What an experience!
As the dust settles on my voluntary experience in South India, I am filled with gratitude towards the experience of a lifetime, and all the people that were part of it. Although a rather short period, it was a highly impactful experience for me personally.
After an initial day of settling in, in the following two days I was taken to two different Salesian schools in Bangalore, Bosco Mane School and Don Bosco Mithra School, where I delivered some drawing lessons to the children there, as well as having time to eat, play and spend time with them. Whereas the second school was rather ‘normal’ to what I’m used to as a student and teacher in Malta, Bosco Mane School was in turn rather impressing as it was a school specifically dedicated to street children, often orphans – the poorest of the poor. And yet, they were constantly smiling, joking… they were happy. I could now see with my own eyes what is meant when people exclaim that often, the poor are happier. I do not mean to glorify poverty in any means – it is a human tragedy that poverty still exists in a world that is so prosperous. However, it is true that there is so much we can learn from these people, who find joy and fulfilment in simple lives whereas so many people, especially in the West, who are far richer financially are so much poorer in what truly matters.
This observation was constantly present throughout the entire month. After those initial two days, I was relocated to the rural village of Prakashpalya, a four-hour drive from Bangalore. I spent the majority of the month there, in Don Bosco Vidyakshethra School, a school that teaches boys and girls from kindergarten to post-secondary as well as comprising of two hostels, for boys and girls, which consist of over 200 boarders. There, I also had the opportunity to deliver drawing lessons to the children, both in the school and in the hostel, as well as host a drawing competition. In the lessons, I did my best to emphasise that anyone can be an artist, and that ultimately art is another skill where the only secret is practice and perseverance. I primarily focused on demonstrating how everything, from a simple drawing of a flower to a portrait of Ghandi, is ultimately comprised of lines and shapes.
I was very grateful that I was also given the opportunity to use my artistic talents in different ways, repainting two religious statues and to design and paint two murals within the complex. The first mural now adorns the entrance of the Don Bosco Prakashpalya campus, which celebrates Don Bosco and the four pillars of the Salesians. The second mural was intended to transform an old, worn-down classroom for kindergarten/childcare into a colourful place. In this room, all four walls and the ceiling were repainted sky blue, before adorning the four walls with characters from The Lion King, as well as some trees, the sun and a cloud. Crucially for me, both projects were carried out not only for the children but with the children – they were helping me out by painting areas according to my instructions, even adding trees and grass to the first mural. That way, not only did I have the opportunity to spend more time with them and work with them, but it was also something that now belonged to them – we even signed the names of all those who helped out. I am grateful that I also had the opportunity to spend time with the children on an informal level, during morning and evening prayers, playing football with them everyday, in special activities such as a treasure hunt or quiz, as well as accompanying them on an outing for a sports tournament on one occasion.
Among the many months that comprise a life, my month in India is one that I will forever cherish, and one that in a short time has opened my eyes to different cultures and different human realities, widened my horizons, and I believe sent me back home a more empathetic and appreciative person. I am very grateful to SPYS for taking care of the organisation of everything and for preparing me for the experience, as well as to MCVS for the financial support. I am also very grateful to all the people that made up this experience, the communities I met, the priests, teachers, workers and the children themselves. Although I did a lot of volunteer work locally, I now understand even better what is meant when people say that you go on a voluntary experience to give, but you end up receiving so much more.
Samuel John Casha
