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Post by Gregory Hewett on Oct 25, 2007 7:18:31 GMT 5.5
Please post your summaries and reflections here.
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Post by zachghaderi on Oct 25, 2007 11:32:58 GMT 5.5
Poorest of the Poor
By Zach Ghaderi
It is unimaginable. Without seeing it with your own eyes, it is impossible to completely grasp the pain and suffering. These are the poorest of the poor. These women are striving to achieve happiness. They do all they can to have financial, family, and emotional stability. They come from all different casts (though generally the lower), and have all different stories. With the guidance of self-help organizations, these women are finally getting a chance to attain the happiness they once thought untouchable.
These are the poorest women in India. They come from the poorest conditions in India as well. Hand woven roofs are piled above them. Cold concrete floors are below them. Walls, barely standing, constrict rooms with space enough to turn in a complete circle. The power outages are so often, it would be more appropriate to say there is no electricity. The terrain around the huts is mud, trash, and feces. Chickens are kept in the back for food (probably to sell later, or to cook them themselves). A lame guard dog barks to scare off intruders (us). There are buckets full of stagnant water and old banana peelings, a breeding ground for malaria via mosquitoes. Though in the midst of this wasteland is hope.
The women here are searching for self-help organizations to help them gain control of their lives. The women have been abused, neglected, taken advantage of, and left to fend for themselves. A few have been pushed so fare to the edge they have attempted to commit suicide. They gotten their feet underneath them and now have been able to start small projects to get some money in their pockets. These small projects would not have been possible without the organizations sought out by the women. They have been able to get loans from the bank and start modest businesses like a rickshaw driver or stands on the road that sell numerous things. Now, the women whose lives were in the dumps are now on track and complete success stories.
It is not only the women who are becoming able to get control of their lives. There are now governmental technical schools that can teach certain trades, for example electrician, welder, carpenter, etc. People have been able to take these new acquired abilities and apply them to the everyday. They can start businesses and, if managed properly, can become very successful and profitable.
There is now hope for the unfortunate inhabitants who live in the unimaginable residences. There is now an emerging middle class who, with help, can be successful and self-sustainable. Many stories have already been created of success and there are still many to be written…
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Post by julie on Oct 25, 2007 11:35:00 GMT 5.5
[td][/td]Response to the Field Trip
Tuesday 24th of October, our Developing Nation class went to a field trip organized by Mrs.Buhari and Mr.Hewett. I really learn a lot, during this trip, and I think it made all of us understand better how much we are blessed, compare to most of the people that we met. I think it is the kind of enriching experiences that make us more mature. We also realized, during this trip, the difficulties, that some people outside, have to endure, and the obstacles and problems that they have to face everyday. In the first part of our trip, we walked in the street until we reach a group of small houses made of bamboo and leave. The problem with houses in leave is that during the monsoon, they flood. Those houses are rent to people for one thousand rupees a month, no need to tell you that for those poor people it is a priceless luck to have those houses even if for us, it does not seem much. One house is basically, one or two room. It is not very big; I would estimate it at approximately ten meter square for the largest. The outside was dirty and muddy. There were a lot of papers, plastic bags, glass, broken objects, and iron pieces. However, the inside was clean; we could see that the people living there were taking care of their house. The door was very low because the majority of the Indians are not very tall. I was extremely surprised to see that there was even TV in some of the houses. Even though those houses are not great, the people living in it does not seem to be sad, but maybe they just do not want to show that they are not happy. I was really surprised that, the people living in those houses accept to show us their home, even though they knew that it would not seem much to us. Honestly, I think they are very strong, I do not think I would be able to live in this place, but I know they do not have a choice. The second place we went to was the community center of the association for the women called “For M Trust”. I thought that this association and everything that goes with it was so well organized. It permits to women to be less dependent on their husband, to really do something useful with their lives, and so to be proud of themselves. Basically, this association is composed of many groups of twenty women, that work together to save forty thousands rupees. For them this amount of money is representing a lot. Once they got this sum, the association helps them to get a loan of one hundred thousand rupees, from the bank. With this money, they can start a project or a business. In the whole Tamil Nadu, there are about four million women in this kind of association. Some of the women in the association talk to us and told us their stories. One more time, I think it needs a lot of courage to talk to people you do not know and who are probably in better situations than you, about your story, especially when it is sad. We could feel that the women who were talking to us were happy that we came to listening to them, and we could also feel that they were proud of themselves, and that is very good. I liked the way they were openly expressing themselves. We could also see that they had practice what they said, and that they made themselves pretty to meet us. So they talk to us about their lives and explain how it improves after joining the association. One of them explained that she had a very hard time to live before coming in the association because, her husband was earning only fifty rupees a day, he was spending forty in alcohol and was bringing only ten at home for her to take care of the food, the house, and their three children. Now that she earns also some money, she can manage their life better. Two other one talk to us about how they did a suicide attempt because their lives was too hard, but now the association helped them to improves their lives. And another woman told us about how she also had trouble to feed her family with her husband salary, but now, via the association, she works as an autorickshaw driver, she earn four hundred rupees a day, which is even more than her husband’s salary. In addition, everybody was really impressed to see that she was speaking English pretty well. Finally, the last part of our trip was in a Technical school. This system made by the government, is actually very useful to some people. This school is for the families that have a little money to invest in the education of their children, but they do not have enough to pay a good private school. In this school, the government pays maybe ninety percent of the education and the families just have to pay ten percent. Some students stay two or three months, while some stay two or three years. This technical school teaches the students about basic things such as, air conditioner, motorcycle repair, or wiring system. The quality of the education is not very good but something is better than nothing is. I think this system really help people to get basic skills and have better chance to get a job. So, at the end, I should say that this field trip really teach me something, it made me realized some things about myself and the other in the world. Basically, it was a good experience and really do not regret it. I would also like to thanks Mrs.Buhari and Mr.Hewett for the organization of this educational field trip.
