This summer I had the opportunity to be part of a wonderful team that joined CHF on its first trip to Bangalore. What a privilege! Prior to the trip, we had team meetings and tried to learn as much as we could about the Indian organizations we would be interacting with. They all sounded pretty amazing but every time we talked about Renuka I was particularly intrigued. I couldn’t wait to meet the lady that had opened her home to offer education services to the teens of the second largest slum in Asia.
When I finally met Renuka I was filled with inspiration. The lady I had heard so much about became Auntie Renuka. A graceful woman with the most gentle and kind spirit, filled with unconditional love for slum teens. One day I got to sit next to her on the bus during a fieldtrip with the teens. During the ride she was filling me in on each student (those on the trip as well as those who couldn’t come). Their names, age, English proficiency, siblings, family life, job status, wpm, you name it! She thought she was getting me acquainted with the students but she was doing more than that. She was opening my eyes to the reality of the destitute in Bangalore. She made me see that more than offering education what she was trying to do is give them a chance at having hope…and it was not easy. I was impressed that she knew so much about each one of her students. She loves them and is investing her life in them. I have a deep admiration and respect for her and feel so honored to have been a part of that, even if it was just for a few days.
As we continued interaction with the other organizations, I noticed a similarity between them. Of course it looked different at each organization but all were aiming to offer hope. A rare commodity when you are born into poverty, and are EXPECTED to remain in it.
The organizations that we worked with have already impact lives by offering the destitute of Bangalore a chance at having hope. It was exciting to see the potential that the organizations have and how CHF could ultimately play a vital role in helping them achieve goals through the provision of different resources. I will never forget my trip to Bangalore with CHF and I can’t wait to hear about partnerships that will arise from this trip!
Jeremiah Caleb went to Northern India for the first time to visit his father’s homeland and came back with the need to make a change. He started the Caleb Hope Foundation with some friends, and in a very short time has made a HUGE impact in the lives of some of the most underprivileged children and young people in this area. I had a chance to talk with Jeremiah about his vision for his incredibly humble and extremely powerful organization.
Love and Water- Tell us how you started the Caleb Hope Foundation.
Jeremiah Caleb- I’m an actor- had no intention of doing this. I had never actually been to India in my life. I’m from Singapore and then England, but my dad was from India. He was from the slums. I was writing a novel based on the life of my dad and I was trying to document it so I went to India for 40 days wearing my father’s clothes.
L&W- Literally?
JC- Yes, literally. I wore a saffron cloth, which is called a Kadi. So I wore that into the slums, and I came in contact with poverty for the first time, to that extreme. And the question I couldn’t get away from was how can a child possibly live like this, in conditions like this? I was literally looking at a skeletal body with skin, living on top of each other. The second question that I had to ask myself was why not me? How come, these are my people, how did I get the life in America, you know, when I could have been here? And the only answer I could come up with is because I have to do something about it. I have a chance to do something about it. So during that trip I visited an orphanage in the slums that was started by my grand-uncle about 30 years ago for the Dalits (pronounced Dahleets). The Dalits are the lowest cast; more than the lowest cast. They’re the people who work in the sewers, in the garbage dumps. And my uncle started pulling these children out of the brothels and the slums and bringing them to this orphanage. So when I met the children who are there now I immediately grew attached to them, and I got to know them a bit. When I came back, you know it takes a long time to process a trip like that, so I sat down with a bunch of actor friends and we decided to go back. So we all went back to visit the kids, and from there we started fundraising and building our organization. Now we’ve come to a place where we’re almost a 501C3, we’re waiting for our last approval, we have 30 children who we’re completely responsible for. They all have sponsors, we write to them, send them updates, and I take the money over and directly interact with the kids. So people know that the money they give to sponsor their child goes directly to that child.
L&W- What is the long-term mission of the foundation?
JC- Our mission is twofold. First, it is really to empower the slum people. Not to take them away but work with them there to educate and train them so they can have the tools to rise up and create better lives for themselves. And secondly, to bring together artists from here to create work in New York and LA inspired by these kids in order to raise more money for them. We have cabarets, we do Rock India, and other shows.
L&W- Where do most of your donations come from?
JC- Ironically, most of the donations come from people in New York City who come to our artist events. We’ve teamed up with be.the.change.uganda for a Halloween party this year, and we do a lot of fundraising that way. A big percentage comes from our sponsors through sponsorship donations, and a lot comes from team members who are going to India. They fundraise individually.
