FSL India Blog

Looking back to your expectations and goals, would you like to comment on your overall experience here?

Don’t regret at all that I took the time to do this project. I learned a lot hear about India and also about myself. I also had a lot of fun staying here. Although there are people who want to cheat you there are at least as many who are very open interested and willing to help you.

Johan Albert Saelens, Germany

We have had some tough times where all we wanted to do was quit, but we have grown into loving these people and accepting our differences.

Ida Marie Sekse & Louise Koster, Denmark

I came without any expectation because I had no idea what to expect and I didn’t want to be disappointed. Thus I cannot really compare… Anyway, my time here was a great experience and I wish everybody could do such an experience.

Colin Frezouls, France

I’m very happy about my stay at FPAI. I’m happy that I have had an opportunity to learn so much from NGO work on the issues that I’m interested in also professionally. I have been interested in international health concerns and challenges since my medical studies and my stay at FPAI has strengthened my prior interest in working in the special field of International Health.

Mari Kahari, Finland

Very positive! I didn’t have any clear goal, but the experience was very good and reached more than I expected.

Sara Tafuro, Italy

Yes, I had a really good time both the project and the house were very nice.

Zenobia Lagerweij, The Netherlands

“Life is like a roller coaster ride and if you don’t hold on to your values, principles and morals in life, the roller coaster will take the better of you”.

Hi, I would take time to have a brief introduction about myself. My Name is Sonia Wright. I am born and brought up in Bangalore. I have completed my Bachelors in Psychology & intend to pursue diplomas in Child Care. My Passion is to work with Children as a final goal to life.

I started working to support my education and my family from the age of 18, working for Multinational Companies like Northern Trust, Caterpillar India and HSBC, and my overall experience must be 2 years, as I have been studying which was also my main focus in life. Since I last worked in HSBC, having quit my job had not really a clue as to what I was going to do next. My close friend calls in on my last day of work and offers me the opportunity to go to France. I was dumbstruck for a moment! I thought it was just a dream or an illusion. France in specific Paris was a dream of destination and honeymoon spot but not for work for sure.

Having got in touch with FSL India, numerous visits and correspondences with them has helped me get to where I am today. Thanks to FSL India team for the work they do and also for helping me get across. From the time I quit my job to the time I landed and settled in France was a stressful period. Ups & Downs were faced in a lot of aspects, but without going through all of that I would not be where I am today in a happy realm.

To start off with, I left India on the 19^th October and landed in Paris on the 19^th Night 2011. My first trip on an international flight was mind blowing. I enjoyed everything about my journey. Having arrived in Paris, had the Management of Concordia Pick me up and settle in an Apartment for a few days as I was not really going to stay in Paris for the project. The few days in Paris were really hard. I felt low as I left my family behind, left everything behind and had taken this opportunity. It was really hard for me. On top of this ode, I had fallen sick due to the temperature shock which added to the misery of my stay in Paris. But on the whole, I had to pick myself up and move on knowing the hand of God was on me, also knowing that God has paved the way for me even before I landed up in Paris.

Honestly, I never expected life to be a bed of roses for me after I got onto that plane to France. I knew the challenges I would face and it would be a bit hard for me who for the first time has left my family who are aged! Knowing all these facts and understanding every little bit of it facing up to them with a bold mind and heart is what got me going. To make his short, I landed in Bordeaux which is where my project was being conducted. Having arrived in Bordeaux made me feel I will not move again. Cause the pain of moving from one location to another all alone is the tuff challenge.

I was glad to be welcomed into the home of Concordia-Regional Office. It was a bit more pleasing to have seen people around and knowing that I am going to live with those people is important. Believing that I am not alone is also even more important - God is there with me.

My first week was a week of feeling the place, getting used to the people around me, talking to them, understanding their ways. Apart from that I was doing my administrative work with Concordia. Second week went onto with meetings, having little projects assigned. Third Week continued the same way and we are in the fourth week of exploring different ways of tasks and working with the team at Concordia.

With all that I have spoken, I would just like to tell you all that “Life is like a roller coaster ride and if you don’t hold on to your values, principles and morals in life, the roller coaster will take the better of you”. Always important to stick to whom you are and what you are! Take up everything as a challenge, an open-mind and see yourself soaring to new heights.

Sonia Write

FSL India Volunteers

Our FSL India volunteers know from their own experiences, where things can be improved at the Little Flower School and so they did some great donations for the School, as well as for the hostel. Until three months ago, photocopies needed for the school had to be brought from outside. If it were some documents for the office or especially during the time of the exams, one student always had to go by bicycle to the next village, 8 km far away to get the Xerox print. Of course this took always a lot of time for the student who had to go and it was also complicated during office hours.

