India’s Independence came in 1947 on August 15th. This year’s celebrations were indeed
celebrations to remember, cherish, and also support. My activities began on the eve of
Independence helping the students of the social work department pick weeds, and
clean up the yard of a community project that has been serving the community
for many years. Family Life Institute is
an NGO that was started by Madras Christian College students many years
ago. The organization began as a small
hospital, and now serves as a primary school, women’s self-help group training
center, and a clinic. The Master’s of
Social Work (MSW) students were preparing for their independence day
celebration with the community in which the FLI center serves. It was quite interesting learning of the
history of the center and how it has been indeed making a difference in the
community. At one point, the first
generation of people who came to the center for services also worked on the MCC
campus as grounds keepers, cooks, etc.
The following generation did the same, but it was in the third
generation that a shift came about.
Nearly 80% of the third generation of persons served by this community
center is now college graduates and many of them from MCC. Many of them give back to the community
center and return to FLI where their mothers gave birth to them, they attended
primary school, and now they serve as teachers.
It is quite a cycle of growth and empowerment. I was unable to attend the next day’s events
because I had prior engagement with the Rotary Club of Madras, but I was
pleased to be able to contribute in a small way. I did see the dance that some of the MSW
students who live in my dorm prepared for the celebration. They practiced diligently each night…see
photo.
Still on the eve of Independence, a few MSW students and I
were invited to attend a panel discussion on an issue that is quite interesting
considering India’s Independence and great development. The panel discussion was on Bounded Labor
hosted by International Justice Mission- to discuss what the next steps are to
put into action the legislation that was created to counter it. As a student in the social work department, I
am being exposed to concerns and issues in Indian society that I would have
never thought of existed. While I steer
clear of any political protests or stances, this experience was indeed
education and it was indeed quite interesting and heart pricking to learn about
many people who on Independence Day will not feel the same freedoms as many
other Indians. Many of the persons who
are victims in bounded labor do not live in chains, but are bound through fear
and intimidation to pay off an advance from an employer. The human rights organization who hosted the
discussion has a website http://www.facebook.com/FightBondedLabourCrime
where you can read more about the things they are doing, and the issues that
surround this topic. The discussion was
eye opening and quite informative.
On the actual Independence Day, I had the pleasure of riding
to the Rotary Club of Madras’ Create Campus and share the day with the boys of
Boy’s Town. There is an urban boys town
in the city, near Madras Christian College and so I road there with them. I am blessed to be affiliated with not only a
great International service organization, Rotary, but also to be studying in a
social work program. It is refreshing to
see and learn of the great things that Indians are doing to continue the
development of this great nation. The
Boy’s Town project provides housing and education for many orphaned and
economically distressed young boys in the Chennai area. They are learning trades varying from auto
mechanics to electricians. See the
picture of some of the young boys from the Boy’s Town near MCC. It’s a town that they created and wired
electrically using the lessons they learned in class. It was indeed a great experience!
Things I noticed on Independence Day here:
-they put
flower petals in the flag so when you raise it and open it, it bursts with
flowers.
-just like
at home, everyone proudly wears their countries flag
-just like
at home there’s lots of food everywhere J
Happy Independence Day to India!
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