International Visiting and Volunteering

(India Trip)

Ideal Audience

People who can enjoy cross cultural experiences; who can work with a new group; Physical & Emotional fitness is the bedrock of this program. Visit to mountain villages can be demanding. Cultural differences governing everyday transactions are very different from other countries. Coming with an open attitude and in spirit of learning, cannot be over-emphasized. Cultural & gender sensitivity, functioning as a team and adhering to the group schedule are the other important requirements to make this group experience meaningful for everyone. The small stressors which can, if allowed to, change participants perception and participation in this experience are::

Communication systems

(phones, emails) are still evolving and may be non-existent in remote places in India. Cell phones, however, are becoming increasingly available and effective means of communication. The group will have a cell phone available to them for emergency use.

Culture

Asia, especially in villages, has a strict code of conduct based on gender, age and other social variables. Some of these are probably inequitable, like man can smoke openly, woman cannot. Many of these are changing. This process is being facilitated by those full timers, who are working with this process for a long time. We as a group on a short visit will have to simply understand and observe these cultural norms.

Medical Issues:

Please check in your own countries about what kind of immunization you need to visit India. Usual recommendation is to get immunizations for Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid and Tetanus. Malaria prophylaxis should be taken, as malaria is present throughout the region. A well equipped first aid and Medical kit is always available. In the unlikely event of serious illness or injury, Dr Sachin has a network of medical resources/hospital to call upon to provide timely treatment.

Samagra (Canada and India)

Philosophy

Samagra (means Integral) is a place and a movement to become aware of interconnectedness of all elements of cosmos/existence, living and non-living, inner and outer and also the implications of our thoughts and actions on those elements by virtue of that connectedness. Such awareness includes physical, mental and spiritual components.

Such awareness may inspire actions which may lead to peaceful co-existence, wholesome living and feeling of well-being. In Samagra (place and movement) a person or group can enter at any point of life or from any path and is free to grow and evolve according to his/her own nature because there is no predetermined ideological agenda or action program. But such freedom should not violate peaceful co-existence, freedom and well-being of others.

For details please go to www.samagrapath.com

Back to the top of page

SIHI, McMaster University, Hamilton - Ontario (Canada)

Students through SIHI are the regular participants in Samagra activity. Each year a group of 10 to 12 students complete 30 days core module in India and some of them also go for the optional eco-trek. The McMaster Student International Health Initiative (SIHI) is a student-run club interested in issues related to International Health. Information about SIHI, our goals and various objectives can be found on our web space within the MSU clubs site.

Our interdisciplinary group consists of various committees, which work independently and together to meet our yearly objectives and goals. Two of our committees are the Workshops and Research Committees.

One objective of SIHI and specifically that of the Workshop Committee is to provide an interdisciplinary forum for advocating and discussing International Health issues. To meet this goal, we have hosted a free monthly speaker series; attendance and feedback has confirmed both the student interest and need for such a forum here at McMaster.

SMTA, India

SMTA is a voluntary agency working in Garhwal Himalayas since 1983; In fact its heritage goes further back in time to Social Work Research Centre (SWRC) Tilonia, Rajasthan. By 1986, SWRC was running its units in 11 states. This was giving rise to managerial problems. Consequently each of these units was asked to register themselves as independent organizations with their own aims and objectives. The SWRC (UP) unit was registered as Society for Motivational Training and Action (SMTA) in 1986.

Its mandate is to bring around a social change in a participatory way through education. Now it works in about 150 villages spread across two districts - Uttarkashi & Dehradun. It employs 50 young people from the region; Women constitute one fourth of this team. It works mostly in following sectors:

Primary education
Non conventional Energy sources (Solar energy eg.)
Water & Sanitation
Watershed Development
Womens Development
Social education, training and awareness

Margaret and Ruben have been accompanying this process of development and organizational growth of SMTA since 1983.

How did this start

Samagra program has evolved over last 6 years. Many students and visitors, who have been through it so far, have enriched it with their reflections and post trip participation in the selection process of the subsequent batch. Even before, the program had its roots in the tentative interactions between western students and rural communities, which founders served in eighties and nineties in Garhwal.

mountain diary

Dr Pradeep Kumar and Dr Karen Trollope-Kumar, currently medical professionals in Hamilton, were working in Garhwal, with some of the noted voluntary agencies of the region in 80s and 90s. They discovered that many of their visitors from the West had no skills to deal with life and people as they obtain in Garhwal Himalayas. Similarly, they found that their local contacts had poor comprehension of people from the West. Now living in Hamilton, Pradeep and Karen were approached by some students from the SIHI to give a presentation about their work in India. This led to the beginning of student interest in traveling to Garhwal, and the first group made the trip in 2001. As the years have passed, the trip has evolved into its present form, with a focus on a process of appreciative inquiry into health and development issues in rural settings. A focus on the concept of integral development will provide an additional dimension to the participants, inner journey to greater self-awareness in addition to the outer journey in the villages of the Himalayas.

