Marnye Walla, Walla

Today was my last day with most of the girls from the Ramgar slum. I will see a few of the girls on Monday for Tare Fun Day at Sangam. 

We have spent most of this week talking about hygiene and the importance of keeping ourselves and our clothes and our living spaces clean.  The girls did an amazing drawing of an Indian girl and labeling all of her body parts earlier this week. After they finished their masterpiece, as a group we added the methods used for cleaning each body part.

For our final activity in the unit, I wanted to reinforce the importance of hand washing. When I was in Kenya I learned about Tippy Taps. I had noticed in my visits to the slum that there did not seem to be any easy access to water and soap for hand washing. With a few clicks on Google, I found simple instructions on how to make a personal hand washing station using a plastic bottle and some rope.

After we demonstrated how germs are easily passed from one person to another by touching hands rubbed in chalk, the girls did a great job following directions to make their Tippy Taps. I wanted to make the project as sustainable as possible. So that when the initial water runs out the girls and their families could easily be able to refill the bottle and keep it near their cooking space. I decided to create a soap sling to attach to the bottle for easy use. 

The soap was the unexpected part of the day. When I started opening the boxes of soap to give to each girl, I was unprepared for the excitement and the gratitude.

I choked up a bit and then I started to cry. Of course, then the girls were a bit upset that I was upset. I then told them that today was my last day. I don’t think I have ever received as many bear hugs and kisses from so many people in one minute. It was all a bit overwhelming.

I hope the girls understand how grateful I am to them for letting me into their lives and into their community and for letting them into my heart. Of course, I am also grateful to them for teaching me “Walla, Walla” and the “Alligator” game, a game that I still don’t quite understand but I sure did enjoy screaming and giggling with them at the end of every round.

Teacher, Lawyer, Police Woman

Last Friday was an awesome day with “my girls.” For the final activity of the self-esteem unit, I asked the girls about their future plans (aka: what do you want to be when you grow up). The Green Tara Foundation sure is doing something right. The girls had amazing answers. They really inspired me. I know they have the potential to achieve their dreams to be teachers, lawyers, police officers, dancers and singers if they can break the poverty cycle. My wish for each girl is to avoid an early marriage and to have the chance live their future plans. 

Photos: Week 3 in Review

Ready for my day at the Green Tara Foundation

Yummy!

Cooking with the ladies

Standing outside my dorm

Happy Birthday Ganesh!

1 Billion Rising to end violence against women

Tare dinner at Hard Rock

Best Indian lunch ever!

The Donations are in Use!

Thank you to everyone who donated! The supplies are being used with the teens at the Green Tara Foundation, with the elementary age kids at Deep Griha Society, with the 7th grade class at Anand Gram, with the toddlers at Tara Mobile Crèche and at the Door Step School!

Good X 8

During a self-esteem lesson with the girls, this afternoon, I learned that there are eight different ways to say "good" in India. Well, to say the least, today was a good day multiplied by eight!

Photos: Week 2 in Review

In my uniform with my tiffin (packed lunch) and ready for site

My roomies in our uniforms

Ready for Wednesday fun day

Paola and I standing outside of the Alandi Temple.

The Alandi Temple

The Hindu god Shiva.

Women in a sewing class

Riding the commuter bus

Outside of the Chatashringi temple

Showing off our programs from the AMAZING cello and piano concert!

In our new punjabis!

Crossing the Street

Crossing the street in India is a thrill! 

Daily I dodge, cars, rickshaws, bicycles, motorbikes, people and dogs to get to Green Tara.

There are not designated crosswalks or traffic signals on my way to the office so it is everyone for himself or herself. When I first arrived, stepping off of the curb was a bit intimidating. I must have looked strange standing at the corner convincing myself to step out into traffic but now, after a few weeks, I require no convincing. I know I have a bit of an “I dare you to hit me” attitude.

So far the attitude along with my one single rule: never step out in front of a truck or a bus, have proven quite successful. :)