L&W- Can anyone sponsor a child through you at this point?
JC- Absolutely.
L&W- What does that entail?
JC- We set them up with a child, and they can pay monthly, quarterly or yearly. They get a profile of the child, and pictures, and they keep in touch through writing letters to the child. But the beauty of it is that the child never knows that they have a sponsor. They think the sponsor is just a friend who wants to get to know them, so even if you end up coming with me on one of our trips, you get to meet the child as a friend, so there is no savior complex.
L&W- How much does it cost to sponsor one child?
JC- $30.00 a month, which is $400.00 a year, and that includes food, clothing, education, medical- everything.
L&W- What is the most moving experience you’ve had so far?
JC- I guess two things. Last year in India we went into a school for the physically handicapped, which was completely falling apart- rats and such. And our team gutted the place, painted a huge mural on the wall…
L&W- There’s a video of that on your website…
JC- Yes, and at the end of it you see physically handicapped children giving speeches about how they never thought they mattered. Because here in America we have a school for the blind, a school for the deaf, a school for every kind of handicap. But there, they just lump them all together and throw them into one room. They’re tossed aside, basically, and often disowned by their families. So here we were building something for them and they were so excited. So that was really touching for me. To see that we could really make such a difference in their lives. And the other thing that has been so moving to me is to see the older kids going off to college. They come from generations of slum people with no education. To hear them talk about their dreams- I can be a teacher, I can be a doctor- is really very moving.
L&W- Where do they go to college?
JC- We try to get them to colleges within their area. Some go to vocational studies, some go to better schools.
L&W- And they’re accepted there?
JC- Yes, because we’ve trained them so much at the school to work hard and they end up fitting in because that have acquired those skills.
L&W- You have a school too?
JC- Yes, it’s called St. James, which is part of the orphanage. And apart from the 100 children who live in th orphanage, there are 500 children who come to the school. It’s part of my grand-uncle’s work. He started it. We also plan to build an orphanage in Koraput in Orrissa, which is a very poor area with no running water. So we plan to build over there in about a year or so.
L&W- Those kids must be an inspiration.
JC- There’s this one kid who has polio, and he has no legs. And he dances just like Michael Jackson, in his upper body. His moves are incredible. And in this village they were trying to get people to give their kids the polio vaccine, and he rode his bike, with his hand-pedal, over to this pole in the middle of the town, climbed up the pole and posted this sign that said, “do you want your kids to end up like me? Wise up- get the polio vaccine.” He’s so inspirational.
L&W- What do you think about the Love and Water concept that “every drop counts?”
JC- Well, this work has changed my life. It has put a whole new perspective on my life, and as you are saying, every drop counts- every single penny counts. Because in India one U.S. dollar is 47 rupies. For one dollar I can feed a family for one whole day. A whole family. So we try to encourage that. Every little bit.
L&W- Is there anything else you want people to know about the foundation?
JC- Every single team member at this point, including myself, are all volunteers. No one gets paid, and we’re looking for other volunteers who know how to edit. We’ve made some videos that we can give to the people there that they can use to talk to the government about creating change. So if we can get them edited, they can really help us do a lot of good.
L&W- I think you’re doing an amazing thing.
JC- It’s exactly what I want to be doing. I’m getting married next year, and we’re having the ceremony here and the reception there. The kids are planning the whole reception.
L&W- Wow! That’s incredible!
JC- We just want them to know that we are here to stay. They are our family. That’s what we want them to feel and understand.
L&W- Well that’s just the most touching thing ever.
Follow them on Twitter: @calebhope
Join their Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Caleb-Hope-Foundation/97082547485
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Posted by Alexis Fedor at 7:51 AM
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3 comments:
Anonymous said…
awesome interview! the story about the boy with polio was inspirational and reminds me that my limitations are no excuse. everyone can be used! thanks jeremiah and alexis!
November 3, 2009 1:32 PM
Shannan said…
Thank you Caleb Foundation for a great Halloween event! We were really able to get the word out about our similar missions!
Wonderful!
November 3, 2009 10:45 PM
Lee said…
There’s no better product to market than hope, and Jeremiah seems to be offering it to so many people.
November 4, 2009 8:18 AM
“Coming Home” by Melissa Connors
October 14, 2009
Sounds funny right? Home? India? Really? Yes, I have never felt more at home in a foreign country of this magnitude. August 12th marked the day of my second journey to India which I felt a sort of homecoming. Since last year, I have longed to return to India and her people.