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Post by tamsin on Oct 25, 2007 11:35:30 GMT 5.5
REFLECTION
At first, I didn’t think that the way these Indian Village people lived was very easy, but on the other hand I didn’t think it was that hard as well. I was so shocked to see these people living in these huts that were so undeveloped, just a hatched roof to keep the rain out from the top and mud bricks that made up the enclosure of the hut. There was just a little toilet that was shared between all the people in the village.
I felt really stuck up when I walked through their tiny pathways to get from house to house and into the main road. I had probably everything that they dreamed of. With seeing this, I am now more grateful than I ever was. Its has reflected on me a lot. To see how these people can live like this in India. But I am guessing if they had a choice to lead a better life, I guess they would. It’s just really hard to justify this.
The good part that I saw was seeing these houses supplying electricity. This allowed them to watch a television, which they had, and to work kitchen appliances. I was much more surprised that they actually had a variety of Knifes and forks hanging up on the wall in the kitchen. To rent one of these huts was 1,000 rupees a month, which is a lot for an average family with an ordinary wage.
When we finished looking through the houses and the way they lived, we were seated in a community hall, listening to these women explain there ordeals that they have experienced with poverty, and now that they are apart 4Mtrust, which is a non governmental organization which loans money to women who are in need of some stability. We sat down listening to this man talk about these women, and what they have been through. He mentioned three widowers who had become apart of this group that they support. What got me quite edgy and annoyed was that he said that the widowers could not remarry because they are not allowed to marry twice, or have any more children. But then I starting thing, hang on, what if the wife dies, is the husband allowed to remarry? He replied with a simple of “course, it’s apart of the religion we are allowed.” Now that did get me angry. When the women who could not speak English at all, spoke in Tamil to the man who was translating what she was saying to us, you could see that he had control over these women, by stopping them and telling the women to stop talking. I still don’t understand why men are still dominating in India to this day.
One of the women had said that the 50 rupees that she had worked hard for on her job, was wasted by her husband buying alcohol to fulfill his drinking habits, and only 10 rupees was spent on the family’s needs. So then she seeked for help and found 4Mtrust who she says has helped her a great deal.
Overall I think this is a great start for these women to have more control with there lives. To be able to support them self’s, and with the business’s that have been put up around the villages, to help them gain more money to provide the family. I am just exited to know how this will turn out. Hopefully the correct way, which means women and mean can be seen as equals.
By Tamsin Nunan
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Post by hisu on Oct 25, 2007 11:37:16 GMT 5.5
Hi Su Kim 23/10/07 Reflective Piece
I think that the trip was amazing and that I learned a lot from it. I also felt the need to have more societies like these to help the suffering people out with their financial problems. I also felt that it was better to have these societies to be private, since government societies may sometimes fail to be as hard working. That is because government jobs don’t pay you as much. I think that this society is a great example of a society that was made to help people out. This is also a great example of something that we as young children with great hopes should consider starting when we grow up. I was astonished by how this small society can be such a great help to the women in India that are suffering from financial problems. I thought that this society would not be much of help and that it benefited only a certain group of people. I was greatly touched from this trip and have changed my life and start helping others while I help myself. We first visited a small kind of village that was packed with rows of houses. I thought that the building plan was very poor since the houses were lower than the ground level, which would result in the flooding of the houses when it rains. The rooms were even smaller than my toilet and a whole family managed to live there only with one TV and a fan. I could imagine how crammed it would be when the whole family came back home for a good night’s rest. I also felt the same as the principle of the school in India that Friedman interviewed while he was in a jeep. I really knew now, that India was not shining at all. Only a few people and places were shining. Like the High Tech IT buildings in the back of our school is always shining and it shines real hard. But when you go to see where some of the places on that street live? Those places literally suck. I believe that we should all support a society like this and help the people in need and not the people with all the help they can possibly need.
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Post by keisuke on Oct 25, 2007 11:38:29 GMT 5.5
Summary
By: Keisuke Nakamura
I learned a lot while I was in this trip that I went on Tuesday. The first place we went was houses where people live. I felt really sad when I first saw their houses. That is because even they have a house it is small for many people to live in and even when they get out it is still small space. Although, I felt sad people who were living there were happy. I was also surprised to see a TV in their houses. The second place where we visit, where women explained what they do over there and how did this community help them. I was unable to hear most of what the guy who explaining to us was saying but it was a good experience. I really like the flower that they gave us when we entered that place. In my point of view I wish I should of sat on the front so that I could hear much clearer, so that I could learn about these people more (I am serious). I would really like to Thank Maimoona’s mom to let me have this opportunity to see and to hear something that I cant do by myself. The third place where we went was a school. At first I really didn’t know what was this school for, but later on by seeing the school I saw many students making something with metal and woods, they gave me a part of the wood they cut off and told me to smell it. It smelled pretty good for a wood. Oh my god seriously that place was hot, I cannot believe that those students who go to school there can survive in that heat all day. However, I was really curious that why were there only men who were at that school, why aren’t there any girls in that school. Well I think my summary for this field trip is pretty much done. Once again I would like to thank Maimoona’s mom to allowing me to go to this trip.
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Post by sarah99 on Oct 25, 2007 11:39:37 GMT 5.5
To everyone at 4M Trust: Thank you so much!
