July 4 - All the Roads that lead you there are winding

Today Team India found itself in better physical condition, and headed back to Chennai from READ in Andimadam. Close to boredom, sights of water buffalos and the sound of salvaged western music kept the members sane.

Upon arrival in Chennai, Team India got down to their last pieces of business. First, we were able to give one last workshop to a group of youth at a Canadian-Indian Allied Technical Institute, where many myths of HIV, as well as social determinants of health were analyzed. The team also had a lot of fun during a workshop that categorized several activities into high, low, and negligible risks of HIV.

After that, the Team went back to some of their old stomping grounds in Chennai, where we first began our mission. We delivered some additional supplies to the Seva Chakkara Samajam orphanage and left some first aid kits to the CHES orphanage. It’s strange returning to the place where it all began after such a long and winding road, which was Mission India.

Tomorrow we will all go further exploring this intricate sub-continent before our epic trip leads us back home to Canada, where stories and memories of the amazing, adorable, and inspiring people we’ve met will be told. And the beat goes on…


July 3 - Oh… what have we here…?

Melissa continues to lie in the foetal position being brought plain bread (Canadian style), cashew biscuits and water from the resident Granny at READ. Denise runs back and forth from the bed to the bathroom, and someone must stay behind from today’s workshop to pack for our return to Chennai. This leaves Jesse and Sasha to facilitate a workshop for about thirty young women at the High School in Andimadam.

This workshop went smoothly, but the two Team members managed to spice things up with a new improv performance, in which Sasha played a crazy scientist looking to cure Jesse of HIV. “Oh… what have we hear,” she said, peering into the microscope (actually a chalk drawing on the school board). Translation was also well done, and the girls participated fully in anonymous questions about HIV, sex, as well as improve (go girls)!

The evening brought more children to the READ Guesthouse door, and the team reminisced, as this is one of our last workshop days in India.


July 2 - Crapping myself into a prune

In what was set to be a great reunion, and the first day in awhile with all five of us present at a workshop, was sabotaged by some bacteria. With Melissa hugging the porcelain all night and having to go to the hospital with Shamin for what appears to be typhoid fever, we were three strong for the workshop.

Fifty-seven fifteen year olds—half girls, half boys—were present. The workshop went quite well, however the youth had much difficulty in understanding improv theatre—the most to date perhaps. Not only would the boys refuse to work with the girls—which we’ve come to accept as normal and understandable—but they could not understand that they were to perform in front of the group.

While this may have been due to communication difficulties, it seems equally attributable to lack of arts in the education curriculum. This observation is not to judge but it was the first time where familiarity with arts and the ability to express oneself was noticed first hand.

July 1 - Canada Day in India

Today the Team woke up in the READ guesthouse, where we were graciously invited to stay during our time with READ. We prepared for our workshop, which we expected for about seventeen local children. After a successful planning operation, the Team arrived to find over one hundred local children waiting to hear about HIV, play sports, and participate in expression through art. With Jesse and Denise commuting from Agra, three facilitators were all we had to work with. In the end, the workshop actually went very well and lasted all day, from about ten to four.

After the workshop, children continued to interact with the Team, and Jesse and Denise eventually joined the group after their long commute from Agra. It was a day full of interaction with local youth, and along with our lessons to them, we also learned a lot from them.

Currently, there is a black-out at the READ office, but the Team is still managing to miss Canada on its birthday through all the chaos. Happy Canada Day!


June 30 - Four trains, two planes and a conference

After travelling for the last full day, Denise and Jesse finally arrived at the Indian AIESEC conference in Agra. AIESEC is a ‘for youth by youth’ international NGO that seeks to develop the personal and professional capacity of its members through internships different chapters organize amongst themselves.

Our session was set to start at 6:30 and address the global context of HIV and AIDS; however, like many things on the mission, the presentation ran a little long and certain issues had to be left out. Nevertheless, the presenters achieved their main goals: educating about HIV and AIDS, promoting discussion amongst the conference goers about the issue, and making sure everyone had fun.

Memorable highlights from the conference include, a debate about when, where and how sex and HIV education should be taught to youth, Jesse trying to explaining the logistics of fisting and golden showers to participants, and discussion with participants afterwards who were interested in resource trading and partnership forming.

