FSL India Blog

Place: Kundapur.       Theme: Sea Turtle Conservation/Environment

Number of Volunteers: 2(Denmark and Switzerland)

The volunteers had very interesting activities: building turtle information centre on the beach cleaned the beach at Kodi and Mavavante, making educational paintings in Hosadu School, and having puppet shows for children.

Most of the activities were about sea turtle awareness. They were working with local people, youth and children.  The local people helped us to build informational center and it was a great experience for them and for the volunteers too.

They visited fish market, hatching center and harbour. They made a boat trip and beach walk.

Place: Kerala.  Theme: Yoga/Ayurveda/Kids

Number of Volunteer: 19(Italy, Canada, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, France, USA and Germany)

The volunteers did yoga and Ayurveda both practical and theory. They also worked with children in the school. They painted 3 classroom walls and they also painted educational drawings. The volunteers cleaned the garden and painted the fence of the school.

They visited the local houses and interacted with them for cultural learning.

Place: Coorg.  Theme: Tribal/Kids

Number of volunteers: 3 (Italy and S. Korea)

The volunteers painted the walls with educational pictures- ecological and hygiene awareness. The volunteers interacted with tribal children and had activities like singing songs and played games of different countries. They visited the tribal village and interacted with them. Volunteers made presentations about their culture to the children and among themselves.

Place: Dharamsala.    Theme: Tibetan Culture / Kids / Environment

Number of Volunteers: 22 (France, UK, Spain , Belgium, Canada, Mexico and Netherlands)

The volunteers did educational, cultural and construction activities. They rebuilt a wall, did educational paintings and learn about Tibetan culture. They also interacted with the children.The cultural program included a visit to the Dalai Lama temple, Bagru temple and waterfall.

The third week of the work camp they went for trekking.

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Place: Yercaud.  Theme: Tribal/kids/Environment

Number of volunteers: 5(France, Japan and UK)

In this work camp the volunteers painted the blackboards, book shelves and walls of the school. They also worked in the garden. They did some activities with the children like singing songs and playing games of different countries. Volunteers made presentations about their culture to the children. On international cooking day, they cooked dishes of their country and shared them with each other. They also learnt about Indian culture by visiting temples, a waterfall and a coffee estate. The volunteers said that the work camp was really interesting and helpful for the school where they worked.

Place: Hampi.     Theme: Social /Heritage

Number of Volunteers: 8 (Germany, Turkey, S .Korea, Hong Kong and France)

The volunteers’ main activity was protection of the cultural heritage site. The volunteers cleaned the surrounding of the temples by picking up stones etc. They also created awareness about cleanliness among the locals. They did some activities with the children like singing songs and playing games of different countries. The volunteers taught basic English, Maths and hygiene to the children, and also art and crafts like drawing and origami.

The volunteers visited temples and ruins to learn about Indian history. They also visited local people’s houses.

Place: Kundapur. Theme: Social/Kids

Number of volunteers: 4(Italy and Canada)

The volunteers painted the walls of a school. They sang songs and played games with the children. They went for a trip around Kundapur and attended a Hindu wedding, visited temples and visited local people’s houses and had dinner with them.Volunteers made presentations about their culture to the children and among themselves. On international cooking day, they cooked dishes of their country and shared them with each other.

Place: Dharamsala.     Theme: Tibetan Culture / Kids /

Environment

Number of Volunteers: 19(France, Spain, Germany, Austria, S. Korea, Argentina, Japan,Belgium, Italy and Netherlands)

The work camp included working in school with children and learning Tibetan culture.In school, the volunteers cleaned the class rooms, made an educational painting about hygiene awareness and ecological education for children. They also taught English. They did some activities with the children like singing songs and playing games of different countries.They also had cultural activities: visiting Dala Lama temple, Bhagsu temple and TCV (Tibetan Children’s Village)

The third week of the work camp the volunteers went for trekking.

Four volunteers from South Korea, France and Germany curiously arrived in India to help protecting the sea turtles. Hong, Cho, Sebastien and Manuela (me). Then the biggest question was, how to do this?

Together, we did many activities to build awareness in the local fisherman community and their families: performing a puppet show explaining the potential dangers for sea turtles and how to avoid them, painting the school and kindergartens to do something for the community, but also draw some huge turtle pictures reminding them of our visit, and – singing our song ‘under the sea’. Moreover, we went to the harbor and local fish-market to explain the fishermen our sea turtle topic with flyers in the local language Kannada.

The awareness concept, thus, was overarching to reach people from school kids to adults here in the Kundapur area.

Nevertheless, the volunteers also had a lot of fun, by the way: by visiting several festivals and marriages, got to know the area and the local food specialties, spending a great time at the beach swimming and relaxing, going on a boat trip in the river nearby, visiting sights like the Shiva and the Hanuman temple and especially, traveling to Goa for the weekend all together.

Generally speaking, our team really enjoyed the two awesome weeks in Kundapur and we just hope, we could somehow help the turtle population to grow sustainability and safely.