Wow. That field trip really opened my eyes. I see poverty on the streets. I see people coming up to cars (sometimes to my car), pressing their face against the glass and asking for money. Every day when I go to school, I see people who live in garbage heaps, or in little make-shift shacks. But I don’t see the inside of where they live, or hear their testimonies. Honestly, many times I’ve wondered what these people’s stories are who live on the streets, and it was heart-opening to here some of the women’s testimonies who you have helped. It also helped me to understand more how amazingly blessed I am. I mean, I could’ve been the one who was born into a situation like that. I don’t even know if I could survive a week in the life those women live. Most of the homes I saw were as big (or smaller!) than just my room at home. I’ve heard about people who live in that small of a space (and see them almost everyday here), but I had never really taken time to seriously think about it, and let that fact sink in. It surprised me, though, by how much stuff the people had. Though it isn’t that much, I thought they would have considerable less belongings and electricity: I saw a refrigerator, TV, and DVD player. I would never have guessed to have seen those things based on what the outside looked like. Another thing that I thought was great was how happy the women seemed so happy (during their testimonies), after getting their lives back because of 4M Trust. These women were happy, and they still have so, so little compared to others. It made me feel a little guilty actually, because I was all down and out about coming to live here from America, to India, where I don’t have as many luxuries, yet have 10 xs as many (probably) then most of those women living here in India. I’ve been pretty ungrateful! I also felt encouraged by some of the things we saw. These women are getting a chance to get their lives back, and have a home and a family that they can support. Hearing some of the women’s testimonies really saddened me, especially the one about the women who were going to commit suicide: though I was really happy that they got out of that situation!! But I thought that if these women were in a suicidal situation due to poverty, many other Indians are probably in the same situation. I really liked the technical school that we visited, the one that Gandhi started. It was a beautiful location, and I think a good place to learn, though I wish that more women could study there. It seemed as if there were a lot more men that went there than women, and if this is the case, I wish that there was a more even ratio. I was both encouraged and saddened by the field trip all together, but I’m glad I went, because it was a good experience. Though it depressed me a bit, I think it’s better to know the truth. Thanks again!! --Sarah
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Post by jiyoung93 on Oct 25, 2007 11:39:43 GMT 5.5
On Oct 23, 2007 Tuesday, our Developing Nation classmates, Mr. Hewett, Ms. Evenson, and Maimoona’s mom went for an unexpected trip. What is the purpose of people’s birth? I mean, what is going on in this complicated world? First, I felt pity for the people whom I saw during my field trip and on the next moment itself, I totally forget about their life and worries.
On one sweltering day, everyone squeezed into the white bus and headed to experience the life on the street, and to know about women’s life in this society. The first place where we reached was called Disbapuram (that is what I heard) just a small group of huts in the middle of the street in Chennai. All the incomplete tiny houses were close to each other. In detail, the height of the roof came up only until my head and the door was half of my stomach, where I had to bend down in order to go in. First, with curiosity, I carefully entered the room. (The whole house) when I looked up, I was flabbergasted because I almost hit myself with fast running fan! The fan was moving madly right next to my head. It was awkward, and then the laugh came out. However, since I think about it now, I feel it is very dangerous; you can get hurt anytime when you do not pay attention! Something has to be done about it in order to prevent any accident. Visiting and observing different houses, I saw all the utensils, stuffs, and everything that we need was all stuffed together, like hamburger. One light ball for each house and broken, used, and recycled things were placed everywhere. People adorned the doors and walls with Hindu gods colorfully. This made me to think of, believing God or being a part of religion. Specifically, people wanted to depend on something powerful. Maybe, this can be a reason for believing a religion. The outside area was filled with unpleasant garbage’s and polluted air. Few chickens were all over the place. The one excited man caught one chicken and holed it up proudly. Therefore, I asked, “Do you eat this?” I had a concern whether it had any disease to harm people. Then he replied ‘yes’ by nodding his head. After going around the houses, I saw woman washing the clothes with soap. I wondered where they would get the water. But, later I found out that the water came from the old well or the huge black tank. Also a shrill of a baby’s cry moved my steps. I went to the place where the baby cried. I saw a long hammock hanging from the ceiling. Then, the mother of the baby took out the baby from the hammock and showed it to me. I was worried whether the baby will grow healthily. Looking at the dirty condition, living in a fitly place did not made me satisfied with environment and especially for the baby. This also reminded me about prevention for Malaria, or any kinds of diseases. Do people use repellent or provide any mosquito nets to protect themselves from unknown epidemic. This was happening in the middle of the bustling city. So, it was very noisy and dangerous to move around. By interrogating within them, I learned many new facts from them. People have lived here for over 60 years. It was a tradition that they inherit the house for their generation. All these houses were done by hand work in two months with coconut leaves, tire, and other supportive materials.
Walking on the dusty street, and adventuring at poor life style of poor people, with full of sweats, we went into the place where the meeting was held. It was dark. On the entrance, the women welcomed and greeted us with jasmine flowers, and smearing yellow and red powder on our both hands and cheeks. We all sat on the chair and on the other side, a group of women was sitting. The translator, who did not speak loud enough, told us that, these women were not having any job for more than 30 years. About 20 women joined; together to form a small community and they conduct meetings once in 14 days. After learning many skills, the women start working in different activities. In average, they are paid Rs.2000 per one month, which is enough for them to support their family. This NGO’s Non-Governmental Organization helps the women for marketing services and for improving the women’s economic activities. About five women have told us about their hard life and explained how they handled it. Most of them had no knowledge about outside world. They worked like servant in home. By this support, they could pay back the dept and got Rs.1000 more. Surely, they wanted to learn something, because most of the women were widows. The fact was that, girls were not allowed to remarry after her husband’s death, but on the other side, husband can. So basically, without man in the family, the women lose the power and opportunities to earn money. How unfair, the issue of violence against women came up into my mind again. They also wanted their children to have proper education and live individually. Women that I remember were two women who decided to suicide. The story was that after all their toil to collect money. One day, a robber took the entire money. It was very mean and bad thing to do, it was like losing everything. Therefore, they decided to suicide, but managed to recover again by this service. They had to do anything with the help of the government. Another woman whom I want to mention is the one whose husband is a drunkard. He earns Rs.50 and spends Rs.40 for his alcoholic drinks, and gives Rs.10 for the maintenance a family. How can this happen? Well, at the same time, when I think about his point of view, I can understand why he is drinking. Even he knows the poor condition of his family, and he might be trying hard to support them. And because he cannot afford this pressure, he is not strong enough to challenge the shame and pain. This causes the drinking problem. But, this is not a good way to do so. Going back, with those ten rupees the woman could not do anything for the family. Finally, the last young woman whom I met was an auto driver. At first, it was hard to believe she was an auto driver. She earns Rs.400 in a day. Like others, she used to waste her time in home doing nothing. However, SRG encouraged her to do anything to improve her life wisely. Most of the women were satisfied and happy about their life now. The saved money in bank was used only for medical treatment. Overall, I could not understand at first, but later realized that this was super chance for their life. Women sell jewels, art crafts, dressings, and other things. It was amazing to know that they get Rs.2000 just by selling them.