To complement the high of their good presentation, the group was asked to do two more workshops at universities in Delhi—logistics to be determined. With the workshop done, the duo had enough time to partake in an unforgettable choreographed AIESEC dance party before taking a red-eye cab ride back to the airport to eventually meet up with the group at READ.

June 30 - Flying the HUT to learn how to READ

Today Team India officially works in two regions: right about now Jesse and Denise should be in Agra, and Melissa, Shamin and Sasha continue their work with HUT in Perambalur. HUT generously gathered about thirty HIV affected and infected youth for a traditional welcome, complete with the lighting of a Holy Lamp, which was proceeded by a CAIDSHP workshop.

The children to whom they presented their workshop were of varying ages, and even the younger kids were up to date with their HIV education. Team India specified in arts and sports for much of the day, but found communication barriers the toughest in the trip so far. This workshop also proved cumbersome when it came to distribution of CAIDSHP materials, which the team hopes to unload before the end of the Mission.

After distributing some First Aid Kits to HUT, Melissa, Shamin and Sasha were off to the READ Center, which works with members of the community who are mentally or physically impaired, or who are directly affected by HIV/AIDS. Surrounding village children came to greet the team and participated in a grand tour of the new training center, which is still under construction. Tomorrow these same children will join them in a community workshop on HIV.


June 29

As most of the days here in India, Team India started their day early, starting with a four hour bus ride to the Trichy-Perambular region. While heading southeast, the weather became hotter, and at times- unbearable.

Team India also met their Trichy-Perambular partner, HUT India (Human Uplift Trust – India). HUT India’s mandate is to empower rural people through education and healthcare. A workshop was held with a group of 20 students who were aged 14-16. The goal of the workshop was to empower youth to take on leadership roles in their local communities, relating to HIV and AIDS.

On another note, Children’s AIDS Health Program has graciously been providing several organizations with first aid kits. These first aid kits are at different sizes, depending on the person or organization. About 25 fully-equipped first-aid kits will be distributed before the end of India Mission 2007: Realizing a Vision.

Two of the “Realizing a Vision” members, Denise and Jesse, are heading to Agra, for the AIESEC Conference, to educate and empower Indian university student leaders. Look out for a double-diary entry, from both New Delhi and Trichy.


June 28- Thorn in my Side

The day started pre-dawn for three of our members today; Denise and Jesse worked on presentations for the upcoming AIESEC conference in New Delhi for June 30th 2007. Shamin left early to meet with PCI doctors to purchase a much needed water purifier for their HIV care centre.

While Shamin was settling out the details of our donation, the rest of the team returned to the “Promised Land” to finish up the 2-day workshop we had started the previous day. To our dismay, we had accidentally packed the wrong suit case and brought no workshop materials with us. Scrounging up pens and papers from around the bus to find suitable materials to continue, the returning children were very interested and keen and had many good questions about HIV. We did some HIV related improv and then finished the day discussing abstinence and condom use.

With our workshop over, Team India took a break to hike up into the hills behind the Promised Land—it was one of the few times during our stay here that we can say that we were alone…with the exception of the cows and cow shepherd we saw. After that thorny adventure—on our last day here in Salem—our visit came full circle, saying goodbye and donating first aid kits to John Solomon—our hook-up here in Salem and a man who is doing great things for children affected by HIV. With Salem in our minds, we are now heading further south to Perambular.


June 27 - Stigmata

Team India started off their day visiting Dr. J Krishnan, who runs the Indian Christian Mission Centre. Even though, Children’s AIDS Health Program is a non-religious, non-governmental organization, we believe that it is important to not give up the opportunity to work with dedicated social activists.

With the team’s arrival at the Indian Christian Mission Centre, over 1200 children flooded our bus’s entrance curiously trying to figure out what we were up to. After becoming accustomed to the environment, Team India began their workshop, realizing the difficulties of stigma and discrimination amongst the children. One of the difficulties that our team faced was gender segregation and possible feelings of gender inequality. The boys and girls had a hard time working together, since they were not accustomed to such actions, but in the end, the children were able to come together and realize the importance of teamwork.

