Festival Season in India with Volunteers!

Aim Abroad would like to wish everyone a "Dussehra kee shubhkamnaayein" on this special day! The volunteers in one host family home have woken up and showered early for a special pooja (prayer service) for this holiday, during which we remember that on this day Lord Ram killed Ravan, who represents all evil in Hinduism. The event will be followed by traditional customs that are practiced on this day, and in the evening the volunteers will observe a unique event in which the death of Ravan is recreated in many places all around India today! Here is a picture taken at the event when four medical volunteers observed the holiday last year! At first, the effigies of Ravan, his brother Kumbhkarna, and his son Meghnad are built; at sundown, the reenactment of their deaths is shown, as Ram pierces Ravan with an arrow, and the effigies are burnt to signify their deaths. It is always entertaining for the volunteers to observe this custom each Dussehra!

Volunteering and Travels to Shimla

This week at Aim Abroad the projects have been going very well! One volunteer, from the US, came with funds that she had raised for donations to the volunteering projects! She went this week with one of the teachers from the school to purchase book-bags for each child at the school (there are about 250 children who study at this school). Other volunteers have been going to the school for disabled children, where they have been spending time with these children during the festival season of Navratra. Two other volunteers have been visiting an all-girls' orphanage during this festival season as well, where they have been spending time playing with the children and helping them with their English communication. Another pair of volunteers has been volunteering at a local hospital here in Delhi NCR, where they have been learning from a gynecologist and a pediatrician in particular, along with other practices in the hospital. One of our volunteers from the US, who has been here since June, had gone to visit Shimla for a short vacation, with a very close friend. He had a wonderful stay in the Himalayas, and he has given us some photos to post on the blog! Here is a photo taken at Kufri, a popular tourist destination in Shimla.

Fir Milenge, or "See you later" in Hindi!

Just a few hours ago, one of our volunteers have left after her three-week volunteer work with Aim Abroad. She was very sad to leave this country, her new family, and all of the volunteers that she met, that she was crying on her way to the airport. The other volunteers went with her to the airport to spend time with her, as they grew very close during her volunteering period with them. It is always very sad for us to say goodbye as well, so instead we always say "Fir milenge" (we'll meet again)!

Otherwise, today a few volunteers went to a school for disabled children, where they spent time with the orphans who live at the school: the school has limited accommodations for the students; however, some students have been disowned by families, and they remain at the school, with their new families. In the photo you can see one of our volunteers, Sonia, from Barcelona, Spain, while she visits this school for disabled children. A few other volunteers went to a different school for disabled children as well in another area in Delhi NCR, while two volunteers went to their new volunteering placement in an all-girls' orphanage. This evening, five of the volunteers went with one of the host family's children to the local market in Delhi NCR, where they bought the children some new clothes and ice cream! One of the children, who is nine years old, helped a volunteer get alterations to her new saree as well, which she bought here in India! It was a nice day, though bittersweet to say "farewell" to one of our volunteers.

Navratra kee Shubhkamnaayein!

Some volunteers with Aim Abroad went to central Delhi today for an afternoon of sightseeing and shopping, while others are enjoying observing the Commonwealth Games! The volunteers wanted to go to Connaught Place, the major shopping district in Delhi, but today at Connaught Place the shops will be closed because of a cycle race, for the Commonwealth Games, scheduled throughout the neighborhood. Instead, the volunteers will spend some time at Chandni Chowk and perhaps Sarojni markets, both very affordable markets in Delhi where high quality items can be found. 

Otherwise, Aim Abroad would like to welcome everybody a "Navratra kee shubhkamnaayein!" ("Happy Navratri"). This holiday, which started yesterday, lasts for nine days, during which many Hindus fast during hours of sunlight, to commemorate the same fast, which the people of Ayodhya observed. Today, one of our volunteers is attending a special event at a friend's home, where the Ramayan, a Hindu sacred text, will be read aloud, from start to finish, within a twenty four hour period. The book must be read quite speedily, as it is about 2000 pages in length! Though the even will run for twenty four hours, people will stop by and spend time with others while the Ramayan is being read aloud. Two or three main readers will switch back and forth with the readings. The volunteer is quite excited about this event, as he knows little about the holiday and the Ramayan!

