Hello, Wilson.
In a recent blog, I mentioned that three One World Futbols were enroute to India. Well, they've arrived, transported by my Portland, OR, friend, Melanie Wood. You may remember Melanie from our trip to Quito last Spring, when she went there as a medical volunteer with other volunteers who took time off from the Mayo Clinic to perform orthopedic surgery on children with deformities. While we were there, we also took time to distribute 10 of your cousins, with some of them going to an off-the-beaten-path community of Valle Chota, where descendants of African slaves make up the bulk of the population. Here's a photo of Melanie getting acquainted with a group of children who found this very light-skinned Norte Americana quite a novelty.
 |
At Valley Chota in Ecuador, where Melanie and I delivered
One World Futbols, the youngest children found this very pale,
yellow-haired lady to be a fascination.
|
Anyway, Melanie is not only a retired Air Force Physician's Assistant with an itch to travel-- she's also a budding photographer in her retirement, so she was in a position to share photos of her sojourn to India. Here's her story, and photos:
Wilson's Cousins go to India
By Melanie Wood
NEW DELHI, INDIA--When I decided to go to India in November with a group of women travel writers/photographers, I wondered how we could do some good while there and leave a lasting impact (besides contributing to the retail economy).
I contacted the writing leader, Margot Bigg, who'd lived in India 5 years, with my thoughts of contributing to a worthy cause. After some research she suggested
Protsahan, a foundation for poor girls from one of Delhi's slum neighborhoods, which strived to teach school girls English and some creative arts with the goal of lifting themselves out of poverty.
The 14 writing conference attendees donated an average of $20 each and 3 of us went shopping for the supplies from a list the creative coordinator of the school, Jony Dash, gave us. I also had 3 of Wilson's cousins, One World Futbols, to leave with the girls. Dawn Bauman, a fellow attendee and I took a taxi ride (now
that was an experience) to the Delhi neighborhood where the school was located. You can read the fascinating story of how the school came to be and about its founder and executive director, Sonal Kapoor, (and make a donation) at
www.protsahan.co.in.
 |
Jony Dash, Protsahan coordinator
|
When Dawn and I arrived at the school, most of the girls were still at the government (public) school they attended until about 2 pm. We were warmly welcomed and offered water while we talked to Jony about the foundation. He's been with the school since 2014 and is the Center Coordinator. His background was not in education but when he was approached by Sonal to come on board to help lift these girls out of poverty--and perhaps a future in a brothel--he gladly accepted the challenge.
There are about 140 girls enrolled, ranging from 6 to 17 years old and they come to Protsahan after their school day to learn English, sewing, photography, handicrafts and other creative arts. They also play basketball and soccer. Jony said the hardest "sell" is to the fathers of the girls. The school is free, but the fathers are for the most part farmers or unskilled laborers and don't see the advantage of educating girls beyond domestic arts. After all, they are just going to married off (sometimes before they are teenagers) and be mothers, yes?
 |
Melanie with girls whose ambitions exceed marriage and children --
or working in a brothel. That "bindi" (red dot) on Melanie's forehead
was provided upon her arrival as an honored greeting.
|
Some of the girls usually go with their family to country villages in the summer, where the parents are from and often they don't return to the school. But Jony and the other team members and volunteers try their hardest to keep them engaged.
 |
These sewing machines, with which the girls produce craft items for sale,
are powered by pedal flywheels, not by electricity.
|
 |
Some of the items produced by the girls
for resale at local craft fairs and markets.
|
Dawn and I wrapped up our visit after 90 minutes or so to get to the airport. (It all happened so fast that I neglected to get photos of the girls with the One World Futbols!) But we left feeling hopeful for the girls and honored that we could play a small role in helping them create a better future.
Love,
Robert,
and Blue