On my first day back in India, to my surprise, I was recognized by a few of the girls. They actually remembered me! They even picked up on my haircut. On my previous trip I had already witnessed the generosity of the girls at the Asha Deep Orphanage, but now it included their memories.
My first trip in February of 2008 had been one of shock, tears, but overwhelming gratefulness; a truly humbling experience. My second trip on the other hand, really instilled joy in my heart. The relationships we formed in both the girls and boys homes were astounding. Just being able to sit on the roof past midnight talking with a handful of girls, sharing in their dreams and aspirations was a huge blessing. Everyday, I gave an hour long guitar lesson to some of the older boys which usually ended with endless life questions and stories.
I can’t even begin to tell you how utterly amazing our school for special needs children is. Those kids defy the odds and surprise me everyday. Their disabilities range from polio, to deafness and mental challenges. Yet from blowing bubbles, to sidewalk chalk designs, to singing songs, there seems to be nothing these kids can’t accomplish. Every experience with all these children has been unbelievable.
A common phase at ADF is “I have 51 sisters and 48 brothers.” ADF has become my hidden family and a part of me will always be in India in the town of Shahid Nagar, at the Asha Deep Foundation.
Following my first trip last year, I got a Hindi tattoo on my left foot. It is the word “Asha” which means “hope”. Every time I look at this tattoo, I am reminded of my friends back at ADF and how they are the hope of India. They inspire me and I walk with hope everyday. I thank Jeremiah for the honor and privilege of serving with him in India once again.
CHF Goes South by Ilyse Sanford
October 05, 2009
This is my third trip to India and just talking about it that is India just makes me break into uncontrollable smiling; my eyes light up and I can’t stop talking about it. When we landed in Delhi all of my senses were immediately engaged and I began the process of getting reacquainted with India; like when you see an old friend or go to a favorite place you haven’t been to in a while. India has rich culture, colors that are so vibrant and beautiful people that are there as well as some that aren’t. The smells of a developing country go from really good to really bad quickly, but they are familiar and what makes India. There is so much beauty in some of the ceremonies and traditions. In Bangalore I was part of Jeremiah’s engagement ceremony which entails us carrying a procession of gifts that are presented to the family including a sari and jewelry that the bride to be changes into during the ceremony. It was almost as intense and exhilarating as a wedding. All of us wearing very vibrant and festive saris, meaningful toasts were said and lots of great food shared. Again all mingled with the smells and sounds of India.
The next day we road a few hours to Nandi Hills (was it really a hill if it had switch backs and when you reach the top everything below was very tiny?) with about 20 young people from the second largest slum in India. It was so beautiful up there at the top, you could see for miles all around. Monkeys! When we reached the main parking lot we got out and walked the rest of the way to the top. We had a big pot of curry and a big pot of rice, bread and water. Not to mention a trail of stray dogs and monkeys. The monkeys aren’t the cute ones we see at the zoo. They wanted the bread so they tried to intimidate us with hissing, baring their teeth and grabbing. They stole a loaf of the bread and later on our during our hike stole our three pack of disposable cameras and scrambled up a tree but once it realized it wasn’t food, promptly threw them out of the tree one by one. You can laugh but it wasn’t funny at the time. Over the next couple of days we worked with the kids on their English. We were there to help them appreciate their value and to encourage them to set goals and attain them. They in turn shared very personal parts of their life with us. We left them feeling as excited if not more so than they were.
Ilyse Sanford
CHF Board Member & Summer 2009 Witness
“Grateful” by Josh
September 23, 2009
16 August 2009
How to I begin to sum up this experience so far? I think the primary cry of my heart is gratitude. I am so thankful for being given the opportunity to come here to the Asha Deep Foundation and to see firsthand all the work that is being done in the heart of the slums. I feel so honored to be on this journey and to have a stake in the work here.
I am so inspired by the staff, the teachers, the social workers, the children at the Boys Home and Girls Home, and the members of the community at large. They are all facing obstacles that must at times seem insurmountable, but they seem to be drawing from a bottomless reservoir of hope. They have gotten a vision for who they can become, not only as individuals but as a community, and they are giving all that they have in pursuit of that dream.
