So I have completed my time with Pratham. As you may recall, after my
first volunteer visit with Radha Krishna BMC School on Monday, we
changed course for my trip and made it more interactive and site visit
based. I thought I would enjoy this much more. Anamara facilitated
various site visits in Pratham Mumbai. Pratham is at all 1062 schools
in Mumbai. They have numerous programs that serve children. It has
been a wonderful experience. From meeting Pratham children, to
learning about the lives of the teachers within the schools, and then most
of all the empowerment of woman within communities where women are not
independent. Today I finished up by meeting with Anamara in Nariman
Point, where I was able to grasp further details on the structure and
inner workings of Pratham and the mobilization of its efforts. After
almost getting my camera confiscated yesterday in the landfill, I had
some serious questions of the government and government relations with
Pratham. I have learned so much about Pratham and how they have work
WITH the government that it continues to fuel this desire to spread
the work and tell everyone about the great things happening in the
field. Anamara and I concluded my visit with the specific information
I will need to bridge Delta Phi Omega with Pratham Mumbai. We will
work out the fine details when I get back to the states. My goal is to
make a grassroots approach to our philanthropy. Although in my week, I
learned that Pratham doesn't need anything physically demanding from
DPO, they just need our support and the continuation of our funding
allocations to their programs. I will work with DPO to set up
volunteer/ site visits, and also try to create a small program that
may benefit Pratham Mumbai. From those baby steps, we can then bridge
more cities Pratham supports around India. Overall, this was worth
it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay now I am off to take a journey to Surat, where I
will get to see Nanubhai Education Foundation's approach to rural education.