- Manuela

FSL India’s Mysore bilateral work camp came in television news…

Successful completion of 5th Korean happy move camp – appreciation letter by Mr. MOHAN Panchayat President and Mr. SEKAR 3^rd ward member of Kattarampakkam Panchayat, Sriperumpudur block - CHENNAI

Kattarampakkam Panchayat President Mr. MOHAN and Sugamtharumpedu 3^rd ward member Mr. SEKAR, invited FSL India and gave us their letters of thanks and appreciation for 5^th Korean happy move camps development activities’ successful completion; and willingness letter to provide 50% of community contribution and sufficient land to construct community hall at Sugamtharumpedu. Both letters have been given to FSL Staff Mr. B.ARUN., and gave their interview of 5^th happy move camp and each development activities and its successful completion, of activity in their villages respectively Kattarampakkam, Sugamtharumpedu, Pudhuperu, which was done by Korean volunteers through HYUNDAI/IWO and FSL India.

A case study from Chennai facility about - My proud on - Rural Flush-out Leach Pit - Super Structure Toilet;

My name is N. Panchatchram-76, I have 6 sons, all are got married, out of them 4 are living with me as joined family.  My occupation was Blacksmith and no more I am working because of my old age.  My generation are not involved the business which I had that Blacksmith, because this area fully covered by companies(SIPCOT) with advanced technologies. So my children also changed their occupation like Carpenter and housekeeping work at the adjoined places and its availability.

Since born, I never seen toilet any more in this village and not utilized yet, few rich peoples having toilet, those who have constructed concrete building.  I have been using open defecation, where the screed thorn bushes availed in the village.  My family  members also followed  as I am, even we have 16 members, out of total members 7 school going children, in this 3 Male and 4 females(two are adolescent  girls);  we lived in this situation because of poverty, illiterate and unaware above health & Hygiene.

I have been seeing Korean volunteer services at last two years in my village and I heard that it from my grand children also, because they are studying in Irunkattukottai Panchayat Union Primary school., in this connection my family situation and poverty, the school teacher, FSL India staff and PRI leader suggested me to get this toilet facility by the construction of Korean volunteers while the 5th Happy move camp.

During the construction, myself and my children are contributed our physical work to digging the pits before the raising wall.  The volunteers also very much involved and furnished the toilet well for our utilization. The Toilet called – Rural Flush out Supper structure cum leach Pit…………..

They are constructed not only the toilet, which is included bath shed plat form, soak pit and provided one baring tree.

After the construction, small orientation was given about usage and maintenance of the toilet in proper manner, which was given by FSL Chennai staff.

In my 76 years old, I felt the imports of the toilet to elders like me, women and children, now everybody using this toilets, from which we can feel our comfort without social problems and children are construction their education better.

Hence I have given my appreciation and acknowledgement to FSL Indian for their stakeholders and volunteers fantastic work. One more thanks to everyone those who have taking part this toilet construction.

Case study from Chennai facility about Environment project;

I am Monisha, age 9 years, studying 5th standard in Irunkattukottai Panchayat Union Primary school, where we have very fan of Korean volunteers of each six month., we will awaiting the season they come., because we have opportunity to learn more about development activities and creative learning.

Each time different people they are coming for different activities our usefulness.  This time they gave 5 trees in the school compound again and 50 bearing/fruit trees for school children. Where we have split into group by the school teach and keep the entire shadow tree well. Korean volunteers are also taught about environment keeping, for that tree is taking more part to keep our circumstances and environment friendly with many reasons such as rain, get shadow, avoid the sand erosion….

I am the leader to lead the team which comprised with 5 members at school to maintain the entire trees without fail.  Daily we will come and divided the work that pouring water and removing weed outside and inside the guard, we will watch the tree how much level its grown in each days, that we will discuss in the class room and class teacher also. We are very much proved about these will tell our name to somebody will come to study the in future and I want to be a good environmentalist, which impacts will bring the other children to contribute the knowledge and physical skill to keep environment well through the  tree plantation.

A case study from Chennai facility;

My name is D. Revathi, 8 years old I am studying 3^rd class in Sugamtharumpedu Panchayat Union Primary School., I have very good knowledge about Korean volunteers for the past two years, they are very fun and rhythmic kind approach to everyone in my school. They have did more work in my school in each six month from different volunteers such as painting, tree plantation, park construction, providing library, sanitary renovation, creative learning, etc..

From this camp (5^th happy move camp) I like very much about drawing they did, what we expected after they reached here, its look very attractive, which includes cartoon picture with songs which is written in English. Whenever we go to school, myself and my friends recollect these songs contentiously, sometimes we have such a competition also, who does this songs fast without seeing…… just fun!! Before the class starts and after the end..

All the songs we can read well, as well as we will teach younger children too in our school, for that behalf of my school children we are very much thanks to FSL-IWO-HYUNDAI, who did the Cartoon picture with beautiful songs around the wall.

Dear Friends see my links/attachment., where I am singing the song which was written by Korean volunteers

A kitchen garden made through Happy Move camp in Irunkattukottai, a village in Chennai. Here is a case study of the impact of the work camp - Case study - Irunkattukottai