Our last visit was an industrial public school. About 20 students were in each class. In the wall, the picture of some machine were drawn and labeled. They had everything like textbooks, but only about industry. It is an important subject, but I wonder whether the students are aware of many other subjects other than just this subject. I mean, was there any option to study and use this skill as their future career? Is this better? Alternatively, do they have to do in order to live and just be poor? My questions linked to another question. Still, I could see there were many things to learn about it too. And it was hard, when I actually tried to carve the wood by new tool that I never saw before. I saw them repeating the same method to use them in a proper way. And just by looking at them, I felt uncomfortable. Is that because we all have other stuffs that we know about but they do not? Why this world is has to be separated and isolated by categories! I could learn and deeply feel about the people who actually face these nasty problems. Living here in Chennai for four years and actually looking at the real world only for four times,,,, It made me to thank of everything that I have,,,
Most of the time, it is hard to imagine and really understand the life of people who is in poverty. I also feel that I should help them when I grow up. But I felt they are pretending to show that they are poor, and satisfied with their life, but they still want to get attention and more help from other. Many thoughts crossed over my mind when I was listening to the music in the bus. I was appreciated by Maimoona’s mom, who organized and participated in this program for four years. I thank Maimoona’s mom for this opportunity which made us know the condition of the poor people and the real world. Now the party DMK Government is providing cooking gas, stove, and televisions set for the poor people. People welcome this idea and are very happy about that. But my opinion is the government should have provided mosquito nets or other minimum necessities for people instead of television where they don’t need at all. (they get television set during the election time)
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Post by jungkyu on Oct 25, 2007 11:40:12 GMT 5.5
Field Trip “We are going to a field trip next Tuesday.” As Mr.Hewett announced of the trip, our class was overjoyed with anticipation and excitement. However, I was a little disappointed when Mr.Hewett told us where we were going. In fact, I didn’t want to go there. The day had flown and we departed from our school. At the time when I arrived, I realized that it was worse than I thought. Surprisingly, my thoughts had changed at the end of the trip. The first place we visited was the village, where people lived in thatch houses. We had to go inside the houses, although they were wet and dirty. The villagers, unlike us, had welcomed us with smiling faces. I was a bit shocked at this point when I realized we, compared to the villagers, were so blessed and fortunate of not living in those houses. The second place we preceded was the organization. I was relived about the fact that our seats were not uncomfortable, and impressed by how the organization; people, treated us so kindly. The speech had begun from a man and I tried hard to hear him. The points he mentioned of what I have heard were the loans. It was about 20 women saving money until they gather 40,000, then goes to the bank to ask for loans, then receives 100,000 rupees which makes them start a new project. He also translated words of woman who committed suicide because of her hopeless reality, being saved by someone who found her half dead. In addition, I was also able to understand words of rickshaw women. Her husband earns 50 rupees a day and spends 40 on alcohol. Therefore, she had searched for jobs. Due to the help of organization, she now manages to earn 400 rupees a day. This woman’s speech had impressed me in a way, and gave me an understanding that the money villagers earn a day are nothing to us, however they happen to be satisfied. This tells me that I shouldn’t be upset about my weekly pocket money. The last place we visited was technical school. The school was sponsored by government in which people paid a little on it. This school had been teaching students about wiring, air-conditioning repair, motorcycle repair, etc. Majority of the students attending to the school were their parents’ earnings insufficient to afford higher education. I had discovered two points which needed to be improved. The quality of the education, and that it is not free. Although our trip was tiring and uncomforting, it was worth it. What I have felt during the trip was that people in rural areas are living in unfavorable conditions, tend to be happy with what they at least posses. I learnt that I have to be thankful and satisfied of what I now have, and be more mature to not blame or be irritated with a little discomfort.
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Post by olivia on Oct 25, 2007 11:40:26 GMT 5.5
The Day, In The Life Of Poverty
Walking through ceilings that barely reach the normal height, I find it very difficult accepting that these small huts were the homes of hundreds of people in India, but this is just one example of the cruel life that many people are forced to live with. Peering inside the doors of these houses, I see mainly two rooms. One room with a double bed in the corner, and a kitchen forced beside it, and another room, with two plastic chairs in front of a television. What surprised me was that these people had electricity, and were able to work a modern television, and also they had more personal belongings that I ever thought they would have. A friend told me that these were the good villages, and that in more rural parts, these villages would be what they ever dreamed of. That is very devastating.
Walking along the small alleyways, that trail to each house, the scenery around is seems unimaginable. Rubbish is scattered around like a rubbish dump, with so many diseases being prone to these poor villagers. Its seems that they don’t know any better, which is not a way that humans should ever endure at any time of their lives.
The villagers stood at their doorsteps, watching us trudge around their houses in the thick mud before us. They looked at us strongly. Watching us peer into their homes, but strangely, they seemed very proud of their houses, welcoming us in, showing us their most prizes possessions, treasuring the things that mean so little to us. That is a very admirable thing that I believe we do not think more of.
After looking at the villages, we were welcomed into a community hall, were, we were introduced to many woman who where affected by poverty, and how they overcame this hard, and challenging obstacle.
One woman explained how her husband’s wages was tragically wasted on his extreme drinking habits, and out of the 50 rupees he earned, only ten rupees was left to care for his family. So she sought help from the 4 M trust, which is a non governmental organization, which loans money to woman who are desperately struggling financially. Out of all the woman that spoke, for some reason, she was the one person, who I felt for the most, maybe because of her bravery to cope with such a horrible situation, or the fact that she went out, despite her husband, to make her life better, and that is a strong admiration that I consistently felt when she spoke. Now she is earning money, more than what her husband ever brought home, being able to educate her children, and most of all to support herself. Even though I am young and don’t really understand the situation of money, or debt, I never had to endure such obstacles, but I really understand these woman, and I am so proud of how far they have gone, to improve their lives, and the organization, that is able to provide that for them. It is such a great benefit to these woman, and that such extreme poverty seems to be calmly reduced, by the people who are willing to make this happen.