The volunteers with Aim Abroad went to see the Commonwealth Games in India today! They went to the central area in Delhi where they can observe the games, and also see some sites in Delhi and shop in the neighborhood. They will come back on Sunday evening, I am sure with plenty of stories to share with the host family. Two other volunteers went to the street children project, where they will teach the children, focusing on English and computing classes. One of the volunteers has expressed interest in donating some supplies for the street children school, so we are very excited to help her with her mission! We are aware that the school is in need of some new uniforms, so perhaps with her donations we can purchase several dozens of uniforms for the children. As she decides how she would like to make the donation, I will be certain to write about it! In the photo, you can see more of the children who study at this school!

Current Volunteers with Aim Abroad

Today, two of the volunteers with Aim Abroad went to the hospital to continue their volunteer work in India. At the hospital, they will work mostly with a gynecologist and a pediatrician, but they will also visit some of the other branches in the hospital to gain more exposure to medical practices and the health care system here in India. Three other volunteers went to the school for street children, where they have been focusing on English teaching, and they have been specifically interested in giving the children care and attention, which they cannot find at their homes. After they finish their projects, the volunteers will go back to the host family home for lunch, and possibly watch the new Bollywood film, Anjaana Anjaani (meaning Strangers). Last night, a few volunteers went to the mall with the orphans at one of the orphanages, where the children rode their first escalator, went to the cinema for the first time ever, and saw the movie Dabangg (meaning Fearless), which both the volunteers and orphans enjoyed. Afterwards, the children went to McDonald's for the first time, which they did not enjoy as much as the volunteers hoped! But, even so, the children still enjoyed their experience with the volunteers. In the photo, you can see some of the orphans with my children and a family friend at the orphanage. This weekend, a few volunteers are contemplating going to the Commonwealth Games to watch some of the events, particularly Gymnastics and Swimming. The event should be exciting!

Commonwealth Games and Dengue Fever

Yesterday the Commonwealth Games opened for the first time in Delhi, India! We are very proud to host this event, and we are looking forward to the positive effect that the Commonwealth Games will have on our country, especially for Delhi NCR. With the influx of foreigners all around Delhi NCR, we are looking forward to the possibility of foreigners taking an interest in helping local organizations in need! If not, at least we'll enjoy the event at our home!

Today, one volunteer went to the school for underprivileged children, where she spent the day teaching them English. She mentioned that there was one child who had a confirmed case of Dengue Fever, and two other children who have symptoms, but there is no confirmation that they have contracted Dengue Fever. I feel like it would be an appropriate time to discuss some facts about Dengue Fever.

Mosquitoes that carry dengue usually bite during sunrise and sunset, but they also bite any time during the day, usually indoors, in shady areas, or when the weather is cloudy. This is interesting, as other mosquitoes, that do not carry dengue, usually bite at night. Symptoms of Dengue Fever can be minimal, such as headache, nausea, loss of appetite, and fever, while severe symptoms include severe fluid loss and hemorrhaging. Symptoms of Dengue Fever usually last between two and seven days. Currently, there is no approved vaccine for the virus. Typically, oral rehydration therapy is best for Dengue, and, while aspirin should be avoided, paracetamol and acetominophen. 

After looking at these facts, it appears that the child who was bitten by a dengue-carrying mosquito was unlikely bitten at the school. This school is run outdoors, and for the past week it has been very sunny, a setting which the dengue-carrying mosquito does not prefer (In the picture, you can clearly see that the park wouldn't be damp after a week of sunshine. The photo was taken by one of our volunteers from Barcelona, Tania, when she volunteered with Aim Abroad on September 1st). From the information, it appears that the child is not contagious, as the disease is spread only by these mosquitoes, so there should be no concern about the health of the other children. It is likely that the child was infected with Dengue in his home, as the area where he lives is most likely a very damp area, like many of the slum homes, where hygiene conditions are very poor. Though the disease is a very serious concern, it is a relief to know that the children are most likely not being exposed to Dengue at their school. We hope that the child, and the other children, who potentially have Dengue Fever, will have a speedy recovery.