Gaining perspective

Association of Relief Volunteers is a non-profit social service organization, established in 2001 and head-quartered in Hyderabad/Manchilipatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Working with 281 Indian volunteers and activists, ARV focuses on helping people in Andhra Pradesh in the following areas: attaining food security for the poorest of the poor, health and sanitation (through housing, medical camps and other means), destitute welfare, Dalit (formerly labeled untouchable) empowerment, female empowerment, child education, research, training and documentation (human-rights violations), policy advocacy and lobbying (human rights education and training), and working with national and international volunteers. ARV in its four years has been recognized by both National and International Organizations working on similar issues and has established a network in all 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh [ARV volunteer literature packet, 2005].

My journey to India revolved around working for eight days with Association of Relief Volunteers in Andhra Pradesh (though unfortunately that time turned into a mere five days because of the fog). I found out about ARV through a fellow JET, Rick, who organized the trip. He found out about ARV through another organization called GoMAD (Go Make A Difference), which is a volunteer organization begun by former JET Programme participants aiming to give international travelers a way to do volunteer work along the way. GoMAD has since grown and established a number of ongoing volunteer projects throughout the world (www.GoMAD.org).

Ravi Kumar of ARV, a charismatic do-gooder with an Eddie Murphy laugh was our organizer and leader for the Building Communities project. A contagiously pleasant man, he invited us into his home, introduced us to his family and took us under his wing as his own children while we worked alongside him and other ARV volunteers in the villages of Kothisatram and Narimpali. Technically Ravi works for Habitat for Humanity, so all of his work with ARV is on a volunteer basis for now. We (the group as a whole)spent Christmas, New Years and Ravi`s 40th birthday together. This only partially conveys the dedication that he has to helping the poor people of Andhra Pradesh. He truly is a wonderful person, I am glad to have been able to work with him and hope to help him with aide projects in the future.




Our group of fifteen English teachers living in Japan, was the first group of international volunteers that ARV had ever hosted. For this reason, it was in many ways a test run to see what would work and what would need improvement. On the other hand, our pioneer efforts allowed us an incredible amount of influence in the planning of the trip; what projects we would participate in and where our donations would be focused. I feel lucky to have been a part of this first group and am now, back in Japan, continuing to do follow-up on the trip. Each volunteer gave monetary donations and many of us gave other things such as pens, pencils and notebooks, being that the children in these villages don't have school houses big enough to hold everyone, let alone the proper utensils for learning. It was with this in mind, that my junior high school students, without my knowing, brought me bags and bags of school supplies. I therefore brought extra luggage with me to India solely devoted to these gifts. And in lieu of asking for monetary donations here in Japan, I was able through one email to family and friends at home, to raise $700 for the villagers in Andhra Pradesh. That will go a long way, really. Thank you to all who were able to give, it was thankfully recieved and deeply appreciated. As a group, we raised nearly $5,000.



Each day that I spent with ARV in Kavali, was mind-blowing and humbling. And the time flew. Never have I felt so rich and privileged. Not only privileged because I have so much in comparison, but also privileged to be able to spend time with such amazing people. Because although they have few material possessions and barely a roof over their heads, they are overflowing with spirit. Each day as our bus pulled up, it was surrounded. Stepping off the bus, we were greeted with hugs and handshakes, smiles and "I love you" s. Needless to say, in the evening when leaving the village to head back to Kavali, our send off was much the same and more often than not, tens of meters down the road, Ravi would have to tell us to stop waving out of the windows, because the kids were running after the bus.

The work in the villages mostly consisted of repair work and teaching, with a good chunk of the afternoon allotted to playing. Repairing the two wells in Kothisatram was a village community effort. Skinny arms extended, I would stack bricks up to chins, to be carried down the dirt road. The water pale that was awkward and heavy for me to hold, became more balanced when a young girl came to grab the other side. The sand from the dune to be carried in discs on the head and then mixed with cement (bought with donations) to be used as mortar, traveled more quickly with the long assembly line of old, young, foreign and native. And when it came down to the artistry of well-building, it became immediately apparent that we were just there to help. Some of those young men I tell you, they're like machines. One man's heavy is another man's light. And you can't differentiate the two just by looking at them. It was an honor though, to be the getter of sand or water and then to stand back and watch the real builders at work. We all had two left hands compared to them. At times we were given token work, but I was fine with that. It seemed to be more important to everyone, that we were there.

On December 31st, New Years Eve, we had a children's day and invited kids from three surrounding villages to Kothisatram, our main village. Though neighbors, it was the first time that many of the kids had played together and the day was like summer camp. We introduced them to tug-of-war (the rope fittingly snapped, leaving both teams winners and the elders in the village laughing hysterically) and fed them a huge meal (also made possible from donations). It was a feast. A feast fit for these little kings and queens. After lunch, we had a dance party. It was a spectacular way to end the year.




Along with repairing the wells, we also helped roof a small school house. Our job was to carry water in large metal pots up from a sand ravine, wet the piles of dried palm fronds and then hand them to the men who stood on the cross beams of the roof with a giant metal needle (type thing) and some rope, without getting in the way. Three men, easily over the age of 60, completed the roof in about 8 hours. It was amazing to watch them work, making the particular layering and threading, maneuvering and climbing look effortless. And we just stood there, holding various sizes of palm leaves, as if they were our wares, hoping that ours would be chosen.



When it was finally time to say good bye on January 2nd, it was quite sad. I hope to be back there, to see the children again, but I don't know when and I don't know for sure. We spent the day at the village, finishing up projects, did some press interviews (this was actually a large part of the community building project, for getting the message across about the conditions in these villages is helped by sending out photos and words from foreigners that have traveled to help. Unfortunately this is the case...) and then returned in the evening, dressed in sarees for the final goodbyes, which of course took longer than was planned. It was really hard to leave one of my favorite little ones. A boy, three years old, who the entire time we were there would sit on the sidelines and in the backgrounds of the games we played with the other kids. He always had such a serious, contemplative look on his face and I often wondered what he was thinking. But as soon as I was able to catch his eye, a smile appeared from ear to ear and with a little tickling, the giggle emerged as well. This became my mission throughout the week. He is a precious one. That night as we bid farewell, he was crying, due to an eye infection. His mother promised she was going to take him to the hospital (though it is a far journey) and it was comforting to know that they have ARV as a resource. It was not until we left that I found that his father died soon after the tsunami from shock (I hadn't considered this element of the tragedy) and that his mother was sick as well. Such a heavy life for such little person. That single family occupies my thoughts these days back in Japan, providing perspective, teaching me more than they or I realize. I wonder how they are, how they will be.

We were at the village well past dark, taking pictures, giving last hugs, promising to return. Hopefully they are promises we can all keep.



If anyone would like more information about ARV and/or is interested in donating, or traveling to India to volunteer, please contact me. In addition, if there is anyone that is web design capable and willing to donate their time and services to ARV, let me know as well. Thanks.

(some photos courtesy of Prue Keenan and Rick Mickelson. Arigato Gozaimasu.)