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Post by kwangsampark on Oct 25, 2007 11:40:47 GMT 5.5
reflection
This field trip was about how people live in India, the organization where they help women, and the last place we visited was the school: a technical school where they teach people about engineering and stuffs. We looked around at the village. After looking around, we went to this place where people who work in the organization talks about their story behind. There were people who tried to commit suicide. I was really surprised to hear that. The last place we visited was this school. They were taught about stuffs related to the machine. We went through people handling things. Well, I was really surprised with the way they were living, and the conditions they were given. I have never thought that it would be that much. When I and others visited the ceiling was quite high, however the fan was placed really low. As a result, people might get hurt by accident. The location of the place was also not good. When it floods, because of the sewage, it would cover their house not totally, but some. I was shocked with the place that was behind the houses. There was this water that was really dirty and trashes everywhere. Other place smelled really bad. I couldn’t even tell whether people were living or animals were. If I just sat back comfortably in my house and thought about this matter, then I would definitely think about it, but not as realistically.
The next place we visited was this organization. They talked about their stories. When I heard about women's experiences and their stories behind, I came to think about the situation where women are ignored. There were lots of stories, some even changing their religion, so she can have equal power, a job as her husband. After they were hired, they could earn money, even though it is not much for as, I realized that it could be for people like them. One woman, she had to earn money to raise her children. So this organization kind of saved her life. As a result, I found out that these organizations, such as the one we have visited, can help a lot of people.
The last place was this technical school. They teach students lot of things about machines. When I think about this, I come to an end that this will help India develop in some way. Not exactly develop, but they can be experts in those areas. Like for example, by making people experts as carpenters, they may export a mass quantity of a product and increase the economic growth. Other thought that popped into my head was that it will help people avoid living without a job. Lots of people in India, they don't have jobs as much. Men sometimes rely on women. So by this, India may prevent people from being jobless.
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Post by sanjayvdasari on Oct 25, 2007 11:43:01 GMT 5.5
How can I describe the field trip? Well, it certainly changed the way I feel, as an individual, about the country, called Bharat, Hindustan, and as it is most commonly referred to, India. I am almost sure that it had the same impact on all the others that were fortunate enough to go on this field trip. Each phase of the trip had specific points that I would like to elaborate. The first part, the part that I like to call, the ‘walk-in’, was a bit depressing. This was because we saw where the women come from, the very women that now are part of an organization, which helps them stand on their own two feet. As soon as we got off the bus, I saw a group of women, all dressed in the same color saris, and I knew right then, that they had done the best that they could do to look good to greet us ;D. Then, we proceeded towards a group of small, modest households. When I was invited inside one of them, I was surprised to see that there were two fans, a TV, and proper cooking equipment present in the house. Nevertheless, the surroundings took away all the beauty. There was a small pool of stagnant water, lined with trash, which provided a constant, however unwanted supply of mosquitoes. I am sure it also attracted an abundance of flies as well. I was really distressed because of what I had just seen . The second part was fun. After walking a bit, [past a lot of shops and houses we reached a small building, which I took to be the Community Center. After going inside, a woman walked up to me and offered me a rose. I still have three of them. My friend Astrid was particularly happy because she got to wear a cute little wristband made with flowers, and also because she got a little haldi or turmeric put on her face. After we sat down, many women, all lined up in an organized manner, came up onto the ‘stage’, and spoke about how the organization changed their lives. Some of the stories made me feel extremely sad, an example of this is when two women came up and confessed to having tried to commit suicide. Probably because in their opinion, suicide was the only path out of the unimaginable poverty that held them in its grasp, every day of their lives .Then, much to our surprise, one woman came up to the ‘stage’, and unlike the others, started speaking in English. She also seemed to enjoy it. I think she likes public speaking. Anyway, I felt happy for her as she told us that she is now working as an auto rickshaw driver. She said she earns 400 rupees a day...wow. That is a good thing. I feel happy that the people part of this organization is getting a second chance for a better life. One better than the one they had before . The last part of our trip, before our ride back to school, was a visit to a technical school funded by the government. This, I think, was the best part. I got to see a lot of people, aged probably from 8 to their early twenty’s, doing tasks, that someone like me would probably call someone to do. Things like AC repair, motorcycle repair, wire working, electric work, etc. Although the government paid most of the fees, I am sure that for someone like us, it would not be much. But for people like them, the fees might be quite large. However, the fact that they can afford it is quite heartwarming. The infrastructure is particularly what interested me, because the entire area was no less than about twice the size of two 'P.S.B.B. Nungambakams' combined, and the classrooms were about the size of the classrooms present at the school previously mentioned. The surroundings were a lot cleaner than I expected, with almost no trash scattered anywhere. It is nice to know that people are getting an OK education, at least enough to help them stand on their own two feet. I also realized how different their education is as compared to the type that we get. Where we get a little amount of every subject, Social Science, Science, Math, etc., they just get about only what is needed to maintain an OK lifestyle, enough, so that they are independent and do not have to rely too much on another people. My complete evaluation of the trip was that it was very enlightening. I know that it will be a valuable experience for our future. I hope we can do something like this every quarter. I sincerely thank Maimoona’s mother for arranging this and for all the effort and time she put into it. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by rmanu on Oct 25, 2007 11:44:28 GMT 5.5
Field trip
We started from school at 8:45am and we reached the place at 9:30am. We first saw people living in straw houses and we went inside their house. It was very small. The people who live in straw houses had TV, electricity, toilets, and cell phones. These people had all these facilities because a community helped them. The community mostly helped women that are below poverty line. . This took us 30 minutes. We walked along the street and we went inside a hall. The hall was filled up with women. They gave speeches on how they were helped by the community and the problems they had before being helped by the community. Some women knew a little English. We were in this hall for 1 hour 15 minutes. We took the bus and went to a school which teaches carpentry, electrician, and women learning how to fix a moped. Gandhi came to this in 1946. I think he started this school. We reached school at 12:15pm.