Dr Satyendra (Sachin) gave up his job as a GP in a mission hospital in North India and joined the voluntary sector in Garhwal Himalayas in early 90s. Getting interested in this field of Community Medicine, he completed a course in Health management which subsequently helped him to provide consultations to voluntary agencies in the area of program management and training needs. His interest in nature led him to complete Advance Mountaineering and Search & Rescue courses from Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi. He enjoys taking people on treks which often turn out to be an inner journey as well. By the way- he also enjoys maintaining Mountaindiary, a website which pulls together scribbled notes left behind by travelers'.

This program builds on close rapport that relatively small NGOs, like SMTA and JVS(Jan Vikas Sansthan, Chirbatiya) have with rural community and on the expertise of the organizers in Anthropology, Indian philosophy, Health & Education sector. The small group of students/visitors, coming from diverse study programs, linguistic and ethnic backgrounds is accompanied in a process of field enquiry, self study and spontaneous interactions with the local community. The process culminates in a final sharing of the insights gained by the students/participants.

Our Work with Disabled in India

Our Work on Stammering in India

Stammering (or stuttering) is a neurological health condition which leads to communication difficulties. It appears as a sudden paralysing fear of certain syllables while talking. Its off and on and variable nature leads to considerable confusion both for people who stammer (PWS) and also for their listeners and colleagues. It is one of those invisible disabilities which have been little understood and has given rise to incorrect stereotypes like: PWS are always nervous; It is just a bad habit etc. It has also been compared to an iceberg: Audible stuttering is often just a little part of the problem but emotional and psychological issues generated by it are huge and often not so obvious, either to others or to PWS themselves. Recurrence is frequent because of this nine tenth hidden part of the problem which was rarely addressed in traditional therapies.

McMaster Students

Many PWS go through life without ever consulting a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) in India. There is a stigma attached to it and also a belief that nothing can be done about it. In fact, many SLPs have migrated to other countries from India and continue to do so because of such attitudes and constraints. Few schools have regular services of SLPs. While other visible (and static or fixed) disabilities receive attention from the state and society, young and adolescent PWS are often left to fend for themselves. The few SLPs which are available, are limited to cities and are un-affordable by the middle and lower socio-economic class in India. Samagra considers its work with PWS as just one instance of inner communion with Spirit, combined with serviceful activity in the world. Following is a brief outline of the work in this field since February 2007:

Twelve Questions on Stammering : A brief primer was compiled from modern sources of information (web, The Stuttering Foundation books etc) and brought out for Indian audience. Many copies have been distributed among the voluntary agencies, people working on disability and general public.
Presentations, supplemented by a screening of Unspeakable has been conducted in some organisations in Herbertpur, near Dehradun.
An ad in public interest was run on the local TV channel in Herbertpur: Stammering- neither a sin, nor a crime; Just a health issue; Accept it.
As a result some young PWS have contacted Samagra; They have been given the booklet and counselling.
Samagra Speech support group is being run at Herbertpur.
A Hindi version of the above mentioned Twelve Questions on Stammering : A brief primer has been completed and sent for publishing. This would help PWS, their families, colleagues and general public to access correct and current information on Stammering. The work is being facilitated by Sachin, a recovering stammerer. He is a Community Health consultant and works with voluntary agencies on various health issues: Gender, Womens health, Documentation, Project management etc.

The next phase of our work will be to conduct such awareness sessions for teachers in the local schools; contact students with speech issues and conduct group counselling for them. We need volunteers with some experience of working with children and adolescents with speech issues, for this next phase of expansion. Samagra in India has a team of two full time workers and three volunteers. It has an office with residential facilities. This team has been hosting a four week Appreciative Inquiry course for students (SIHI) of MacMaster University for last many years, in this part of Indian Himalayas. Please see the blog at: http://tohimalaya.blogspot.com/

Back to the top of page

Summary

Welcome to the Journey of Discovery in the Indian Himalayas

Name of organization:

Samagra

Location:

Dehradun and Vikasnagar area of province of Uttaranchal, Indian Himalayas and Hamilton, Ontario in Canada

Duration of the Program:

2-4 weeks and 5-8 weeks for the groups (add one week for optional trek). For individuals there is no time limit.

Number of participants:

Group of 5 to 10 and Individual visitors.

Dates: (add one week for optional trek):

All year round except the months of May and June

Description:

Participants take a journey of discovery in the Himalayan foothills that is both inner as well as outer. Using a process of appreciative inquiry, participants will learn about the lives of people in the villages of the Indian Himalayas. This process involves village visits in areas where local NGO (non-governmental organization) are working. Conversations with people in informal settings lead to a deeper understanding of a very different way of life. In previous trips, participants have studied topics as diverse as the health system (both traditional and modern), women’s issues, adolescent health, rural governance, and education. Visits to health facilities and schools add to the visitors and student’s experience of their chosen topic of study. While interacting with village people, participants will provide voluntary labour to assist the villagers in a variety of day-to-day tasks. These may include clearing of fields, repairing paths and walls, painting school buildings, etc.

