Placement in India Confirmed!
on Margaret Campbell's Rambles (India), 24/Apr/2009 19:33, 34 days ago
 We recently learned that our placement in Koraput, India was confirmed so we are preparing for a year in a remote and fascinating locale. My husband, Jan, will be working as an IT professional for Pragati and I as a communication advisor for SPREAD, both NGOs that serve a group of Orissa Hill Tribes (the Paraja, Gadaba, Bhumia and Kondh)that have been disadvantaged by two large hydroelectric projects that displaced these villagers and thus limited their traditional livelihoods growing rice and gathering forest products. Both Pragati and SPREAD strive to develop or support community based organizations that:Create grain banks for food securityDevelop thrifts that insulate tribal members from needing to use"money lending shacks"Organize watchdog groups that monitor government projects and provide community inputRaise awareness about land rights and government benefitsBuild schools And no doubt other worthy goals :-). The important thing is that these NGOs are partnering with the Hill Tribes to determine and prioritize their needs and train them to be their own best advocates rather than provide"top down" development or direct aid. I've posted some pictures and juicy insider tidbits below, so don't quit scrolling, but before you get distracted I want to make a final point. Although this blog is not about fundraising, I would be remiss if I did not let every one know how VSO works so you may consider whether you might want support their efforts. Although VSO stands for"Volunteer Services Overseas" which characterized the organization when it began in the 1950's, today VSO acts more like a professional services firm, matching skills to projects, and paying expenses and a stipend based on the local standards for that profession. Thus, a doctor in the U.S. would receive a stipend based on what a doctor would be paid in-country, in addition to receiving suitable accommodations. In addition, as"volunteers", we receive medical and re-patriation insurance, training, and transportation. The bottom line is that it costs VSO $30,000 to send a volunteer for the first year. Jan and I have a combined fundraising goal of $4,000 and hope that, if you have resources that you would feel good about investing in helping the world’s poorest help themselves, that you will consider making a contribution. VSO is the world’s leading independent, international development organization that works through"volunteers" to fight poverty in developing countries. You can read about VSO’s work at theirwebsite, and you can make a contribution to our fundraising goal by visiting theGiveMeaningweb site where we have a page that collects and tracks donations.  I apologize in advance for the GiveMeaning fundraising page's interface - it's a free service that VSO uses that we found frustrating. Hope you don't have any trouble but if so please let me know. But really, this is not about fundraising. I want you to have fun reading this blog and learning about a part of the world that not many are privileged to visit. Read on ...   These women are from the Orissa Hill Tribes (Bondo-Poraja, Dharua and Saora, respectively.)  You can see the village of Koraput in the Southwestern part of the State of Orissa in this map or read about it onWikipedia where there is a map that shows Orissa in the context of India. The village is a hill station with a population of 40,000 at about 3,000 feet elevation, so cooler than tropical India. Farmers grow primarily rice but also vegetables, fruits and nuts.  You can see there are quite a few schools, train and bus stations, medical clinics and all the modern comforts we'll need :-). VSO does guarantee us a room with a bed, table and chair, room to cook, although not necessarily a kitchen, and an adjoining bath. Baths may have a cold water tap, or at minimum a bucket for storing water, and either a western or"squat" toilet. (Just thought everyone would want to know the gory details.) Mosquito nets arede rigueras are malaria meds. I've been adivsed not to pet any dogs as rabies is common. Jan says I can pet all the goats I want.   Speaking of goat, Jan can't wait for those delicious goat curries, but I typically go veggie in the developing world. As a fellow blogger put it:"It’s a bit yucky seeing the half stripped carcass of a goat and pointing to the bit you like." Similarly, watching the chicken get its neck broken and slurpy parts disemboweled before dinner puts me quite off my feed. Luckily, I love rice and dal.  You can see the big water projects on this Google map of the Koraput area.    The famous Jagannath temple in Koraput town draws tourists to the region.