JESS THE WANDERER

Lokpanchayat runs a local tafe/university that helps rural students learn practical and IT skills.  It was originally funded by a Volkswagen branch only 70km from the institute.  They now need more funding to complete the top level of the building but first they are going to build a dorm for girls who live far away to stay on campus.


Staff come from very practical backgrounds and most have run their own business.  They are able to speak many different languages and dialects as most of the students don't speak the same dialect.

The building was very rough around the edges and needs a fair bit of work but the structure is good.  We suggested that while finishing the construction of the building they should teach the students at each step of the constructions.  There is also things they could consider like mentor programs and maybe vacation work with Volkswagen if they is possible. Lokpanchayat have a great scheme going where students upcycle old metals and whatever they make they keep the profit.  It is a great earn learn scheme which gives they students some extra cash.

We had a meeting with the students. Most are from tribal or nomad communities.  Girls were not interested in doing the more technical courses like mechanics.  Instead were interested in doing IT and Sewing.  Thank god we prepared for a song because sure enough we were greeted with a school hymn sung by the students.  We gracefully sung the national anthem and repeating the first verse twice.

Lokpanchayat does great work with woman self help groups.  We met with one of the groups that had made great progress.
They sung us songs about educating your children and trust, which they had written themselves.
Unable to understand the woman sitting next to me she was still so humbling.
The 4 of us were presented with a coconut as a gift for good fortune.The whole time the SHG leader was sitting next to me and trying to talk to me.  I couldn't understand her at all but she was still so humbling.

Day 10
Our first full day of community development started off with a 2 hr drive through the mountains. Probably the scariest drive I have ever been on. It felt as if we were testing death driving along these cliffs, and at such a high speed.  We passed a car of teenagers on a Sunday drive about 5 times. The jeep was packed, with people sitting on the roof and in the boot. I really felt scared for them when watching it tip side to side on the winding roads.


We stopped along the way to explore the hill sides. We were lead to this cave just off the path. It reminded me of a scene from the Blair Witch Project. To my surprise a heard of livestock was being held there. A tribal family owned the live stock and live in the natural cave too. Just from looking at the mountainside I would never have guessed that it was a home to a family and a family of goats.  It is clear that the people working at Lokpanchayat have gained the trust of the community and also gained privileged information.


We met with the community of Pope Sunday. This is an agricultural community that produces these hard seeds (that I cant remember the name of, Something i have never seen before).
The meeting began straight away with no introductions and straight to business. The volunteer from Lokpanchayat talked about the equality of men and women in that village and their equal role in agriculture. There was 15 woman self help group in that community. Water was a big issue for that tribal community. They would have to walk 3 km to the nearest water source and in the monsoon season they have little or no access to water. To fight this problem the government has built an open stone tank from the rural sceam. This scheme entitles farmers to 100 days of work every year no matter what the season is like.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch made with produce from the local community.  The roti bread was rustic but delicious and we ate it with a black paste and an Indian bean.  I have to say though it was probably the hottest meal I have ever eaten in my life.  

We finished off the day visiting a conservation forest which was turned into a sacred land. One of the main struggles now is Younger generation deforesting in the desperate need for agriculture.


One of the best parts of today was being invited into a baby shower just from walking past the hotel reception. I don't think i have ever had so many photos taken of myself in 10 mins. I had the honor of blessing the mother by dotting her bindi. We joined them for dinner outside along with their hundreds if family members. I felt so welcome, and also like a super model.

Day 9
We started out rural visits today. I was in a group of 5. 3 boys, me and the facilitator. We were joined by Mini, one of the Leaders of DST. We made our way to Lokpanchayat which is about 3 hours east if Pune.
This NGO is really inspiring. The moment we arrived we were greeted with home made food made with local produce. Lokpanchayat has been running for nearly 12 years. It is an organisation that works with local tribes and communities, mainly in encouraging them to continue working in the country side on agriculture.

They also work with woman that have been abused and offer a safe house, counseling and training.


There was a local produce expo on in town that is only on once a year and Lokpanchayat had a stand. All the proceeds were going to the woman's SHG that was organizing it. We also met the chair and board members of the company.
I thought we would be staying in a hut with no toilets but we were the lucky group. One group got to stay in a resort, and that group was us. Pool, gym, badminton court, running track but no wifi! That is all i really wanted.  I would have liked to have stayed in some crappy accommodation.  Not this palace in the middle of nowhere.

I think that i have never felt so calm then when i closed my eyes and just listened to my breathing in the yoga class. I definitely need to work on my breathing and flexibility.
We shared these Indian sweets that were pretty much deep fried sugar. Really nice. What else do you need, fat and sugar!
Luxmeary rd was our plan for the free day. We had lunch at an India vegetarian restaurant. I thought that i was used to people starring at me here but where you get starred at for half an hour straight by a group of waiters it starts to get weird...
Me and Kate both got henna tattoos on our palms. I love it! I wasn't that interested in shopping and having to wait 2 hrs for the henna to dry definitely stopped me from buying anything.

I bargained down a cashmere scarf. You know you are in for a heavy bargaining session when they offer you chai while you shop.
Dinner was at this amazing asian style restaurant quite far from quarter gate. I had a bit too much sangria. Everyone in the group is just so lovely i cant help but be comfortable around them.