Friday, September 7, 2012
The Magic of Change and Words of Advice: Derrika Hunt, Feature Volunteer
Visit the link http://omprakash.org/blog/Story/The-Magic-of-Change-and-Words-of-Advice-Derrika-Hunt-Feature-Volunteer
“Change is inevitable, growth is optional.” Meet Derrika Hunt, this week’s feature volunteer. Hunt is just finishing up her volunteer stay with Omprakash Partner Parijat Academy in Guwahati, India and is passionate about living her life with the goal of eliminating poverty, violence and oppression.
Hunt’s stay with Parijat Academy has been a positive one. She was able to construct her own lesson plans and play with the underprivileged children whom Parijat Academy serves, all while learning the local language of Assamese.
Please enjoy our recent interview with Hunt.
Omprakash (Omp): What or who inspires you to volunteer?
Derrika Hunt (DH): What inspires me most is the opportunity to give to others. My mother raised me to understand the value of giving to others and I’ve channeled that energy into my own life. In my childhood I struggled with a lot of adversity [and] I fought to overcome the pangs of poverty. I lost both of my parents as a teenager and adopted my younger sister and became her caregiver while she was in high school. I went through a lot, but I always remember people taking time to help me [and] if it wasn’t for some of my teachers and mentors believing in me and pushing me [then] I would have become a victim of circumstance. I want to share the same gift with others that was given to me: Hope.
Omp: How do you feel like you are making a difference?
DH: Simply by putting positive and energy and love into the universe I feel like I’m making a difference. It is not my goal to change others with my service. It is my goal, however, to give selflessly and empower others through my giving. One of the most powerful things I can do for myself and the world is to volunteer because as I give to others I also give to myself. It restores my faith in humanity, because at the end of the day we all need each other. As I volunteer I learn so many lessons as I witness the power of giving, and more often than not, the people I serve end up making a difference in my life.
Omp: What words of advice would you give to prospective international volunteers?
DH: I would first thank other volunteers for being willing to give to others. I would also encourage [them] not to focus on what they are giving to others but to focus on what they can learn from the people they are serving. In my experience with international volunteering the communities I’ve served have given me so much more than I could ever give them; they have taught me the value of human connections. We may have different cultures and different background but human connections transcend those difference, if we let them. Invest yourself not only in your project but also in the people. Get to know them. Talk to them. Live your culture while you are serving them. You may be amazed at how much you can learn.
You can connect with other amazing volunteers like Hunt via the volunteer portal on the Omprakash home page.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Message from B1G1 team for everybody at Parijat Academy
Dear children and teachers at Parijat Academy,
Firstly, thank you for inviting us to send you a note on the very special day.
It's great to hear that you have a special festival to celebrate your achievements in Art, Sports, Music... and even Gardening! We wish we could be there to share the wonderful day with you and have fun seeing your performances and creativity.
Celebrations and festivals are important because they help us remember how special life is.
When we are working or studying hard everyday, we sometimes forget the greatness of small steps and little improvements we are making through the things we do.
The people who have contributed to support your education also need the same kind of moments to celebrate what they are doing as well. So if you are happy to share the great time you are having with all of us by sharing some of the pictures or writing about your day, it would be really special. We'd really enjoy seeing your smiles and finding out what makes your life special.
And most importantly, please make sure that you have a wonderful day full of fun, friendship and special praises for each other.
With love and gratitude,
Masami, Paul, Elvin & Hashima from B1G1 Team
and B1G1 Businesses and their team members
Summer Festival photos and Message
Words of Volunteer programme coordinator:
The purpose of the Parijat Academy Summer Festival was to
have a day of celebration for the beautiful children of Parijat. The children
of Parijat are truly amazing. They engage in intensive study year-round
although they have many obstacles in their lives. Many of these students come
from a disadvantaged background and they don’t always have access to the best
things. Yet, from the moment I arrived at Parijat Academy
Thus, Kevin and I (Derrika Hunt) wanted to do something
special with the students of Parijat. We wanted to have a day just for them, to
show them how special and important they are. We wanted these children to feel
like they are valuable and worthy, because they are. Yet many times those who
are underprivileged often get overlooked and forgotten about by society. But, I
wanted the children of Parijat to come to the Summer Festival and think “Wow,
someone took time out to do all of this for me?” Therefore, we organized a
variety of activities for the children to play, laugh, relax and simply enjoy
themselves. Activities ranged from sports activities to face painting to an egg
decorating contest. The smiles on the children’s faces let me know that our
efforts had not gone in vain. I could feel my heart overflowing with love and
happiness as I watched the children while they smiled, laughed, danced, played
and sang.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Summer Festival 2012
US mentors for needy kids- American volunteers help children celebrate summer fest | ||
| SAURAV BORA | ||
Aug. 5: They sang two of Robert Kelly’s evergreen numbers — I believe I can fly and I am a mountain — and performed Bihu dance, had their faces painted with colours, and even took part in a few games for a good part of the day, today.
Thanks to American volunteers — Derrika Hunt and Kevin Wu — about a 100 students of Parijat Academy, a school for underprivileged children at Pamohi on the outskirts of the city, went beyond classroom education and engaged themselves in activity-based fun and frolic, during a daylong summer festival at the institution.
Taking the lead was Hunt, dressed for the occasion in a colourful sari.
She had come all the way from Florida about a month back, to teach the children and involve them in activities such as arts and crafts.
“The purpose of Parijat Academy Summer Festival was to celebrate a day with the children who are truly amazing. They engage in intensive study throughout the year, despite all odds. Many of them come from poor backgrounds and don’t have access to the best of things,” Hunt, a 25-year-old postgraduate student of Florida State University, said.
“From day one at the academy, I was amazed at the dedication and perseverance of the students. I was humbled when I saw them walk long distances, just to attend school. Therefore, Wu and I decided to do something special for them, to make each of them feel valuable and worthy. The smiles at the end of the day told me that our efforts had not gone in vain. I was particularly impressed on how quickly they picked up the lyrics of the songs that I taught them,” she added.
Apart from the songs, dance and games, a gardening exhibition, activities such as egg decoration, poetry recitals, and other activities were also part of the programme.
A science student from Maine, Wu, had come to the school in June, and organised a series of health camps and interacted with doctors over the past two months.
“I had visited about 50 families in villages around Pamohi, and was surprised to find their low-level of understanding on health awareness. I coordinated with doctors and organised a number of health clinics for the families. Besides, I had also volunteered to set up a greenhouse made of bamboo and plastic. It will basically house an organic vegetable farm. The idea of the project is to make similar farming methods a means of earning a livelihood in the area,” Wu, the bespectacled 21-year-old, clad in a white cotton kurta for the summer festival today, said.
Uttam Teron, founder of the academy, said this was the second summer festival organised at the academy by overseas volunteers. “While we have our annual school functions in March, this was a one-of-a-kind programme,” he added.
|
Roses growing from concrete
http://myvoyagetoindia.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/roses-growing-from-concrete/
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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