We'll we're back in the hustle and bustle of the big city, Bangalore. The streets are filled with vehicles at a speedy pace. The air smells of smog and the sound of busyness rings throughout the atmosphere. We have been welcomed back to the land of fast and constant internet to connect us to the world but to also distract us as well. We've been treated to hot constant flow of water from the showerheads. We have the luxury of big rooms and comfy beds and a washing machine to clean our clothes. Auto rickshaws line the streets as we walk 40metres to take us to the shops to buy whatever we want. We have tv here and cable so there's movies and series to watch at a flick of a button. We've come back to the first world (i guess you could say). Yet, something just feels a bit off.
There's no more beautiful sights of hills, agriculture, crops and nature. There's no more sounds of insects, of cattle, of the farmer trying to get his buffalo to move or the shepherd herding his/her goats. Theres no more smell of the clean and pristine air that we grew to love in the last 2 months. We dont have staff or the family, the boys or the school to occupy us - to make us feel like we are making a difference. i miss that place.
But we need to carry on. Tomorrow, we head off to the state of Tamil Nadu to an NGO called ACCORD. Here our other 2 colleagues are there, so we are spending a few nights with them, observing and learning what social impacts and what social work is doing there.
My time at SEDS and with alot of reflecting that i do (personally and for assignments) i ask myself what have i learn about social work here in India, and specifically in the rural areas. Social work focusses on 3 things; advocacy, human rights and social justice. Social work is the point where people and their environment interact. As one of my lecturer said 'everyone has rights, just some need help getting them'. I've learnt alot about myself (and u need to know about urself and your values as a social worker) the past 2 months. I learnt that i value education, i value human rights (the marginalised, the ostracised, the ppl on the fringe i love to support), i value the youth, i value culture and learning, i value that people are the experts of their environments and not me, I value getting people to reach their full capacity and to create outlets for people to showcase their talents, i value the rights of human beings (that everyone has hopes, fears, feelings, dreams, aspirations no matter who you are), i value social capital (that people can build a network of trust and support for each other), i value empowerment, i value social justice - that society is just for all and i value respect, and advocacy - that if someone is voiceless then i will be that voice and that i will lead so that others will follow to get their rights.
What a crazy 2 months its been! Thanks God for the opportunity. Now where to go from here is the question. i'll leave it in His hands :)
There's no more beautiful sights of hills, agriculture, crops and nature. There's no more sounds of insects, of cattle, of the farmer trying to get his buffalo to move or the shepherd herding his/her goats. Theres no more smell of the clean and pristine air that we grew to love in the last 2 months. We dont have staff or the family, the boys or the school to occupy us - to make us feel like we are making a difference. i miss that place.
But we need to carry on. Tomorrow, we head off to the state of Tamil Nadu to an NGO called ACCORD. Here our other 2 colleagues are there, so we are spending a few nights with them, observing and learning what social impacts and what social work is doing there.
My time at SEDS and with alot of reflecting that i do (personally and for assignments) i ask myself what have i learn about social work here in India, and specifically in the rural areas. Social work focusses on 3 things; advocacy, human rights and social justice. Social work is the point where people and their environment interact. As one of my lecturer said 'everyone has rights, just some need help getting them'. I've learnt alot about myself (and u need to know about urself and your values as a social worker) the past 2 months. I learnt that i value education, i value human rights (the marginalised, the ostracised, the ppl on the fringe i love to support), i value the youth, i value culture and learning, i value that people are the experts of their environments and not me, I value getting people to reach their full capacity and to create outlets for people to showcase their talents, i value the rights of human beings (that everyone has hopes, fears, feelings, dreams, aspirations no matter who you are), i value social capital (that people can build a network of trust and support for each other), i value empowerment, i value social justice - that society is just for all and i value respect, and advocacy - that if someone is voiceless then i will be that voice and that i will lead so that others will follow to get their rights.
What a crazy 2 months its been! Thanks God for the opportunity. Now where to go from here is the question. i'll leave it in His hands :)
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| goodbye SEDS |
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