I am deeply humbled by the faith and hope of the children and by their joy in the face of incredible trials. I know how easily I can fall into self-pity and hopelessness, but at ADF, they refuse to quit. They encourage one another and bear their burdens together. They rally around one another, and they live as one big family. I am deeply grateful to the Caleb Hope Foundation for the opportunity to come here and become a part of this family. I cannot wait to see what else this trip will hold, but for now, I am deeply grateful.
Josh Staton
CHF Board Member & Summer 2009 Witness
“Forever Changed” by Kimberly McIlrath
July 17, 2009
India! Who would have ever thought You would have grabbed such a hold? Apparently they all did! “You’ll be forever changed!” they all said before I boarded the plane. Its true, you changed me, but how fast did I forget? I came back into 6 of the craziest months not leaving much time to process. But, when I stop to think about it, those images come screaming back. Such poverty but not poor in spirit. So much life. I can close my eyes and see myself dancing in the dark with the girls at Asha Deep. To most of us back here power outages breed inconvenience and frustration. But not with you, they provide opportunity and captured moments. I can hear the girls singing by fire in the chapel. I can see the early morning shadows come up around the local mosque. I can see the arms raised as they sing silly songs at devotion time. I can feel the fabrics run through my fingers, begging voices “for you 100 rupee.” I can sit on this crowded subway and still feel the India air. The images fly by as if it were 167 hours not 167 days since I saw those gates close behind us. I can feel my heart break. The tears still come. Shacks, no shoes, no clothes, begging, desperate hands tugging at my shirt. I can see her eyes as they pleaded. I can see the smiles of the girls who now have a future; teacher, doctor, lawyer, advocate. They stand proudly announcing to us in hopeful tears. They once picked through trash heaps, gave themselves to strangers, now they have higher hopes. All because of a contagious love a few people had and pursued to make their lives better. I can remember the kids chasing us down wishing, wanting to have their picture taken. Wanting the foreigners to give them something to hope for. India! You aren’t so far away. I may have lost focus but I can never forget. You tattooed your soul on mine. Nothing can wash it away. You allowed me to meet some incredible, beautiful, focused people who want nothing more then to bring hope to your doors. India, you will soon capture more hearts and I look forward to seeing their transformed faces as they return, forever changed.
Introductory Video
June 22, 2009
Watch an introductory video on the work of the Caleb Hope Foundation.
The Aftermath of Culture Shock
June 18, 2009
When I first decided that I was going to fly half way across the world to serve at an orphanage in a third world country- the idea felt somewhat romantic. I’ve always enjoyed traveling and I like kids so I said what the heck- I’ll go! I had no idea what I was in for. My previous travel experiences included destinations like Italy, the Bahamas, Paris…Canada- but never India.
Before I went I knew that this was not a vacation- I was going to serve at an orphanage. Still the idea sounded romantic to me- I’d always felt called to do something like this and I felt it was the right thing for me to do at that point in my life. When we arrived, I felt nauseous as soon as I got of the plane- the smell of the pollution was quite prevalent. Soon thereafter culture shock occurred.
The drive from the airport to the orphanage was totally overwhelming- I wondered if I was even going to make it. I could not believe what my eyes were seeing- all those people amidst a sea of chaos- riding bicycles, horses- motorbikes merging in and out of lanes dodging cows and wild dogs. The streets were lined with beggars and destitute children. As we drove to the orphanage- I thought –“We are not in Kansas anymore Toto.”
The next two weeks were life changing- it was the best experience I’ve ever had. I forgot about myself for two weeks. I forgot about my life in Manhattan- The thing that was most on my mind was how amazing the kids were- so phenomenal. I was so humbled by the kids. I thought I was going to India to give something to them- when they were giving back of themselves tenfold to me. I could see so much redemption in their lives- these children were taken of the streets and given a chance to live fulfilling lives- and they were so grateful despite what little they had. The joy they had in their lives was truly amazing. I remember being surrounded by them on my birthday- I stood there in the middle of a circle of orphans- they all sang Happy Birthday to me. That was truly the happiest of birthdays- and they made me the best cards- although none of them really knew how to spell my name. I never knew that Sam could be spelled so many different ways…Psalm, Shem, Sham…I felt so loved. I thought this was a great idea….then that’s when it happened…
I became very, very, very ill. I spent the next night vomiting and was rushed to the emergency room the next morning. I spent the next 4 days in intensive care in what was thought to be the best hospital in Delhi. I was on my back, I could not stand up- I couldn’t move my eyes- I was on my deathbed in a third world county with an unidentified virus that had made it’s way to my brain. While I laid there waiting and praying for my health to return I felt a peace. I was able to embrace the experience. My entire team was supporting me- I knew the children at the orphanage were thinking of me and praying for me. I was able to bear the unbearable only because of the love I was receiving. I had flown half way across the world only to receive that which I was there to give-love- and there was no way I could return that in the state I was in. The truth is- I’d been in self preservation mode after living in Manhattan for so long- the entire experience was a relief for me. When I arrived at the orphanage from the hospital I was greeted by a sea of smiles and cards prepared by the kids. What I had experienced there in India was so much more than “romantic”- at that moment all I could do was receive love- and embrace my weakness. As I left the orphanage soon thereafter to head to the airport- I remember thinking I’ll never forget the lessons I learned there- and I never will.