Team India took on another challenge from Project Concern International by observing and participating in one of their Pathway locations. Pathway clinics locations are sectors that are located throughout the Salem district. Each of these clinics have some compelling stories that are left untold, due to the community’s stigma. To reduce stigma, the community also accepts general patients. One of our members was able to hear some personal stories from some HIV positive communities. These stories can be shared amongst our Canadian youth, to inspire each of them to take action in their communities.


June 26 - Climbing the Coconut Tree

Team India began their day by peeling ourselves out of bed and into the minibus, and drove to a local farm, which is also the future location of NESSAM’s children’s shelter. This organization also funds a low-income area school, Holy Garden Nursery and Primary School. A former student of this school met us at the farm to gather coconuts from one of the plethora of palm trees in the area.

It was off to the school from there, where CAIDSHP performed one workshop to older students (ages approx. 15-20+). They were well received during both workshops, the second of which was performed later on in the day to about sixty youth. Leadership, teamwork and communication were the important points Team India touched upon, and we continue to learn the best ways to portray these skills throughout our workshops.

June 25 - Learning about NGOs as we go...

Today, Team India woke up bright and early to meet with John Peter Prithiviraj, Project Support Officer at Project Concern International’s (PCI) regional office in Salem. Through this meeting, we were able to discuss the approaches PCI takes towards helping people infected by HIV in rural areas, as well as the logistics of their organization. This proved useful, especially with our long-term goal in the back of our minds -- building a health care centre in a low-income country. We then headed off to Community Services Trust, an NGO involved in community development and empowering the poor. Mr. G. George, Founder and Director of the organization told us of the hardships of starting an NGO in India in the early 90s and detailed us on his micro-financing projects used to help those in rural areas. Our Team then carried out workshops with over 70 youth from several rural villages up to two hours away from the city center. Although the youth knew very little English, they were an exceptionally energetic bunch that was eager to learn more about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We felt exhausted by the end of the day, but the impact we feel we’ve had with each group of youth we visit keeps us going strong!

June 24 - Frontlines and Family Ties

Today Team India continued to tour AIDS affected communities with Rev. Solomon. We were also joined by a handful of yesterday’s workshop participants, who invited us to see their old homes. These charming, colourfully-clad and smiling young ladies lead the way into a slum by the Bangalore highway and into the mud huts where their families continue to live. About 170 families live in this neighbourhood whose primary subsistence is due to transaction sex (mainly with truckers who use the highway).

It was heartening to see that one girl’s mother and father had both passed due to AIDS, and was left to the care of her heroic grandmother before being sent to live with proper education at the PCI resident school. Another one of the girls had lost her father, and both of her siblings to the virus, and her mother too had sent her to live with PCI. What made this experience even more devastating was the fact that the shanty community where these families live will be no more in 11 days.

The government of Tamil Nadu had given the illegal residence four months to vacate the property, as they plan to continue construction through the location. This tragic news struck the chord even harder that the work of PCI is HIGHLY important in Salem, as the children who continue to live in the Bangalore highway slums will soon be made homeless, as the PCI resident school is currently full due to limited space. Team India left the slum even more supportive of PCI’s work and AIDS activism in Salem.

Later that day, Rev. Solomon invited Team India to the inauguration of its new women and children community-based care facility, Hands of Hope. This new project is located in the Namakkal District, which is 62 km outside of Salem, and is being built largely in response to the HIV crisis as well as female infanticide in the area. Once more, Team India was touched by the dedication of local activists. A young, newly married twenty-year-old will be totally in charge of the new facility. The Team left the inauguration with a steadfast will to continue youth AIDS activism, as locals have done.

June 23 - Smooth Operator

Today we met Father John Solomon, a Reverend in Salem who has dedicated his life to acts of social justice in his community. His tailored look and perfect smile greeted the group as we got down to business. Rev. Solomon works for an organization called Project Concern International, which runs several community-based initiatives to ease the pain of the HIV crisis in India.

First, Team India was able to visit PCI’s community care center, where they were able to meet with three women who cook, clean, council and care for resident HIV patients. They also met with an English-speaking patient from Calcutta, whose entire livelihood had been changed by his HIV status.