When I first saw the people living in these houses I remembered of the phrase, “It is a different world outside the window.” I thought that the houses that these people live were good compared to the other houses that I have seen. The houses that I have seen are fully with straws, do not have electricity, do not have toilets, no TV, and do no have plates to eat but these houses have a roof with straws and the rest are with cement.
The women that are helped by the community will have confidence because of the help that the community has done. I think that women like this should not depend on communities for ever because if the community is failing these women will not have any other hope. So the community should help them for 5 years and then women should start a small business. It is always better when you are independent then depending on someone. It is better being independent because you know if your business is going to fail where as in the community you will not know what is going to happen. Communities helping like this save a lot of lives because when people have problems that they can not solve they give up hope in life or suicide. It is very hard for women who have daughters but not sons because women can not get jobs easily and men can get any kind of job. So the family can not get much money from daughters but they can, if the daughter is well educated. I think this idea of a community helping these women is excellent.
The school that had students learning for carpentry, electrician, and women learning how to service mopeds does not have that many facilities. I do not like the idea of this school because the subject they are learning will not help them that much or it will not give them that much pay when they do this as a profession. I think that they should continue their normal school life. If they continue their normal life they might get a better job than this. Studying in this school will not help your future. The government should not permit these kinds of schools because it spoils kids’ future.
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Post by niranthara on Oct 25, 2007 11:45:10 GMT 5.5
DEVELOPING NATIONS FIELD TRIP SUMMARY AND OPINION NIRANTHARA JAWAHAR 9TH GARDE DEVELOPING NATIONS
Being and Indian and living in Chennai for the entire period of my life, I had already formed my opinions about the people of the small villages and under developed areas in the city. I thought I had looked at them closely as I went past them every day to school, but I never really realised and understood what I saw. I knew that the people who lived in these villages were put through a lot of hardship and sorrow, trying to survive in world that excluded them, but I didn’t know what it looked like and the emotions that revolved around it. I didn’t understand the extents they were stretched to- large families in small rooms, on a swamp. This field trip opened my eyes to things I had seen but never registered and paid attention to. As we left the greenery and the tar roads of Taramani to the less developed, grey and depressing scenes of the city, I realised the differences even in the characteristics of two places. From busy to calm, and comparatively clean to filthy; everything changed. The excitement that filled me at the beginning died down as we reached the narrow yet ever existing and lasting villages. As we pass them cruising across in cars, we forget to acknowledge their presence. We look forward to what lies in front of us, but forget to realise that they don’t have much to look forward to. I was in the mood to feel for the less fortunate and as we entered the narrow paths, which to me symbolised the amount of space they had been given to progress and live, I wasn’t able to absorb the truth. At that moment I realised that not knowing the reality and assuming that you do makes it harder to accept it. I had no idea that they had to live in a room, with hardly much to support it, and yet move on knowing that they had to come back to the same place. As I walked through as fast as I could hoping that I wouldn’t have to look at it for a moment more- only because it was so depressing- I felt something splash on my wrist. Realising that nothing could be more unfortunate and having accepted a lot, I was ready to accept that it was the excretion of the crow from above me. I just took it as a punishment for the fact that I was so ignorant and moved on to get it off (ASAP!). When I went out of the narrow pathways to the more open roads, not only was the light stronger but so was the hope. I immediately rushed around people and in between them to ask for help. Waiting for more familiar faces to come toward me, I waited. Suddenly I felt more splashes on my wrist. Hopefully this time it wasn’t poop but water. As the water washed of the unwanted, I not only realised that people in those parts were so very helpful but that they were ready to accept us, it was just that we weren’t ready to accept them. Later on, as we went into the women’s self help organisation I realised that accepting the “invisible people” of our society was what made the difference. Each one of them expressed a different type of success story but listening to their successes made me think of how much they had leapt over. Looking at the village and then listening to the women expresses themselves was such a relief. It made me feel like anything was possible. Those women had the courage to change their fate and finally control the sorrow that once controlled them. I really appreciated the way the women were brave enough to speak up about and accept the problems they faced. It was interesting to listen to them talk about issue one would never expect them to have gone through. While one woman showed off the skill she has accomplished with the help of the organisation, the smile on her face was so vibrant that you could see it spread across the room. After a while we went to the Thakar Baba Vidyalaya, a school that teaches children to be able to fend for themselves, when they are alone in the world. Even though a normal course of math or science would be essential, I really liked the idea of teaching them practical things that would give them a chance to influence their lives directly. Although, while I watched them work, I realised that they weren’t given a choice. For them, they don’t have the choice of living their dream, they have to live the life they are given. That day I saw three different states of life and three different states of hope- The village where the people had completely no space for happiness or hope to progress, the women’s organisation where they were given a second chance to develop hope and live away from the village and therefore hardship, and the school that gave the children hope from the beginning so that they would have something to look forward to. My soul and body were both exhausted by the end of the day, but I learnt so much. This is what developing nations need to move out of their current state. Hope is what drives people, and for hope to be there, the less fortunate need to be accepted and encouraged. Hopefully I can help them with what I have to contribute with my class. After all this I think there is one person to thank- Marium aunty, for taking the time to give me and my class the opportunity to see the village, organisation and school. I really think it was a wonderful experience that helped me learn a lot. It also gave me the opportunity to be with my whole class outside of the class room.
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Post by maimoona on Oct 25, 2007 11:49:03 GMT 5.5
The life of the lower class people in Chennai
When you walk through the outskirts of Chennai you may find only tall buildings with the reflection of sunlight on its glasses that wrap these buildings, masses of software professionals walk in and out the buildings being carried in huge buses that run through the city roads, Educational institutions manufacturing student products to cater to these companies, bigger shopping mall, late night clubs, Credit cards and foreign automobiles on the streets. This is how the media portrays Chennai and everyone is looking on growth and development .I had the same positive feeling about Chennai until I met the reality on the field trip to the 4M trust.