The two Volunteers of FSL India, Franz König from Austria and Moritz Wittkamp from Germany, did a lot of work for the school in the office and so they soon got aware of this deficiency. After some time, they decided that the current situation is not good, either for the school or for the students. They informed themselves about the possibilities and finally they donated a new office Photocopying (Xerox) machine. This purchase makes the whole work in the office much easier than it was before and especially the students who had to go by bicycle, is happy that he doesn’t have to spend his time on the road anymore. He can save the time now for his studies.

Another aspect that stung into the eyes of the two Volunteers was the difficulty of a proper hygiene among the children. Especially the youngest ones of our Little Flower Family used to face a huge challenge when they have to clean their clothes and bed sheets properly. These are duties which are usually taken care by the family, but here the children have to learn very fast, to care for their own hygiene and to be independent in those issues. Although they got great support from their elder ‘brothers’ and ’sisters’, it is not possible to avoid all diseases.

To improve this situation and to enable a more hygienic living among the children, we decided, that only a washing machine can bring the necessary hygiene. From now on, the Little Flower Family has a new washing machine with a drier included. Nine kilo gram of dirty clothes can be washed and dried now by every cycle. Now not only just their white uniforms shines bright like new ones, also skin diseases can be faced now by washing the bed sheets, uniforms and other clothes of our small ones.

For the last donation, the help of many of our previous volunteers came together. Heading towards Christmas, the head of the project Mrs. Jakin Bin and the volunteers were thinking about how to enable a nice Christmas celebration for our children. Some of the previous volunteers, who have spent a part of their lives together with the children, were remembering their nice and joyful time in Ranganpalke. Knowing about the situation of the children, they did not forget them and donated some money for Christmas presents for the kids. Incited by this great news, we the current volunteers wrote a mail to all the previous volunteers who have spent some time at Little Flower School, to make Christmas a memorable one.

At the end there was a great feedback from many volunteers, as they are Tania and Marina (Spain), Anni (Finland), Jade (France), Julian (Germany), Franz (Austria). All together they donated a good amount of money which enabled us to buy many different sport items, which were handed over to the hostel children on their Christmas function. Seeing those volleyballs, football, badminton items, cricket bats and many more it brought shine and smile on their face. Beside all these sports articles the children of the Little Flower Family got a lot of utensils, books, games and quiz during the advents season. We brought a German custom into the Indian spirit of Christmas. By opening every day in the advent a small parcel to the children were guided with joy towards Christmas. Starting with the first of December one child cut the small present from a string named “Advent Calendar”.

All the children were very happy for all this great support from their friends. The big variety of received delivery improved many aspects not just of their daily duties but also of their playing time. In the name of the whole Little-Flower-Family we say THANK YOU to all our beloved backers!

Franz König and Moritz Wittkamp
FSL India Volunteers at Little Flower School

Date: 4th Aug 2011 to 28th Aug 2011
Work Camp Code: FSL-SPL 145
Location: Dharamsala
Name: Jihae LEE

India has always been my dream country. A place that exotic, fantastic, and unlike the rest of the world. I wanted to see the prayer in river Ganga. I also wanted to feel the love of a great man toward his wife in Taj Mahal. Last but not least, I wanted to eat real curry with Nan.

However, when I arrived at the Indira Gandhi Airport, I began to worry about everything. The weather was very hot and humid. The airport, which should be the most clean and high-tech place, was not like that. I went to the hotel with no air-condition and no proper chair taxi. On the way to hotel, I was afraid because it was 11 p.m. There were many people on the street with nearly naked body. Hunting-dogs were searching for food, and the road condition was worst ever. Next day, I bought a bus ticket to the meeting point at double price, which took 12 hours from Delhi without toilet! I arrived at the meeting point at 4:30 a.m. Again I was afraid of the dark-unknown city. I stood there in the heavy rain for 2hours with my 2 luggage.

Seven hours after my arrival, I met my team leader and teammates. Now, my Work Camp begins. I loved my 19 teammates. Everybody was so outgoing and kind. At first two Dutch were not nice at all. Racism!! Well, 3 days later, I could see their changes. We began to talk about our countries and that helped us understand and fix our prejudices. Our team re-constructed the local school near our accommodation. We did mural painting, built the wall around school, and fix the fence. Working was very much a fun because we could talk a lot during the work and I could leave some mark in India by painting the walls. However, I hoped that, I would work more than I did. Because of the rain, we could not finish our work. That was my one of the reason, why I join this Work Camp.