After their initial greeting with PCI activists, Team India regrouped and prepared for their workshop at PCI’s orphanage/resident school later in the evening. This was by far our smoothest operation since we arrived in India, and with the help of Rev. Solomon and his son, translation was no obstacle in spreading the word of HIV prevention.

Hopefully this well-received workshop will be a good omen for future meetings with PCI activists.


June 22 - Digging Ditches and Branding Toilets

Team India maximized their time again today by heading to two different destinations at once: two stayed in Auroville to continue net-working with the Udavi School, where they were able to share resources and discuss the possibility of integrated HIV education and peer leadership into their already tight curriculum. They were also able to visit the Auroville Youth Center, which people under the age of 25 can express their creativity in various forms. Already they are encouraged to take leadership through arts, construction and music. Team India members were able to engage these creative youths in dialogue about HIV prevention and education.

Meanwhile, three members of Team India headed for the Sri Ragavendara School, outside of Auroville. This “nursery school”, which actually teaches children up to ten years old, was created by one couple who was inspired to teach youths that can’t necessarily afford a good education, and who come from fringing communities outside Auroville. Upon arriving at the location of the school, Team members were shocked to see the make-shift building, which the principal also calls home. One room of the school had also been destroyed in a post-tsunami storm, which flattened the structure. Ditches were in progress of being made as a future home of the school’s first proper bathroom. Though the school structure is in rough condition, the people running the facility and the children attending were inviting and engaging people.

Later on, those three members also travelled to the Chinji Colonie, which is about a three and a half our commute from Auroville, and rural as they come. This was one of the towns where Village Outreach continues to do their post-tsunami relief efforts. As the school was closed, the Team resorted to using the abandoned school, which was still unlocked and which they were invited into, as well as the school field. There was no shortage in children to interact with, as many began to follow the bus before Team India had even parked. In the abandoned school, lights flickered and occasionally failed as the Team went over HIV 101 with members of the rural community. Again, students were very engaged as this information is not widely discussed in their town. That being said parents were still on-hand and generally supportive of CAIDSHP efforts. Some very-far -out-reach was accomplished by the Team today.

June 21 - …to all (wo) men of good will…

Today, the team woke up with a kink in the neck after sleeping a full night in their rental bus. Disillusioned, they peered out the windows through crusty eyes and sticky skin at a forest of perfectly aligned palms, upon vibrantly red earth. Welcome to Auroville! Here, we met one of the connections facilatated through Sasha Smith from a tsunami relief organization called Village Outreach. Angamma rode in heroically on her dirt bike in an orange sari to invite Team India into her home and show everyone around during their stay.

Their first stop was a local school, where the team was able to talk to some “nine standards” (grade seven students) about leadership and question their knowledge of HIV. After playing some frisbee and discussing ways in which they are already leaders, the team realized that these children were quite special and hopes to work with them in the future (tune in tomorrow)! The Team was also able to finalize some plans for tomorrow and research the town of Auroville, which has a very different take on day to day living (including education). Inspiration about human unity ensued, and ideals of a continuous human evolution, which is leading us away from conflict and into unity, through the Aurovillians. What a thought to end a day.

June 20 - No Strings Attached

Today, Team India was joined by renowned actor/puppeteer, Meena Naik, who seeks to educate youth about HIV through theatre. Like yesterday, Team members found themselves running different Mission tasks: picking up Meena from the airport, being interviewed for a local paper, and packing up the guesthouse for their late-night journey out of Chennai.

In the afternoon, Jesse and Denise ventured out on a rickshaw to far-off Nalamdana, where they were able to pick up some excellent Tamil resources for future work with children in India. Meanwhile, Shamin continued with the interview process and Melissa and Sasha ran some errands and e-mailed family. The Team reconnected at the CHES orphanage, where they were able to interact with youth affected by HIV. Along with some helpful and inspirational dialogue, the Team was also able to submerse in the tenacity and vibrancy of the children.

Late at night, the Team said goodbye to the local stay dogs, rickshaw drivers and chai merchants and packed everything into the bus. They were off in the night only to wake up and discover their next adventure ahead….