The 4M trust is a non-governmental organization that works for a very noble privileged girls and women who find themselves in dire circumstances. In other words, the 4M trust believes in transforming the lives of the destitute, the struggling, and the utterly defenseless women who desperately need help to turns their life around. Our class went to the crowded tenements of these poor women and saw how they lived in tiny rooms, all packed together. It was unbelievable! It came as a shock to me to see how the people below the poverty line lived. I was whole families in narrow slums- like neighborhoods. It was both sad and pathetic. On one hand, India’s sensex figures are soaring, and on the other hand the poor have to live like this.
I heard the women talk about how the 4m has brought hope into their battered lives. The 4m trains the women, teaches those vocational skills so that they can earn a living, and helps them destroy their poverty. With a job, the girls earn not only money, but a great sense of self- confidence. They are like butterflies emerging out of dark cocoons of despair and 4m has helped them make this metamorphosis. The pride of achievement was shinning in the women eye as they spoke glowingly about what 4m has though them. We could sense the hope and the confidence exuded by them, as they spoke, one after another. It was a thrilling experience! I felt as if the dawn was breaking in their lives after a dark dark night! And all of us felt really happy for all these girls and women It’s not easy to fight against life, if the odds are stacked against you, I thought. But these women had done it! Not only had they got the determination to make a success of their lives; they also had begun to create opportunities for themselves and their families.
“Self-help group is the best help”, goes the adage and 4m had made it happen. When I returned from the field trip. I could only salute the courage of these lesser-privileged people and learn some important lessons from them. Are you wondering what I learned from them? Well I learned the lesson that books may not teach us- that whatever happens, we shouldn’t give up, and that we should follow our dream and also show compassions and support to those who need them
I’ve resolved that I shall try to give back to society whatever I can in my own way, to make a difference in the lives of people who aren’t as lucky as I am. 4m reached out to me and touched my heart and in turn I shall do the same for society when my time comes.
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Post by elizabethw on Oct 25, 2007 11:49:09 GMT 5.5
Reflection
After I saw the living conditions of a the women who live in the cottages yesterday I felt
oh my goodness I am really privileged to have such agreat house with AC and that when
it rains my house does not fill up with water. I thank
the people who showed their houses or told us their stories because it made me relies how
blessed I really am and that the way I winge ad moan over things like the electricity or
not having a big house was extremely selfish. I have so much and them having nothing
except an old cottage which would probably flood up when it rains also the ladies who
had told us their stories I think this is another one of the many reasons or solutions to
develop India because girls almost everywhere are kept at home after doing second grade
or tenth I know that a lot of the girls who are kept like that would turn out to be really
successful if they are put into school like the ladies who spoke to us some of them are
really bold and are paying and taking care of there in-laws and children and also for their
children’s education and there is a chance that they will turn out to be really big people
and also do something like this in turn for India because they are our future. when
I look at how they live this is how I felt and I would really like to thank the 4m trust,
The ladies who had took their time to come tell their past to us and Mrs. Maryam for
Showing me what its like to not be very privileged and to live in a not so good life
I really enjoyed going on this field trip it was very tiring at the end of the day but also
Really made have a whole new view to the way I look at things or the way I thought
About them and I want to help make a difference in these peoples life’s
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Post by sparsh on Oct 25, 2007 11:49:31 GMT 5.5
Summary of the Trip
Thursday Oct 22 2007 the Developing Nations class went on a field trip. A
girl in one of the classes, Maimoona, her mother owns or is very acquainted with i
am not sure called 4M Trust. This company helps women who gave up hope and it
helped them get jobs and get hope.
We left at 8:30 pm. Our first stop was a place full of huts. These huts from
outside looked terrible but from the inside, honestly were not as bad as i thought it
would look. I think Maimoona's mom took us to the nicer huts. We were respectful,
everyone took their shoes off and observed the houses. It was very sad seeing how
these people live and how we live. I saw a hut where the fan was one inch taller than
me, that is pretty dangerous. I also saw a hut that had one room. The man had a
wife and two kids, all slept in one bed in a cramped up room. Look at the diffrence
we have our own rooms and own beds. We should appreciate every single thing we
have.
Next we went to this big room, where a bunch of people were there. Mostly
women. There were chairs put out for us. Women who joined the 4M Trust
foundation gave speeches about what they were before and how 4M Trust changed
their lives. First was a women whose husband earned Rs. 50 per day. This man
spent Rs.40 on alchohol and bought the rest home. How can a women feed her
family, pay rent and pay for her childrens education with Rs.10. She joined the
coorperation and got a $40000 loan from the bank. Next were two ladies who
almost commited suicide. They were in a foundation where alot of people saved
money and stored it. These two had the money. They got robbed or somehow the
money disappeard. So these womens lost all hope and were going to commit
suicide. But 4M Trust helped them out and they also got loans from the bank. Last
but not least was a english speaking auto rickshaw driver. Before she use to just sit
at home doing nothing, but now she makes Rs.400 per day and speaks english.
Ofcourse not the english you and I speak, but I got to say that was pretty impressive.
After those sad but inspiring speeches we headed to a goverment ran
technincal school. This school was not free, it took a very little amount of money. To
us it is little but to them it is not. This school had so many options. You could study
electricity and become a electrician, you could learn to fix two wheelers etc. This
school has a three month plan and also a two year plan. This school teaches kids,
all ages to get a job in a field they are good in and do something with their lives.
After this educational and facinating school we headed back to our school.
After this trip I started seeing the world diffrently. I started thinking what will I do when
I grow up. More importantly I was thanking god that he put me in a wealthy family.
From that day I have and now always will be happy with what I have, because I have
seen people less fortunate than my family and I and hope the best for them. I thank Maimoona's mom for showing us this place. Thank You.
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Post by asifhilal on Oct 25, 2007 12:08:03 GMT 5.5
4M Trust
I went to a lot of interesting places. First I saw a “village”. There the houses were small, and the fans were very low. I was surprised however, that they did have some valuable items in their houses. My group concluded that the government might have given them those items.
Many women made their speeches of their life. These women lived in groups, saving money to start a better life for them. One of these women had her 40,000 rupees that her group collected stolen. I felt bad for the woman whose husband did not support her. He was an alcoholic, and most of the money he earned, he used to buy alcohol.