I liked the country presentation during the daily meeting. I could learn a lot from their presentation and that helped me rethink about other culture. I was very much impressed to learn about each country’s real situation.

I had very close relationship with entire village community which was the greatest part. At first, I was afraid of Indians. I tried my best to ignore them. Later, I realized that I was wrong. People treat me the same way I treat them. After a week, they greeted all the time, helped me get a taxi and free laundry service.

It was a great time to look back myself. Through meditation, I learnt how to endure things and how to think carefully before deciding on anything. I also learned not to judge other people by their appearances. I thank so much to the Work Camp, FSL India and my school to provide such a valuable time. I could learn life lesson and appreciate the beauty of Indian culture including Taj Mahal.

-Jihae LEE

Hello everybody who reads this story all over the world. My name is Karel van den Berg. I am from the Netherlands. I am 38 years old and as Team Leader I have conducted three Work Camps for FSL India in 2005. Next week I will do one in Pondicherry. On my blog on this FSL India website you can read my experiences and find out what it means to be a volunteer for FSL India. In this first story I want to go back with you to 2005, my First Project with FSL India.

My first project with FSL India was in Goa, in Panaji, in January 2005. It lasted for 3 weeks. I was there with Leti from Mexico, Courtney from the USA, Pauolo from Italy, a very nice Korean and of course with Praveen the camp leader from FSL India. We stayed in a beautiful guesthouse with a very nice view on the beach. In the first week we were taught all kinds of information about HIV and AIDS by John of Positive People. In the second and third week we were teaching ourselves on several different schools close by. We were teaching the children of 16 to 17 years old to be careful with needles with drugs.

I taught the boys, and Leti and Courtney taught the girls. We also went to visit a house where there were living young children with HIV. We played with them, and they taught me how to play cricket. For a few hours they could forget their terrible disease. Now only 7 years later probably some of them are not living anymore… You can imagine that this had a great impact on us foreigners too. Then we also performed street theatre for about 100 truck drivers. We tried to learn them in a theatre play, in which I played a house wife. We also went to a small hospital with grown up people who had HIV. This was also a very impressing thing for us to see. But it was really a wonderful camp organised by FSL India. It gave a very good feeling to be able to help all these people and Praveen is still a big friend of mine.

My second project was in Gonnicopal. This lasted 2 weeks and I was there with two Americans, one Italian girl and a man from Korea. The camp leader was Joy a good friend of Praveen. We were staying in a small building next to a place where almost 30 children were living. In the morning we worked in a garden of older people. I think there were 15 men and women living and we cleaned the garden for them. We painted the fences and we build two benches for them to sit on. We even came in a real India newspaper with a small story about us and our work with FSL India. In the afternoon we used to go back to the accommodation and played with the children. They were so nice. We sang, played several sports and had a real drawing competition with choke on the floor. The leader of the school was Shanti. She was a very nice woman and also all the other women who were working there were very nice to us. And of course as in India, the food is very good. This camp again was a great experience. I remember also the nice trips we had in the weekends. We saw a real Indian wedding; I stood under a 30 meters high waterfall and sat on an elephant.

Then, after a little bit travelling around, I went to Karaikal where I worked in a Tsunami Camp of FSL India. The relief work started with a project in Karaikalmedu. In the first weeks a lot work was done. When I arrived in March 2005, the most important jobs were already done. There were new temporary houses for 50 families who had lost their house and of course there were a lot dead bodies to collect and bury. I forgot how many exactly, but for this small village this enormous wave of water was a huge problem and a disaster, you can imagine. It was really heart-breaking to see. But what I remember the most of this camp that everybody kept on laughing and was so friendly and nice to us. In this bigger camp there came and went every week different volunteers.

I was there for 7 weeks and I think I worked with 30 to 40 people. They all came from Italy, Germany, USA, Korea, France, The Netherlands etc. The leaders there were Prem, Praveen and Dr. Sanjay J. Deodhar. My work in this camp was mainly cleaning the dirty village and painting the temporary houses white. Because of the temperature (35 Celsius) these houses were very hot to live in. Painting them made a little bit more comfortable. We also painted the small school with nice colourful drawings. I also played with the children in a small building where they came together after school. The day after tomorrow this visit, I want to try to go back to Karaikal and to visit the village again. Of course I will write on this blog what I will find there after 7 years. Did they start with building the new stone houses? What about the plastics and other trash? FSL India left Karaikalmedu in the end of 2005. Now I am very curious what I will find there.

