Andrew Forde, a DCU graduate, reporting from Delhi, India about his experiences so far
Monday 20 June 2005

Andrew Forde, a graduate of the Computer Applications programme at DCU, is spending the summer months in Delhi, India on the Volunteer Programme organised by SUAS, a youth and education-focused organisation. SUAS facilitates young people to address education disadvantage at home and overseas. Here is Andrew's report of his experiences:

Since I left Ireland, I have been on a rollercoaster of sights, sounds, smells, emotions and experiences. I arrived in Delhi over a week ago; my first impression is of the overwhelming smell of sewerage. I have never had my sense of smell so aroused until I arrived in India; sewerage, spices, pollution, perfumes, we have been bombarded by different fragrances night and day.

We are staying in a strict Muslim university in the slums of Delhi, an area called Hamdard Nagar. The living quarters are basic to say the least, sharing room with one other person, and numerous families of mosquitoes/ants and other unwelcome creatures. Still, in comparison to our surroundings, its luxury. Out here, the white man is a fish out of water. I wandered through the slums on the first day, weaving my way through hundreds of Indians and some cows and goats, in a bustling marketplace where fruits and spices are the main items sold. I was slightly taken aback by the stares I got, but no hostility whatsoever.

The Indians are a very polite and gentle people from what I have seen to date, even their nature is to be inquisitive, and blunt when it comes to speaking their mind. The markets here are very different to what I have seen in the Dominican Republic and Africa; the poverty here is striking and relentless. Many people in this area sleep on the streets, not because they do not have homes/huts to go to, but simply from a temperature point of view. It has not dipped below 40 degrees here any day since I arrived, peaking at 47 degrees a few days back. Seven people died in Delhi that day, and numerous others all over India. My mind boggles as to why more people don't die from dehydration/heat stroke. I am drinking over 8 litres of water a day and still my mouth is dry!!

There are 22 of us staying in Jamia Hamdard University, so as far as the locals are concerned we are walking millionaires, which is exactly what we all are in the context of Indian rupees. I had no illusions about how we would be taken advantage of by ruthless rickshaw drivers/street vendors etc. Haggling is something I have learned to enjoy, and here is one good place to practice!! Haggling is something I have learned to enjoy, and here is one good place to practice!! Even though we take rickshaws everywhere (because this city is HUGE!!15 Million people!), and usually use the same drivers, they still try to screw us. Prices are still only ranging from about 10 cent to a maximum of 1 euro (for journey of one hour between at least 4 people). Things are so cheap here, its fantastic, but its going to make me even more cynical about Irish prices.

As for the schools, they are, amazing, heartbreaking sobering, tiny, filthy, brilliant.

As some of you know, I am working with an organisation called Prayas (Institute of Juvenile Justice), and the money donated by all of you to the cause has been donated between them and the other partner schools in Calcutta and Kenya. Prayas is a Hindi word, derived from Sanskrit, meaning endeavor, very apt in this context. I am working in a slum school in an area called Budh Bazaar, which is about an hours journey each morning, combining walk, rickshaws, and even motorbike rides, over some of the journey!! The place is completely insane. Tiny narrow streets, dust everywhere, cows lying on the streets, chickens screaming in cages hanging from buildings (its as if they know they are about to be slaughtered), horns of rickshaws blowing all sides, people shouting, bike bells, trailers rattling, human excrement running down the street and collecting in puddles where the road ceases to be, smells of simmering street venors delights and then myself and Sarah (my teaching partner)!!

The school itself is a room about 10ft x 10ft, which has no lights/windows, tables or chairs, with only a rickety door that doesn’t close. It is fantastic considering the location and circumstances. This school, like 85 others sponsored by Prayas around Delhi, is rented from the landlord of an existing building for about 1,000 rupees a month (20 euro). The children are amazing. Such beautiful little people, so infectiously happy, so eager to learn.

Walking in the first day was like actually getting the old Irish ‘one hundred thousand welcomes!’ They all said, hands together in front of them (like about to say a prayer) and head bowed, "Namaste Sir and Didi". The class has about 40 children, ranging from 6 - 14 years of age, and levels of intelligence vary from not knowing ABCs to doing long division (something I have had trouble remembering as it happens!)

They all share the same willingness to learn, and this is so obvious by the simple virtue of the fact that we have come from such a far land JUST to help these children, we are already making a hugely positive difference on their outlooks on life. They suddenly feel that someone really cares about their education and their development. Even if I was not to teach another thing this summer, I am happy to know that they are made happier by our presence.

I have started working in the afternoons for the Juvenile Justice Unit here in Prayas too. I am working with the National coordinator and manager of the Indian Governmental study on child abuse. This is a phenomenal opportunity for me and I am learning so much already. Prayas are currently developing the proposal which they will present to the government and UNICEF on the 28th of this month. To date I have been helping with the development of the code of ethics to interview a child and next week will hopefully be moving onto the logistical matters relating to organising 15,000 children to be interviewed over the entire country.

Thanks so much to all of you who have helped in so many different ways to get me over here to help these kids.