June 19 - Symbiotic Relationships

Today the group began on scattered terms as two members stayed behind to “sleep”, which is realistically working (just in the guesthouse). The other three Team members persevered and drove through the lower income neighbourhoods of Chennai and eventually made it to APAC (AIDS Prevention And Control Agency). While there, Team India received a thorough briefing on community outreach programs implemented by APAC as well as some ways Canadians may get involved (more information should develop post-mission). The visit was beneficial to both CAIDSHP members, who were able to see ways that locals have dealt with the AIDS crisis, and APAC, who were able to express their interest in international partnerships.

Later in the afternoon, Team India all re-connected after their morning separation at the Stella Maris College for Girls, where we were able to give a formal presentation to several female leaders. Host, Dr. Sundari Krishnamurthy, motivated the girls to take youth initiative as members of Children’s AIDS Health Program have done in creating Mission India 2007. After swapping e-mails, CAIDHSP hopes to continue pooling resources with these local leaders.

Another meaningful visit occurred later still at the Good Sheppard Convent, where orphaned children are often times taken in for lodging and schooling. The girls we met at the convent were already highly knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, and were thrilled at having new visitors/audience members. A brief talent show ensued as the girls danced and sang, and even members of CAIDHSP joined in. Today was an excellent day for longer and more sustainable relationships to come.

June 18 - First Workshop; New Friendships

In an attempt to prolong the onset of gastrointestinal complications, Team India frequented a familiar venue for the first meal of the day. Refreshed and nourished, we set out for our first workshop of the mission. At Seva Chakkara Orphanage, we were greeted by over thirty jubilant children aged 4 to 12, whom we met briefly yesterday. Upon entering the orphanage Team India was able to see the different ways such organizations function in the face of financial adversity.

With the help of three dedicated and invaluable translators, we persevered despite the challenges presented by the language barrier and delivered our first workshop combining icebreaker games, arts and HIV education.

Just after noon, we departed from the Orphanage, grabbed a quick bite to eat and were on our way to meet an inspiring team of women from the AIDS service organization, CHES. These women, passionate workers in the struggle against HIV and AIDS, enlightened us on their commendable work and the context of HIV in Chennai.

After beginning our work earlier in the day, Team India then returned to Seva Chakkara to interact with some of the older children, who then invited everyone to have dinner at the orphanage. Indeed, the Team continues to undergo a cultural experience through the hospitality and sweet-mannered people of Tamil Nadu. The friendships created at Seva Chakkara will not soon be forgotten.


June 17 - Two Cigarettes Away

After manoeuvring our way through the narrow streets near the hotel, Team India dragged its way through the humidity and into our suite. After strategically hanging mosquito netting, which promptly fell on the oblivious and slumbering Sasha, Team India caught up on some much needed rest after the 20 hour commute from Canada.

As morning broke, the team expected a slow day in preparation for workshops. Instead, they stepped out into a world where dirt roads meet stray dogs and honking horns are as constant as friendly waves and blatant stares from strangers. Temples, churches, slums and busy shopping centers painted the eclectic and lively scene of Chennai, but it was brief visit to the Seva Chakkara Orphanage that really motivated the Team.

Peeling themselves from the bus, workshop preparation became the main focus to fully participate in tomorrow’s workshops with the children. Heaviness from heat and humidity, to which the Team has yet to become accustomed, lingers, but the meeting with the orphanage leaders inspires future Mission events.


June 16 - From Toronto to Chennai

After an exhausting trip from Toronto to Chennai, Team India re-energize and prepare for upcoming workshops and meetings for the journey to come.

June 15/16 - Toronto to Chennai via Frankfurt

Approaching the airport with eleven bags--each packed to capacity with workshop materials and each undoubtedly overweight--Team India was nervous approaching the Lufthansa check-in counter. After consorting and haggling with the airlines, our plenitude of over-weight baggage was allowed on the plane free of charge.

With our first obstacle behind us, we boarded the plane hassle-free and were off to Frankfurt. Eight hours, one Gravol, one Tylenol, and one anti-histamine later (all for Shamin—our medicine man), we were in Frankfurt.

While waiting for our next flight, we reviewed our ‘Realizing a Vision’ objectives and ate some food—some of our last dairy products prior to India. With this being done, it was time to board the plane to Chennai.

With another eight hours passed and the wheels touching down at midnight Chennai time, we are all excited about our upcoming adventures—Tamil Nadu here we come!

 






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