My first story until now, I will try to give you more interesting information about my new project in Pondicherry, from 16 till 29 January. You can read it here. For now thank you for reading my story and I wish you all the best. Thanks to you all wonderful people that I have met here. Everybody is so nice to me and I really love this place. It’s great to be back to part of the camp organised by FSL India! If you are reading this and doubting about to which country you want to come. I can only tell you, come to India, and come to FSL India. It is such a beautiful and interesting big country with a very nice culture. It’s great to be here.

Karel van den Berg
FSL India Volunteer from Netherlands

After more than four months in FSL India, I got a lot of working experiences as a volunteer in my project, the Little Flower School. The institution is an orphanage with a school as well. This combination is a great advantage for all the children living in the campus. Children can use the whole ground also in their free time and have a short way to the classrooms. What gives the whole situation a special character is the community itself and the feeling of belongingness and togetherness. Respectful treatment and the support of each member of this unique community is the outcome of this great combination with its marvelous spirit!

Before entering the project, I expected to meet a certain routine after such a long time being in the daily work. But in this case I really deceived myself. Although my work schedule is quite fixed, there is every day something new and special. By completing the school bus conducting, my duty as an art teacher, the tuition and playing time coordination, I don’t feel like simply running down a time table. All the small happenings create an exciting day. Starting with the smallest boy of our campus, named Stefan, who plays without knowing the clumsy fellow up to the big events like the well celebrated Children’s Day, there is always something special. The outcome is a daily interesting and joyful life in the Little Flower Family, which I esteem continuously.

Since the last weeks I feel more and more integrated into this great “Little Flower Family”. The relationships to all the members, especially to the children, are getting more intensive day by day, where I could see small-talk yesterday, I have interesting and deep conversations today. But we are not only sharing our words, we too share our jokes in a lot of funny situations. Mixing up my small knowledge of the local language Kannada with my English, we create an amazing “global humor”. With the wide range of creative activities like drawing, clay modeling or small handicrafts, children share their happiness and enthusiasm with me. That way I receive a lot of motivation and positive energy for my upcoming challenges and every new day.

Due to this, the relationship to our “project parents” Jakin Mam and her husband Binu Sir increased a lot and became more familiar. They are very thankful about the support of me and my volunteer mates, first the Austrian Franz and now Andreas. This gratefulness motivates us and guides us through the day. According to the good corporation we get to know a lot about the project backgrounds like the single faith of every child.

Knowing the children it is hard to hear their stories. All of them had to grow up in extremely poor backgrounds. They had to beg on the streets and couldn’t receive any education. It might sound like one of the daily news, but being integrated in the project that well, it is a very emotional affair for me. I’m happy about this wonderful opportunity offered to the children by this great institution. The whole project is completely financed by a continuous donation system. Only that way the monthly bills can be paid. The Indian government has not given any money to this institution. I request you to share your heart with this great Little Flower Children. Every small amount can be a big support for them.
Moritz Wittkamp

FSL India Volunteer from Germany

From day one it has been an amazing ride. Unfortunately, it is soon to be over: only 20 days left.

We came in October as FSL India Volunteers after we both finished college in Denmark. Stine is 19-years-old and I, Catharina, is 18-years-old. It was our first trip to Asia so we had no idea what to expect. Therefore, we had packed our backpack with positivity and open-minds.

Since then we have experienced more than we ever imagined. The past two months we have been working at a small orphanage run by a NGO called “Karunya” in Hospet. There are 23 children within the age group of 5 to 12 - Six girls and seventeen boys. We care for them in the morning before school and in the afternoon when they are back from school. We contribute to the daily household: washing the children’s clothes and cooking with the two women who work at the orphanage. Furthermore, we help the children with their English homework. Despite the daily routines we have time to play and interact with the children. We try to focus on each and every child as an individual. They are often seen as one unit and referred as the HIV children even though only seven of them suffer from the decease. But don’t worry they are being treated, and we hardly notice them being sick.

Spending so much time at the orphanage made us realize what was needed. Due to lack of space (only 30 square meters) the children sleep side by side on the floor with old blankets. Therefore, we started our own pillow project. With help from our host family and neighbors we produced 23 small pillows with white covers -one for each child. The exciting part of the project was, when the children spend a whole day decorating their own personal pillow. The project was simple and easy but sometimes even simplicity brings happiness.

We have learned about both positive and negative parts of the Indian culture. As strangers we have been invited into people’s homes and into their lives. Something we wouldn’t have experienced as backpackers. Not only have we gained knowledge about the culture and society but also the people; at the end, we’re not that different. They have included us in the daily life of the orphanage, and we have come very close to the children. The worst thing about leaving India is we have to say goodbye to our new 23 best friends.

