FSL India Blog

This is the 10^th year celebration for FSL India. Taking this opportunity, the special meeting has organized with the NGO consultant to review organizational aspects. Here is a snap from meeting at Kundapur office….

There were 4 final evaluation seminars were organized for 2009 -10 batch weltwearts participants. The seminars were facilitated at FSL staff house Kundapur. All together 25 volunteers from AFS, IJGD and YAP-CFD organisations got together for final meet.

A short ltv get together was organised on 13^th and 14^th of August 2010 at Turtle bay beach resort. There were 5 participants including volunteers and FSL staff.

Deepak Chander – Joined FSL-India on 1^st of August 2010 as Assistant Director - Programs

I am basically a fun loving and charismatic person with a vision to grow and reach out to youth and underprivileged people. I interact a lot with youths with an intention to motivate and bring them up with right values of our Indian culture. I love to make friends from different sectors of life with an attitude to learn and to explore the new opportunities. I have been involved in social work from past 7 years and have a strong 5 years of experience in NGOs. Previously I worked with SAIACS CEO Centre as Public relations officer. What fascinated me the most about FSL was to be involved in the Inter cultural aspect and the opportunities available to to tap into our skills and abilities.

Dedicated son and a Faithful husband:

I am the only son to my Mom Violet. Always crave to keep my mom happy as she been an ultimate inspiration to teach me to soar high even in the midst of traumas and sorrows.

I’ve been married to Shalini, three months ago, a psychologist by profession at MPA. I happened to meet my wife three years ago and sensed a life time commitment with her. She is a true blessing and adds life to my ministry.

FSL – A place with an objective to promote Global understanding.

The very objective of Global understanding and Inter- cultural learning has drawn me to FSL India. I am glad to be a part of FSL-India as Assistant Director of Programs. It is a new environment for me and gives lots of scope to interact with youths of cross culture. I am yet to learn a lot and hope to give my best in the days to come. I will be based in the Bangalore office.

On Friday 13^th August, Chief Minster of Karnataka Mr. B.S. Yeddiyurappa officially inaugurated Sea Turtle conservation program by releasing a wounded sea turtle at Kodi Kanyana beach. During his visit, he inaugurated “Green cover project”, which includes sea turtle conservation program and different afforestation projects along the coast to prevent sea erosion.

Ministers, members of Western Ghat Task Force, officers of the forest department, politicians and locals were present during this event.

Green cover program is started by the western ghat task force- Government of Karnataka and Sea turtle conservation program was included along with many other Eco projects to preserve bio- diversity of the region.

This initiation is the result of the effort from forest department and the presentation/appeal given by FSL sea turtle team to the Government during workshop held by Forest department and Western Ghat task force at Mangalore in March 18^th 2010.

Getting Support by the Government for this project is huge achievement for MTCI (Maravanthe Turtle Conservation Initiative) to our future plans. FSL India would like to thank all the volunteers and locals who actively participated in this project during last 5 years.

Hello,

I am Mayur, new member of FSL India. I had joined FSL on 21^st July. I work in FSL  as LTV(Long term  volunteer) and as Computer Administrator. My native place is Karwar. I am 21 years old. I completed my 12th grade and i also did a course in “ Computer Hardware and Networking”. My hobbies are traveling and reading story books.



Sangeetha Bharathi Trust, Kundapur and FSL India jointly organised Indian classical music program in Kundapur. It was two days program held on 01^st August and 8^th August. Very respectable and well-known classical musicians are invited to perform, vocal and instrumental musics like Sitar, Tabla and Harmonium in this special event.

Once again Kundapur town was enriched with people from nine different nationalities. In this month 38 volunteers arrived from Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, UK, Austria and Finland. It was one of big group of volunteers came down to Kundapur at a time. Along with the regular orientation sessions, we organised many different activities to interact with the local people. The country presentation was organised in a hostel for deprived back ground students, where the children shown great interest in knowing about the different countries.

Besides social development, the other objective of the Happy Move Camp is to facilitate Inter-cultural Learning between Korean youth and the local community. On the first day volunteers are given a traditional Indian welcome with bindi, jasmine flower garlands and they get to eat dinner on a banana leaf. The Korean volunteers have an opportunity to visit the houses and spend time with the local community and learn about their culture. To facilitate interaction between the volunteers and the villagers, certain renovation activities were planned with the involvement of the local community. Fruit bearing trees were planted in individual households with the help of volunteers and villagers. Individual toilets were built for those families which belong to backward communities. The toilets were built with the involvement of the families in the physical work.

Other inter cultural activities include a visit to temples in Kancheepuram; screening of a Bollywood movie; a visit to Chennai city; Indian traditional music and dance performance; Team building and intercultural activities between local university students and volunteers.

The Medical and Health and Hygiene Team for the 1^st Batch has about 50 Koran volunteers and 10 Korean doctors and medical specialists who will be responsible for conducting Medical camps in some of the selected schools, villages, Primary Healthcare Centers and Sub Centers of Sriperumbudur and Kanchipuram. A 50 member health and hygiene awareness team is responsible for promoting healthy community living habits and awareness on communicable diseases to the school children of the surrounding areas of the hospitals. Approximately 2500 to 3500 villagers benefit through the Medical Camps conducted.

Some of the topics covered in the Hygiene awareness sessions that are conducted in the schools through creative learning methods include: First Aid; Tuberculosis / Typhoid and Cholera awareness; the importance of brushing teeth / washing hands and drinking boiled water; smoking hazards; menstrual hygiene; Physical exercise; water borne diseases; environmental education.