much fun I am having here, working with the children. It has made me realise that an open heart is a happy heart.