Hello people of FSL India!!!

My name is Eduard, from The Netherlands. I’ve been in FSL India 5 years ago, working at Chaithanya Special School in Kundapura. I’ve lived in Kundapura for 6 months with a host family; the host family is not taking volunteers anymore, so you wouldn’t know them. This is the third time in India. After the first time in India, working for FSL India, I was just a little boy, just turned 18 that time. I fell in love with India and especially with Kundapura! I had such a great time being there, I met so many nice people. Sometimes I didn’t go to my project just to wander through the streets of Kundapura, meeting people drinking chai (tea) with them. Even if they didn’t speak English at all, just try to speak Kannada and they loved it straight away. Having conversations with the locals, was the best thing of India. That’s why I always come back, I made good friends. I love these guys so much. If I speak of them at home I call them my Indian uncles. The people are so nice in India, but still I prefer South Indians way above North Indians. Maybe you find the same I don’t know, that’s up to you.

I also found out that FSL India has become very big now. When we came there it was just a small office in Kundapura, Karnataka on a compound next to a family house. I saw the second office later, which was even bigger and now there is a whole BIG house on Post Office road, full of FSL India. The strange thing this time I met a girl in Amritsar, Punjab and she was going to work for FSL India as well but then in McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh. I understand FSL India has become very big in India, which is great for them.

I had such a nice time, made friends for life and joked around with the locals. I hope you all find the same kind of thing in India working for FSL. Be open, have fun and speak the local language. Enjoy India and you will just like me fall in love. I hope you have a nice time and maybe we meet in India, because in this strange country everything is possible. But sometimes it takes a little bit longer than normal.

With love and kind regards

King Eduard, from Netherlands

Do not hesitate to go to India! One of my Indian friends said: “This country teaches you two things: Tolerance and patience.” I can only agree and I think everyone should learn more about these two things.Wherever you are, it will help you.

Coming to India as volunteer of FSL India, even only for three months, was one of the best things I have done so far in my life. I have had numerous adventures and gained a lot of new friends – and siblings because the children at my project call me “Akka”, the local word for “sister”.

My project was more than my project. ACCEPT society the local partner organisation of FSL India, a hospital with an orphanage for HIV positive children, was my home and the children were my new family. Christianity plays a big role at ACCEPT and it was very interesting to get to know other points of view. The first weeks, I had to adjust a little bit. No matter how much you consider yourself as flexible and tolerant, you will need some time to decide how far you can and want to adjust. Living at the project was not always easy: little privacy and little freedom to go out and problems to keep work and free time separate. Nevertheless, I had the opportunity to be with the children in the morning and in the evening – the best time of the day, in my opinion. We were laughing, singing, dancing, talking, reading, drawing… I felt like the reward for a hard working day because this is definitely not that kind of project where volunteers are often sitting around.

Working at ACCEPT was hard work, but the hard work that paid off. A committed volunteer will be thankful to find work here, where he/she can make a small change. Our main priority was the children. Their fast development and capability to catch up things very quickly allowed us to see these small changes. We stared a teaching module, taking small individuals English classes with every single child, documenting their progress, weaknesses and strengths. These classes were some of the richest experiences because it was a special chance to get to know the children. Not only the children but also the staff was nice and friendly people. It took us some more time to become closer but finally, saying “Goodbye” to certain people did not work without any tears.

There are so many more things I could talk about, like the nice ground of my project which looks like a small paradise and the nice food. All in all, I just want to say that if you really want to help and work hard and get close relationships to wonderful people, ACCEPT society is the right place to be. It motivates me to do my best to come back as soon as possible.

My name is Valentina Macchione Vlacovich from Italy. I served as a volunteer in the Home Based Project of FSL India at Kundapur. I was assigned to work in the Tent School Project at Navayuga near Brahmavara, Udupi District. I this Tent School I worked during June and July 2011. I enjoyed working with children at the Tent School and children also liked me very much as I used to be very friendly with them and take care of them by engaging in varieties of teaching and learning activities. While working in Tent School I introduced compulsory shower program for children so as to ensure their health hygiene. It was wonderful working with the children. They are so active and agile that I never used to feel tired of working with them.

Having completed my volunteering work in July I returned to my country. But I felt nostalgic and every bit of moment that I spent with children and community people constantly whispered me to take one more chance to visit Kundapur and the Tent School where I had the opportunity to work with the children. Now I am back again in India to see my Tent School Project and the children who taught me that I have so much of responsibility to be part of such noble mission. Today I am so happy to come back and see the project and the children. Children of the Tent School too are extremely happy to see me.