Samuel
CHF Team Witness 2009
“What the Orphans Taught Me” by Lisa
I have been wondering what to write about since our trip to India now that life has settled down. And I find myself keep coming back to the same thing. God CARES! I cannot get over the fact of just how much. I knew for a very long time that i wanted to make a difference in someone’s life so when I heard about this trip I did not hesitate but said “Yes I’m ready and willing and everything else will come together”… and so it did. I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to come across the most amazing people in our team who were not only talented but compassionate as well. There are so many things I want to write but one point i want to stress is God cares!
When we were on the roof tops of a building we overlooked the streets of Delhi and I saw garbage, poverty, homelessness, and I thought to myself is God here and does He care? I was overwhelmed by all these emotions and we went back to the girls house and that image was still in my head.
Looking at the boys and girls in Asha Deep Foundation reminded me of God’s love. These children have so much love and support from the staff and to top it off they have love from 8 other people who came just to be with them! I believe there is a purpose for each one of us (even if we do not know what that is yet), it could be that you are there to sing and sooth the soul of someone who is hurting, or to be a healer for someone who is sick, or even be there just to be a friend!
I thought I was going to be there to change the lives of these people who “needed” my help but in fact they changed me and how I look at the world. They gave me a clear picture of what I want to do with my life. There are two pieces of advice I want to give to the future compassion teams- Be there for the children and spend much time as you can with them because they truly love and appreciate your presence and they will give you all their best to you when that’s all that they have got. Secondly, be there for your team members because at the end of the day you’ll need their support.
Lisa Kamalaksian
CHF Team Witness 2009
Food for Thought by Dahlia
Being a Registered Dietitian, I am usually thinking about food so I figured I would write about the same. I had an amazing opportunity to travel to the slums of Ghaziabad, India back in January on a goodwill mission with seven wonderful New Yorkers. This trip was truly life changing. Having been to various parts of India during the past five years I had no qualms about going. My anxiety mostly resided in the fear of contracting a food-borne illness from the consumption of raw items or tap water (which never happened!).
Once in India, mealtimes quickly became my favorite part of the day because it brought the HFI team and ADF staff together around one big table. I enjoyed listening to everyone’s experiences and witnessing the team’s response to the food which mostly consisted of rice, lentil curry (daal), vegetables, indian bread (poori & chappati) and occasionally, chicken. The meals were delicious and homemade!
While in India I was able to make two observations from a nutritional standpoint. I did not see the kids eating any fruits during the two weeks the team was in India nor was plain milk given (they were served tea with milk instead). After returning to the U.S. I emailed one of the ADF staff to inquire about this and her response broke my heart. She replied that they tried to provide a serving of fruit once a week but this is often not possible because it was too expensive to purchase in addition to the daily staples (rice, lentils and vegetables). As far as milk goes, it was only given to the weaker children and those identified by the community doctor. When I compared the situation in India with the situation in the U.S. (5 a Day and Got Milk? campaigns) I was reminded of how blessed I am in New York City.
For most, food is available almost 24/7 to the point of excess. One of the most touching experiences I had was on the last night of our trip. It was Friday evening and the team was enjoying the farewell celebration that ADF organized in the team’s honor. At the end of the festivities there was a special meal arranged for all 95 children. They were all served and eating while the team was going to eat later. I was walking around greeting all the girls while they ate. When one of the girls realized I hadn’t eaten, she began taking rice and curry in her hand from her own plate ready to feed me. This is a traditional way how mothers feed their children, with their hands. I was touched by the kind gesture and assured her that I was eating at a later time with the rest of the team. Months later, I am still moved when I think about that night. These children did not get special meals often and for them to offer to feed me, a rich American, blew my mind. What love and compassion!