Next we went to a government technical school. It is nice that the government is offering students education. However, anyone who visits the school knows that it lacks some major things. In our school, there are many people complaining that they have to much homework, or that the school is terrible. When i took a look at the takkar bapa technical school, i knew that we were very lucky to go to such a good school.
The trip was actually a bit depressing. When I saw the woman auto driver who was very happy to be making 400 rupees a day, it shocked me. Some of us have nice computers and iPods, and we still want more things. In the place we went to, some of these women are happy to have enough food. Some of us also take education for granted. I have always heard about how poor people in India lived. I have finally seen it. It was actually better than I imagined. This is probably because these are not the poorest of the poor anymore. They were 10 years ago. However when you compare our lives with there life, we have NOTHING to complain about our lives.
I have heard many of these stories about poor people, and I have finally seen it.
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Post by jozefien on Oct 25, 2007 12:10:01 GMT 5.5
On 23 October, we went on a field trip for Developing Nations .The main goal of the field trip was learning more about the organization of Maimoona’s mom. The name of the organization is 4M Trust and it is established to help women who live below the poverty line. The field trip was divided into tree parts: first we visited the houses where the women live, then we listened to different speakers in a centre, and lastly we made a tour through a technical school.
The first part of the trip made the most impression on me. Although I knew before that there are a lot of poor people in Chennai, it is different when you are suddenly standing before their houses. The houses that we visited formed a kind of community, they were all built behind each other and only the first house was visible from the street side. When I started walking on the path before the houses I felt strange, that was because of many reasons: the fish that was sold on the ground, the tiny houses, and the smiling people standing before them. I seriously couldn’t believe that people who are living in that way can be happy and I felt very bad for them. At the end of the path there was a big garbage dump, where the rubbish of the whole community is collected. In contrast to the area around the houses, inside everything was very clean. But they were smaller than I expected. I always thought that a house had at least a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom, but these houses barely had 2 rooms. I know that some people live under worse circumstances than the ones that we have seen, for example, homeless people, but it still remains difficult to see how we live in big and luxurious houses and they are satisfied with what they have. At moments that you are confronted with poor people, you start asking yourself questions such as:”Why are we ‘rich’ and they ‘poor’?”,or “How is it possible for people to live in houses like this?”Those questions don’t have answers, though, the more you think about them, the more complicated they become.
Fortunately there are people who are concerned about the lives of the poor; one of them is the mother of Maimoona, she is the founder of an organization that empowers poor women. After our walk through the narrow streets of Chennai, we went to a centre to listen to a presentation about the organization. Before we entered the room, everybody was decorated with a garland made of little jasmine blossoms; I assume that our hosts wanted to show that they were pleases to meet us, and I think that everybody did feel extremely welcome. Once we all had a seat, a man started to talk about how the organization helps the women. That part was a nice introduction, but it became really interesting when the women could tell us their stories themselves. Although most of them couldn’t speak English and needed an interpreter, the stories that they wanted to share with us were very clear. Everybody could feel that these women don’t have easy lives, but that they are very well supported by 4M Trust. Basically the organization has several self-help groups that all have their own projects. In that way they can have a job, earn money, and give their children the opportunity to go to school. An organization like this is very helpful because it helps women to become more individual and to escape the poverty. I think that, as far as I am right, the good aspect is that it does not give the women money directly, but supports them to find jobs and earn money, so that they can live independently.
The last part of our field trip was visiting one of Chennai’s technical schools. It was a governmental school with a low school fee; however this fee is for some poor people still too expensive. Inside the school we were able to walk around and take a look in the different classes. Some people were learning how to become a carpenter, others were filing small blocks of metal. The purpose of the school is teaching the students a profession, instead of just giving them a basic education they are prepared for their later lives. Technical schools are very useful, mainly for people who know already that they won’t get the chance to go to college or university. Once the students are graduated they are quite sure that they will get a job because they are very well educated in the profession they have chosen.
I strongly believe that this field trip has opened the eyes of everyone in our class; it was very interesting to see under what circumstances some people live, and to see how people make great efforts to improve the quality of other people’s lives. I would like to say that Maimoona’s mother is doing a wonderful job and I’d like to thank you for the unforgettable experience that she has given us.
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Post by nitika on Oct 26, 2007 15:53:58 GMT 5.5
25 Oct 2007 Our Field Trip Nitika Sachdev
I really enjoyed our field trip. We learnt so many new and interesting things like how so many people live in the same city in such different conditions. I didn’t even know these kind of people lived in the same city, as I did since I live so differently and could never imagine life like that. I felt really sad to see where and how they lived- on a swamp. They were so happy living there, and they said that this was the best life they could ever imagine living. For me that is the worst life I could ever imagine living (foils). I wonder in what conditions they used to live before if this was the best life they could ever live. We saw this lady selling fish and there was a swam bees, flies, mosquitoes around her. This is and example on how they are exposed to so many diseases. I don’t think they would have ever known how clean drinking water tasted like before they came here or what a bed was or a TV. One lady spoke about how she tried committing (committed) suicide because somebody stole the money that she was responsible for, which wasn’t even hers. Now, she was rebuilding her life, and this community had helped her so much, they had accepted her for who she was. Listening to this, I actually cried. One woman said that all men are allowed to remarry but woman are not. I never knew that this tradition still goes on in India. This shows how men still dominate in many parts of India. It is really great that this organization helps EMPOWER WOMEN. It helps hundreds of people rebuild their lives, and have a better one. The organization is not giving them money but instead it is giving them a skill. Money will run out in a moment, but they will always have a skill. The government should also help empower these women. They should give them funds, jobs, and free or low cost valuable education at least till the age of fourteen (14). In the school that we went to, those children were quite lucky compared to the ones we saw. They get to go to school. It is really good that this organization helps the school run. It gives low-cost valuable education to underprivileged people. But I don’t understand why there were only men studying? Why aren’t women given equal education? I thank you Ms. Buhari for giving us the opportunity to go to such a place and learn so many new things, be exposed to so many new things that we never knew existed. I even thank the people who so beautifully prepared the talk/presentation for us and got us gripped to their heart warming stories.
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