Making
my best efforts to keep up my New Year resolution of not
procrastinating things this year, I persuaded myself to sit down and
begin my holiday homework. Just as I sat down, my phone buzzed as always
at the wrong time.
But what lay ahead of that conversation was simply
something I wasn’t prepared for. My sociology teacher had called to
inform me about the intern/volunteer ship programme open at Nada India Foundation. I was well acquainted with this organization since they
had recently introduced the new RADIO CLUB – PEHCHAAN, in our school. I
had attended a couple of workshops conducted by them and enjoyed it
thoroughly. So, I had a rough idea of their work.
However, the mess of notebooks and textbooks spread out on my study seemed to give me a sarcastic smile, sensing my hesitation; making me realize it time and again that they were the only ones I needed to be with for the next 8 months. With a little hope somewhere deep down I talked to my parents. I promised them to not crib about any problem I faced in this decision and proceeded further. Ultimately, only four of us from my section decided to give it a shot.
Our first meeting was scheduled with the online coordinator of NIF, Ms. Vindhya Vatsyayan. We arrived at the NGO and she talked to us and briefed us about the programme. She made us feel very comfortable and
also assured us that we would not be disturbed much and would be given tasks to carry out in our own
community. Our first task was Community Mapping. We had to prepare a map of our locality. Apart from that, we also were briefed about the other things that we had to do as volunteers and the programmes that were scheduled ahead.
On the occasion of International day
against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a programme was held in
Lodhi Road presided over by many prominent dignitaries including
Minister of social welfare and empowerment and also faces of the UN. I
volunteered to attend the programme where we had to put up stalls of our NGO and
interact with the visitors and Ministers and record their messages. I
was nervous at first but gradually paced up. It was a whole new
experience for me. At the end of the day, I was dead tired yet there was
this feeling lingering around me…..still not sure how to define that
feeling, I probably see it as someone very close relative of
“satisfaction”.
Next, we were scheduled to visit a De
addiction and rehabilitation centre. On 29th June 2012, we visited the De addiction and rehabilitation centre in Mandi Gaon ----“The beginning
of new life”. We interviewed three addicts along with the committee
members there. Getting to know what the addicts do there all day was
quite a surprise for me. I personally have never found these people
worth of doing anything. For me, they have been more like a social
stigma. However, meeting them and interacting with them actually intrigued me even more. There was
this board highlighting the daily time table followed by the patients.
I, then talked to the committee members there, who had themselves been
through the same experience and they helped me understand the life of
the patients……beyond the black prints on the board. All the addicts in
the centre have staying accommodation.
There is also a detoxification room where the treatment is carried out for the first 15 days. Apart from that, the addicts are made to follow a certain schedule during the day. The day starts at 5:30 am followed by the Morning Prayer and meditation. All the daily chores from sweeping, cleaning and cooking etc. are performed by the patients. This is an effort to get the addicts back to a daily routine, to inculcate a sense of timing and performing their daily chores without any dependence. Also, group discussions and sessions are carried out during the day. One to one counseling sessions are held once in a day.
Phew! On my way back home, I was really amazed. It was definitely a wonderful experience. My perception has totally changed! I no longer see them as weak willed and insecure but stand up to their effort to look beyond their imperfections and aspire for their future. I have understood that mistakes are just an inevitable part of life and those who can rise beyond that are actually the ones worth looking up to. :)
However, the mess of notebooks and textbooks spread out on my study seemed to give me a sarcastic smile, sensing my hesitation; making me realize it time and again that they were the only ones I needed to be with for the next 8 months. With a little hope somewhere deep down I talked to my parents. I promised them to not crib about any problem I faced in this decision and proceeded further. Ultimately, only four of us from my section decided to give it a shot.
Our first meeting was scheduled with the online coordinator of NIF, Ms. Vindhya Vatsyayan. We arrived at the NGO and she talked to us and briefed us about the programme. She made us feel very comfortable and
also assured us that we would not be disturbed much and would be given tasks to carry out in our own
community. Our first task was Community Mapping. We had to prepare a map of our locality. Apart from that, we also were briefed about the other things that we had to do as volunteers and the programmes that were scheduled ahead.
On the occasion of International day
against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a programme was held in
Lodhi Road presided over by many prominent dignitaries including
Minister of social welfare and empowerment and also faces of the UN. I
volunteered to attend the programme where we had to put up stalls of our NGO and
interact with the visitors and Ministers and record their messages. I
was nervous at first but gradually paced up. It was a whole new
experience for me. At the end of the day, I was dead tired yet there was
this feeling lingering around me…..still not sure how to define that
feeling, I probably see it as someone very close relative of
“satisfaction”. 
There is also a detoxification room where the treatment is carried out for the first 15 days. Apart from that, the addicts are made to follow a certain schedule during the day. The day starts at 5:30 am followed by the Morning Prayer and meditation. All the daily chores from sweeping, cleaning and cooking etc. are performed by the patients. This is an effort to get the addicts back to a daily routine, to inculcate a sense of timing and performing their daily chores without any dependence. Also, group discussions and sessions are carried out during the day. One to one counseling sessions are held once in a day.
Phew! On my way back home, I was really amazed. It was definitely a wonderful experience. My perception has totally changed! I no longer see them as weak willed and insecure but stand up to their effort to look beyond their imperfections and aspire for their future. I have understood that mistakes are just an inevitable part of life and those who can rise beyond that are actually the ones worth looking up to. :)
Comments
Post a Comment