It’s impossible to express everything I felt and experienced in India during those two weeks but going there was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I went to India to feed and help the poor but instead I was the one who was fed and helped. My spirit is now full of hope and excitement about the future of ADF and the children who touched my heart.
-Dahlia
Team 2009 Witness
Reflections by Michael Krimm
It’s definitely time for me to share a little bit from my experiences in India. I can’t believe I’ve been back for two weeks already! You probably know how these things go: for two weeks it’s like you’re in another world, it’s almost magical. And then you come back and resume your regular life, and life rushes in. But I will say, I was blessed incredibly on this trip, and I have come back with renewed energy to live in this, my world, with vision and purpose to serve him. Rather than trying to recount everything we did, I thought I’d share some over the major themes that came through for me on this trip:
1. Hope and joy. The name of the organization we visited is “Asha Deep”, which means “lamp of hope.” Or something like that; I didn’t pick up that much Hindi. Hope and joy are probably the emotional impressions that will stick with me the longest from this experience. Which is really kind of unexpected, given we where in a place where everything around seemed chaotic, different, impoverished, crazy. But the children, whether they were the ones I saw in classrooms at the school, or out on the streets picking through garbage for a living, would always be laughing, looking curiously at us foreigners, running around, playing. I saw makeshift classrooms full of preschoolers experiencing a little oasis of caring and learning for a couple hours. A school full of 300 slum kids getting a K-12 education that the government wouldn’t otherwise provide. A community center in the middle of a community of rag-pickers (people who make their living picking through garbage) where teenage girls shared their aspirations of becoming teachers, doctors, social workers. And of course, the 50 boys and 50 girls living in the orphanage we were staying at, who loved each other as brothers and sisters, played together, worshipped God together, and opened their home (it really was a home) to us.
It was so encouraging to see the impact of the work of this mission. What I saw really renewed my excitement that we can bring love into this world in tangible ways. As mundane as my day to day may be at times, this experience will be a reminder of the broader world I’m part of and that I can make an impact here. In one neighborhood Asha Deep runs these day care centers that people host in their homes, and we’d enter a cramped little hut in the middle of the slum, and there’d be 10 kids waving at us and learning A-B-Cs on the walls. Outside they’d be playing in the trash, but because of someone’s care and initiative, they got to learn ABCs. Awesome! At the orphanage, the older kids, especially some of the girls, had amazing poise and confidence. I was reminded of the ambitious American teenager that’s the product of an upper-middle class education, does debate and that kind of thing, and aspires to go to an Ivy League - except with more humility. The children in the orphanage do not experience traditional family and are near the bottom of their country’s social order, but they are not broken people; they know they are loved by God. The contrast between where they are at and where they could have ended up if they stayed on the streets incredible.
2. Learning just a little bit about poverty. The poverty is like nothing we know in the west, of course. In the rag picking community, it’s not just people in less comfortable physical surroundings than we are used to, it’s fellow men and women, the glory of God’s creation, spending their lives picking through others’ refuse. Yet these people often manage to carry themselves with dignity. Even in the worst of the slum conditions people take care of themselves, with their clothes clean and the women dressed in their sarees looking beautiful. (As an aside, clothes washing is apparently a national obsession, and trust me, it’s a big investment of time, as I figured out waiting days for my socks and underwear to dry).
For me this wasn’t the type of experience where I figured out there’s poor people in the world for the first time in my life. It was more subtle than that. Because we lived at the orphanage, we pretty much shared in their life, which meant no electricity half the time, washing with buckets, no meat, and generally very decrepit infrastructure. None of this is intolerable. But what was weird was that I kept seeing things that could be better and thinking how easy/cheap it would be to fix, or how nice it’d be to have a coke with lunch, or why don’t the kids use flashlights when the power fails, or why don’t the 16 year old boys go to an internet cafe for email, and each time it was a little jolt reminding me that there simply wasn’t money for that. This happened on a daily basis in some form. I don’t know how to fully convey it, but for someone who has never lived in want, being around poverty like that was almost like being in a different culture, aside even from the real cultural differences.
