Saturday, June 7, 2014

Olivia - India -Week 4

Our summer workshops are in full swing! We just finished up the first of three weeks of workshops. I enjoy working with our students so much! We start every morning with prayer time and group exercising then we move on to art and crafts. They absolutely love painting, especially with their fingers, which our sinks don't enjoy nearly as much. After arts and craft time we usually move on to music time, these kids love to bust a move! They have been showing me new dance moves all week! After dancing the kids has usually worked up an appetite and we take a break for lunch. We have initiated group eating to help practice their table skills. So all of the children eat together at the same table and eat their own meals without being allowed to grab at each other's food. It's worked out great so far! Once lunch has ended we have a little bit of free time before the aren't a arrive that we have filled with occupational therapy, trips to the park, and even some computer work! It's been such a joy seeing these kids have fun and burn some energy! Everyday after the children leave we have a meeting with the teachers to plan the activities for the next day. With such high energy kids it is vital that all of the teachers are following the same action plan. 

On Saturday I had the chance to visit a school for younger students in one of the poor part of Delhi. I helped iVolunteer facilitate and document Citi Bank's Global Community Service Day. We had about 35 volunteers who helped clean the yard of the school, paint the walls, and even play with the kids and help them perform a skit. The students were so sweet and well behaved! They got a kick out of teaching me words in Hindi and in return I would teach them words in Italian. Our volunteers worked for about five hours in the midday heat and completed all of their tasks. The owner of the NGO was so thankful to have us around to help. 

I have realized how popular volunteering is in Delhi and how many wonderful people are willing to give up their time to help others. It is such an amazing thing to witness and I am honored to be a part of it!

Myself and the iVolunteer employee who ran the community service day. 

Some of the Citi Bank volunteers repping the 'M'!

Treating ourself to some chocolate to celebrate our first week of workshops!

Namaste,
Olivia


1 comment:

  1. Olivia,

    What a wonderful post! I am happy that your internship is going well. I appreciate your description of your day because it helps me imagine what you're going through. What do you paint on? Do you use a lot of supplies for arts and crafts? Where does the money come from to fund this?

    The iVolunteer day really seems like a success! It's great that you were able to be a part of that and help coordinate it. I love the picture with the "M"! Keep up with the awesome posts!!!

    Best,
    Tammy

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