The SAMAGRA experience begins with a 4 days day workshop that challenges participants to go beyond their comfort zone and embark on a true journey of discovery. In such a journey, we explore both the inner as well as the outer world. When we travel through a relatively unknown culture, our old conditioning is challenged. New ways of thinking and living make us rethink our life and its hidden possibilities. India has always provided a fertile ground for exploration of the self, as it is at heart a land of the spirit. The field area is close to sacred pilgrimage sites, which offer unparalleled opportunities for cultural and spiritual exploration. Studying the essence of Indian thought through dialogue, yoga practice and meditation are also options that many participants find richly rewarding. The process of maintaining self-awareness, and examining one’s own responses to Indian culture is in itself a deep learning experience. Participants are encouraged to write reflections about their experience, and post them on the Samagra blog.

Highlights:

These include a workshop exploring the concepts of integral awareness, action, living and authentic self, that includes dialogue and self awareness exercises including gentle yoga and meditation. Also, extended village visits, doing voluntary work, interacting with local people, visits to places of cultural and spiritual significance. An optional eco-trek at the end of the core module is another highlight for many participants.

Tentative schedule:

Day 1 to 10:

Arrival, visiting the places of cultural and spiritual interest and workshop about Integral (Inner and Outer) development

Day 11 to 28:

Visiting and learning about Himalayan villages, people, their unique culture and doing participatory and appreciative inquiry work

Day 29 and 30:

Sharing, reflection, feed back and conclusion

Leaders:

In India

Dr Satyendra Srivastava:

Medical doctor, consultant to non-governmental organizations, Meditator and an experienced mountaineer.

Dr Srivastava has lived and worked in Uttaranchal for many years, and has extensive experience in the fields of rural health and education. He has a keen interest in development in its broadest sense, and an intuitive understanding of the land and people. His skills in mountaineering and trekking are a valuable resource to the group. He practices yoga and meditation and shares this with participants as well.

Suchitra Agarwal: Teacher

Suchitra Agarwal did her Masters in Home Sciences and taught in a college for 10 years. She was always touched by the plight of the underprivileged women and wanted to do something for them through income generation activities. In her view financial independence is an important key factor to improve the condition of women. For three years she worked with rural women by teaching them making handmade greeting cards. She is deeply interested in integral spirituality and would like to explore with herself and others. Suchitra with her husband and two sons lives in Uttaranchal.

In Canada

Dr Pradeep Kumar: Medical doctor, acupuncturist and consultant.

After completing his training in medicine (pediatrics) in India, Pradeep joined a Hindu monastery in the foothills of Himalayas where he experienced his first awakening. During 13 years of voluntary work in the village of foothills along with his wife Karen, his search deepened and put him firmly on mystical-spiritual path which continues to this day but in a radically different way which he calls as Biological Transformation.

He also studied at mind-body medical institute at Harvard University.

Currently he is practicing and teaching acupuncture, meditation and mind-body medicine both in McMaster University and in the city of Hamilton and surrounding areas.

He is the author of many books including Meditation – a path of healing and transformation, Stillness and action and Freedom from Fear.

Dr Karen Trollope-Kumar: Medical doctor, Anthropologist

Karen is a family physician who also holds a PhD in medical anthropology. She worked in northern Ontario and in the Himalayan foothills of north India, before returning to Hamilton in 1996. She teaches part-time at McMaster University as well as continuing her family practice. She has particular interest in cognitive approaches to stress-related illness, and to the use of creative writing as a tool for healing.

Qualifications:

The most important qualification is that participants need to be open-minded, flexible, and willing to adapt to very different circumstances. Life in rural India poses many physical and mental challenges. A positive attitude and an eagerness to cross cultural barriers is the most important asset needed. Good health is an asset. But if a participant has a particular disability, please contact us and we will see if we can accommodate you.

Travel Types:

Eco Tours
Cultural studies
Spiritual and self–exploration
Health and education studies
Voluntary work
Trekking

Languages:

English, Hindi. Translators available (in limited number; for the group as a whole)

Cost in US$:

Inquire for more information

Cost includes all expenses except for round trip air fare to New Delhi India. The optional eco-trek is not included in the trip cost.

Experience required:

Typical participant:

An individual with a sense of adventure and eagerness to explore his/her inner being and another culture.

Age range:

18 to 70

This program is open to families, couples and individuals.

Typical living arrangements:

Group living in simple accommodations.

Application process involves:

For groups

written application with statement of interest.
signed waiver of liability form

For Individuals: Process is more informal

Samagra's Mission Statement:

Samagra is a non-profit trust that promotes Integral (physical, emotional, intellectual, Spiritual) awareness, living and development.

For more details:

Website:

www.samagrapath.com
http://tohimalaya.blogspot.com
http://samagraindia.blogspot.com

India:

Person In-charge: Dr Satyandra (Sachin) Srivastava

Address:

Samagra Trust Ashram
Near Summerfield School
Herbertpur, Dehradun
Uttaranchal, India - 248121

Email:

satksri@rediffmail.com
satksri@gmail.com

Phone:

(+91)-1360-250600
(+91)-9412058272

Canada:

Person In-charge: Dr Pradeep Kumar