I'm so so so so sorry about the wait, I have a post ready to publish, but internet is refusing to connect to my computer. I PROMISE I will have the Dalai Lama post up as soon as is humanly possible!
In the meantime, please enjoy what I have to say about Amnesty international.
Yesterday we began a project as part of the Amnesty international group at Woodstock school. Our project for an indefinite amount of time is going to be working in the slums of Mussoorie. These families work as rag-pickers, going over the waste and garbage of the town and selling it wherever they can. They live in 1-room shacks with tin roofs. We are going to talk to the governemtn and petition to get these people the BPL (below poverty line) cards they need, so that they can get discounts on necessary foods.
It is estimated that approximately 70% of BPL cards holders actually live above the poverty line, the cards going to people who can afford bribes or who have government connections. We are going to try and fight this corruption, and get the cards to the ones that so desperately need it.
Yesterday, I met a girl called Sungita. She is in grade 9, and is the oldest of four siblings (the rest are boys). Her father works at the local police academy. Sungita hopes to become a police officer when she grows up.
Her family has to pay about 17 000 rupees per month for a 10-10 room, with 1 bed and a dresser.
Annabelle and I left the room after a while, because it was getting too hot with our whole group there. We went outside and had an intesresting "conversation" with Sungita's younger brother whoses name has unfortunatley slipped my memory. We exchanged a few words, but he managed to understand why we were there and we understood that he liked to play football (soccer) and is in grade 8 at the local school, for 7 rupees a month. It was actually a lot of fun trying to puzzle out what the other was saying! We had a couple of small misunderstandings but it was all in fun.
When we left we were cheerfully waved off by all the children living in the slum. They seemed very optimistic about our invlovment in their little community.
We are going to make a difference in our community.
I think this is the most important thing I could do at Woodstock.
In the meantime, please enjoy what I have to say about Amnesty international.
Yesterday we began a project as part of the Amnesty international group at Woodstock school. Our project for an indefinite amount of time is going to be working in the slums of Mussoorie. These families work as rag-pickers, going over the waste and garbage of the town and selling it wherever they can. They live in 1-room shacks with tin roofs. We are going to talk to the governemtn and petition to get these people the BPL (below poverty line) cards they need, so that they can get discounts on necessary foods.
It is estimated that approximately 70% of BPL cards holders actually live above the poverty line, the cards going to people who can afford bribes or who have government connections. We are going to try and fight this corruption, and get the cards to the ones that so desperately need it.
Yesterday, I met a girl called Sungita. She is in grade 9, and is the oldest of four siblings (the rest are boys). Her father works at the local police academy. Sungita hopes to become a police officer when she grows up.
Her family has to pay about 17 000 rupees per month for a 10-10 room, with 1 bed and a dresser.
Annabelle and I left the room after a while, because it was getting too hot with our whole group there. We went outside and had an intesresting "conversation" with Sungita's younger brother whoses name has unfortunatley slipped my memory. We exchanged a few words, but he managed to understand why we were there and we understood that he liked to play football (soccer) and is in grade 8 at the local school, for 7 rupees a month. It was actually a lot of fun trying to puzzle out what the other was saying! We had a couple of small misunderstandings but it was all in fun.
When we left we were cheerfully waved off by all the children living in the slum. They seemed very optimistic about our invlovment in their little community.
We are going to make a difference in our community.
I think this is the most important thing I could do at Woodstock.
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