WINNING

Do you remember the countless hours of college searching? It seemed as if every weekend was spent visiting schools and there was no end in sight. Just as you are feeling utterly hopeless, you visit one more school and the instant you step onto the campus you know that this is the place for you. Well, I finally had that moment at our last organization visit.

One of the many huts in the village

Yesterday we visited an organization called Woman In Need or WIN. The organization is located about an hour train ride away from MCC and is smack dab in the middle of a tiny village. WIN works with begging children and woman affected by violence and discrimination. They offer education to poor children, assistance to kids who want to attain higher education, empowerment programs, addiction programs, woman rights training, environment protection activities, and just about anything else you can think of.

The main building of the organization

The school that the local village children go to.

A small lake behind the village

To sum it up, this organization is phenomenal! If I choose to do my placement there (which I believe that I am) I can choose to teach English to the school children, conduct a self help group for woman, visit the woman in the villages to discuss issues of caste and woman rights, do a health training program, an addiction program, gender equality training, or a leadership course for woman. Also, I could do all of those things if I please. So, sign me up and lets get going!! The only problem is that this place is extremely difficult to find and far away. After an hour long train ride I will have to take an auto rickshaw and be able to navigate my way through this rural area. Gulp, I am a little overwhelmed with this thought. I am meeting with the social work department today to discuss field placement options and see if we can work out the logistics of this. If we get everything done quick enough I may be able to start my placement this Thursday! Wow, I'm starting to get a little nervous just thinking about it. I guess I am worried over the fact that there is only one other person at this organization that speaks English, (the program director). I don't know how often she will be around so I don't know how I am going to communicate with these woman and children. However, in a couple of weeks I will be joined with two first year students who will be able to translate for me.

Oh hey, me and some goats.

 
xoxo,
Becca