3. Service. We spent the majority of our two weeks prepping and painting a mural in a day care center for disabled kids and the elderly. This place was a total pit when we came in. Seriously, when we first went in there, the walls were brown with years of smear, mice were running around, half the lights were out, windows were broken, and it just felt like some sort of medieval scene. That gave me my first real shock of how unjust it was that these kids had to experience this while kids elsewhere in the world had nice classrooms. It actually motivated me at times. We had to do seemingly endless amounts of sanding, and people would tell me I was being too perfectionist, but I had this almost compulsive anger driving me, that I didn’t want these kids to be left with another shitty, peeling paint job, that at least on this one patch of wall the paint would hold for decades, because they deserved better. By the way, a good chunk of the money we raised went to buying supplies for this project: having the windows replaced, paying the professional painters that assisted us, and getting cement work done in the outside spaces. I can assure you, we bought the best paint on the market and that stuff is going to last ages. The painter we worked with barely spoke English, but every time we’d open a new bucket he’d point at it approvingly, nod his head side to side as they do in India, and say, “this is best”. I think it was good for his professional pride to be able to work with quality supplies and do a job right!
You can see the before and after pictures and I am really quite proud of what we accomplished. One of our teammates is an artist and she directed the mural of Noah’s Ark. I got to color in the rainbow, the clouds, the sheep, and the rabbits, and also did highlights on the panda bears, elephants, monkeys, and Noah’s sandals. My other contribution was to consult on the solar system’s planets (I had to explain to a couple disappointed children and teammates that Pluto didn’t make the cut because it is NOT in fact considered a planet anymore).
We had some local workers help us, but most of the sweat equity was ours. Now that was an interesting issue. I have to be honest, I kept thinking, a couple years ago at McKinsey I was helping companies outsource their operations to India to take advantage of cheap labor, and we only have 2 weeks here, so why don’t we just hire an army of local people for the cost of our daily Starbucks back in New York and get this renovation done for us, and we can spend the time more “efficiently” hanging with the kids at the orphanage. Well, there were logistical issues that prevented that, but more importantly, it ended up being a powerful witness to the kids and staff. The director told us afterwards that our willingness to come in and get covered in dust and paint for those two weeks made an incredible impression. They have western visitors pretty regularly from aid organizations and stuff, but had never seen something like this before. And all we wanted to do was get the darn mural up!
4. Inspiration. Although they have a lot of paid staff, Asha Deep really relies on a handful of people who have dedicated their life to the work. They are all Indian Christians who for various reasons felt called to come there. The director of the center and her husband - Jothi and Chethi - are just incredible. Jothi is one of these people that inspires you with her life. Pick your field of endeavor: mine is business. In that context, she’d be a successful executive. Instead she and her husband have given their life to serving this community and these children, and still managing to be fun people. For me, being around this dedication was really encouraging and made me want to take my own life and mission more seriously on my return. It also give me confidence as I think about partnering with them financially.
5. Community. Our team of 8 wonderful people worked together, ate meals together, played with the kids together, and just generally bonded. I think this is an aspect of life that we don’t get to experience that often, and it was a huge blessing.
6. Indian hospitals. There was one big cloud over our trip, which is that one of our teammates became seriously ill and spent 3 days in the hospital. Our team leader had to stay with him while they ran tons of tests on him - CT scan, MRI, x-rays, ultrasound, blood tests, spinal tap. He goth through it and made it back ok and is doing better, thank God. (It was a viral infection that the doctors suspected he actually picked up in the US).
7. McDonalds - The next time you visit India, make sure to stop by McD’s for THE BEST VEGGIE BURGER EVER.
Thank you so much again for your prayers and support. Speaking of support, the funds that you guys contributed went predominantly toward the renovations of the school, and also towards the leper colony that Asha Deep runs (which unfortunately we didn’t have a chance to visit). If anyone is looking for an opportunity for practical giving, I’d be happy to chat more about the organization and their needs.
Michael Krimm
Winter 2009 Team Witness
“3 Cultures Molding My Thoughts ” by Bonny Mills
Hello all. I went with a team of 5 other friends to Asha Deep just outside New Delhi in September 2007. Never expecting how much my life would change in such a few months, I moved to China for a new job a month before our trip. Being separated from my teammates and missing the last bit of preparation made it a bit hard keeping alive the excitement that I was going to India. I also was swamped with my work and had to dive right in - relearning about Chinese culture and the education system. Working in a private school for kids with rich parents and then going to the slums and then back to the rich ones was such a yo-yo for me I really didn’t know how to do deal with it all. Having to be back at my school again, I missed the final good-byes in India and later all the debriefing back in New York with my team. I was alone in a 3rd foreign country to resolve and deal with all that I had seen, heard, and touched.
