By Aude Prezioso, Year 11
The India Project was created in 2001 by Ecolint teachers, Dave and Kate Harrison. Its primary aim was, and continues to be, to promote health and education in the communities surrounding Kodaikanal. Since its creation, the India Project has maintained its commitment to bettering the lives of children from the most disadvantaged families in rural villages and allowing students to immerse themselves in a whole new world.
The India Project works with three creches: Little Lilies, Peach Tree Creche, and Grace Kids Centre. Little Lilies was opened in 2002 by Ecolint students, Peach Tree Creche in 2003 and Grace Kids Centre had already been opened before the first India Team arrived. All three aim to make education, food, healthcare, hygiene, care and love more accessible throughout the community. Furthermore, when the children have finished their time in the creches, we organise a graduation ceremony where we fill backpacks with school supplies for their entry into primary school. This is called the backpack project. By giving these children a proper and profound education, we help them create a future for themselves and forge capacities that will last a lifetime. Giving them enough resources to learn and develop their thinking skills is a main priority for the India Project team because it benefits the children immensely. Firstly, it gives them more employment opportunities and also helps their community create a brighter future.
I had the chance to participate in this project this year and returned home with a heavy heart. During my trip, I forged stronger relationships with the people around me, I learned about a new culture, and I realised that the kindest hearts can be found in strangers living 7,751 km away. The India Project allowed me to understand what is truly important. I may possess more in terms of materials and luxuries but when it comes to the goodness of the soul, these people are far richer than I ever will be. I hope they know that they impacted me as much as I hope I impacted them. This is because I left Kodaikanal with a new vision of the world I would like to change: people helping people for nothing in return except a smile. Furthermore, I realised that in this lifetime, we do not have enough time to hear everyone’s story. This is my biggest regret but it also pushes me to hold on tight to the tales I’ve heard and to constantly search for new ones. While on a visit to a neighbouring village, we met a man who had lost an arm. The guide explained that this does not mean he is disabled, it only means he is differently abled. His words left me with the important lesson that our only weakness lies in our inability to celebrate our differences. The children and adults I came across have become a part of me and will continue to inspire me. I carry this project deep in my heart and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity.
