20 Days of Incredible India with my Student Organisation - Madli Pindmaa

I was lucky enough to spend three weeks in June 2010 in India with AEGEE (European Students’ Forum), which is the biggest interdisciplinary student association in Europe. 2010 marked a special year to AEGEE not only because it got 25 years old but also due to the fact that for the first time in history it sent its members to explore other continents. The case-study trip (CST) to India was part of a bigger project called Beyond Europe and it involved sending 20 participants from Europe to India and working with topics related to United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals (UN MDGs).

We started out the project in Baroda, a small and very untouristy city in India with ca 1.5 mln inhabitants in Gujarat state and ended up in New Delhi, a buzzing capital of this incredible country. The aim of the CST India was to empower young people in Europe to contribute to the achievement of the UN MDGs and thus all the program was related to getting to know the respective situation in India.

During the time in India our days were full of different visits to schools, hospitals, NGOs, slums, and other projects where we managed to get an overview of their activities, ask questions, as well as carry out our own program on the spot. One of the best days for me was when we were split into smaller groups and my group was visiting a waste pickers’ union in a really hardcore slum to talk about their life as well as to answer any questions they had. Being a regular tourist one would never be able to access this kind of slums without some confrontations leave alone getting that personal contact of the inhabitants. For all the participants in our group this was a really big experience that also broadened our mind a lot.

Additional highlights for me were for instance a drawing competition we made for different primary schools, a tour by a former street child in Delhi, going door-to-door in a slum making a questionnaire with local students, and a visit to a traditional Indian family in a remote village.  

After these 3 weeks it is still hard to describe India in only couple of sentences. It really is a mix of everything – shiny happy people, cows, elephants, camels and dirt on the street, amazing culture and music, deeply rooted religion, extreme poverty versus extreme wealth, etc etc. Also, imagine a challenge you’d have when being in India for the first time and having to organise a 3 weeks of program for ca 30 people. Despite we had local partners in India, the program was organised by a team of young Europeans, and by the end of the event we can say they were very successful beating their challenge…  

All in all, after getting an initial grasp of the country and realising how chaotic it was, I figured out that there is still a structure in this kind of country and nothing will be undone despite it is done a bit differently than we Europeans are used to. ;) And of course, three weeks is not enough to get a whole picture of India – thus I’m looking forward to my return to this country to explore more.

If you’re interested in reading more about our activities in India then during the CST we also kept a blog that is written by different participants and can be found here: http://cstindia.wordpress.com/ While CST India was only one part of the Beyond Europe’s UN MDG’s initiative, then you can check more information about other activities here: http://www.projects.aegee.org/beyondeurope/ And if you want to get more up-to-date about UN MDGs and their progress, feel free to check: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/reports.shtml    

Madli Pindmaa

India - Alexandra Campmas

India

We've waited this moment for a long time... And it finally arrived, indeed, the 23th of October, in the evening, we were in the plane, hurry to arrive and see India. Through the windows we were looking toward the huge city, for me it was completely different than European cities. Then my first impression when we put our foot for the first time on the earth was the difference with the air: it was hot and we noticed smoke in the sky, Mr Pierre Clouet explained us that it was usual in winter and it was also composed of pollution. 

The first day in Delhi, I was a little bit lost, like if I was not in the right place... because I didn't have any European reference marks. And monkeys came in the hotel I was confused because it's really not usual in our country, but I found this very funny. I acknowledge that these first days it was hard to adapt me. And especially with the food... The spice food was burning me ! And at breakfast, I was not accustomed to eat it... ! I know that when we are invited in another country we have to adapt us and eat the specialties... I tried of course ! 

Well, I think that the first day I had a little “culture chock”, some situations touched me: like to see sweet children in the street crying and asking money to eat, some persons who slept on the walk street or on the grass, all the Indian who ask to buy something, some handicapped persons laying on the floor... The most upsetting situation in which I was, was when we were in Delhi, waiting for the bus with Mr Vijay Kumar, a little boy came, he was maybe 4 years old, he was crying a lot and ask to eat. I didn't have sweets any more, I felt guilty to have this chance to travel, to have clean clothes without holes, to have the chance to sleep and eat whenever I want...

Finally, some days after, when I heard the speech of a man in the Cefipra the evening which said that we should try to not judge, I understood a new thing. And the day after I said to myself “play this game” and I tried... Immediately I felt better, and days after days I thought that I had always lived in India ! I'm still missing the traffic on the road, I loved the way you drive ! I would like have the same in France ! 

I found this travel more than marvelous, the sightseeing was (and is) exceptional, (I understand better why the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful monuments in the world...). And I forget to say the most important thing: I've never seen people so nice that in India. Thank to Mr Vijay Kumar, Mr Jain and Mrs Sathidevi who joined us, thank to you, Mr Shiva Prasad and all the Cefipra. I will never forget all of you, your kindness and all these wonderful moments that I spend in India. I hope that one day I will be able to come back again. 

Campmas Alexandra.
Bordeaux, France