What impacted me the most and many have shared this is the joy of these kids. They just have the hugest smiles on their faces and light up from ear to ear when you see them. Language doesn’t even have to be a barrier. Just our presence made their day. At other times, observing the children of the slums, it broke my heart seeing them playing in the mountains of garbage or even having to help earn their family’s living by sorting out recyclables at the age of 7.
For me, my highlight was working with the children with disabilities. My sister is adopted from India and had polio as a child. She has had numerous surgeries and today wears a leg brace with just a slight limp. Back in New Delhi, at the special education school, I saw kid after kid with the effects of polio and no chance for surgeries to correct it. Yet they didn’t let that stop them. They scooted around as if that was how everyone did it and didn’t let their disability weigh them down. Other times, I would see a classmate or friend help them put a toy or book away, carry their bag or hold their hand as they hobbled down the stairs.
Every day I would go back to this group of children because of the instant gratification we both got. It was a chance to escape all the depressing poverty outside the gates. These children unconditionally loved me and accepted someone so different from them. They brought joy to my heart and made all the unbearable humidity, mosquito bites, no electricity…quite bearable.
Once I made the mistake of seeing them so “normal” I forgot about their disabilities as we played Duck, Duck, Goose and London Bridges. What could have been a disaster with a kid feeling miserable he couldn’t run to catch the tagger turned out to be a time of peals of laughter as I picked up the kid and raced around the circle with him sticking out like an airplane wing. I also nearly cried because I was touched so much seeing the tagger slow down just a bit to let the ‘goose’ get close and nearly touch her. The little ones who couldn’t walk at all loved being the bridge and getting to catch the unlucky victim on “my fair lady” and shake her up. These memories will always cheer me up whenever I am feeling down. I especially need to remember them whenever I get in a mood to complain about something I don’t have.
Going back to China after my time in India was difficult because I didn’t have time to debrief and process everything there. I am super thankful for Skype and the one conference call I was able to have with my teammates who were back in New York. I hate to admit it, but sometimes my current life occupies every thought and effort that India gets placed on a back burner. Then God places little reminders in my life. I’ll be cleaning off my desk and find my framed photo of our team at the Taj Mahal. One day we were trying to test whether a photo CD would play on the Chinese TV/DVD we had in the common room and I remembered I had a photo CD from my time in India. Showing it for just a few minutes brought back so many memories and touched the other teachers who watched and asked questions of the orphanage, the slums, the center for the elderly. No matter whether I have a chance to go back to China, the lessons I learned, the stories I heard, the hands I held, lives I touched - these will stay with me and remind me what a blessed life I’ve been given and how I must always use my talents and gifts to make the world a better place for others.
Setting the Bar High
January 25, 2009
It has been almost a day since I sent the team off at the Delhi airport. They should be arriving in America in just a few hours. I am so humbled and moved by the dedication our our team and all we accomplished in the slums. This was the best group of people I have EVER travelled with and they certainly made a huge impact. I am sure you will be hearing their stories directly. Yes, it was a challenging and sometimes heart breaking week. And yet on hind sight I have only thankfulness in my heart. The team came through in a HUGE way. They each inspired me and only deepened the call within my heart to care for the destitute.
I can’t even begin to describe to you this journey that affected all of us so deeply and drew us together as a strong unit- being in the midst of the poorest people in the world, Watching the joy and gratefulness in the eyes of the physically challenged children at the transformation of their once torn down classroom to a warm, delightful place of learning and simply celebrating life with children who each have a tragic past. We will never forget the love they offered us or the heart breaking farewell at Asha Deep Foundation yesterday. There were garlands, heaps of hand made cards and tearful hugs. The back door of our vehicle finally closed and as we drove away, the gates shut between us and the children leaving us with a heartbreaking silence on our ride to the airport.
I can honestly say that our lives have been impacted. We now attempt to process it all and use this transformational experience to shape us in the days to come. Upon my return to America next week, I will begin working on updates and blogs on our website so that you can get a deeper knowledge of our mission. Thank you for your support, your encouragement and your prayers. This trip has been HFI’s biggest and most touching success to date.
