Week 2: My first time in the slums

Adina Lichtman, a proud member of the 8th Cohort of JDC Entwine-GPM volunteer program in India, chronicled her experiences in a series of evocative letters to her friends and family.  Adina, a student of Social Work and Art at NYU and is Hillel Community Service chair on campus, captured some powerful and touching moments during her time on the program, caring for vulnerable children living in the slums, connecting with the Jewish community with the JDC and experiencing the wonders of India. GPM will be publishing excerpts from her diaries in a series of blog posts and photo essays.

--Read Adina's 1st week here--
--Read Adina's 2nd week here--
--Read Adina's 3rd week here--


Week 2: My first time in the slums

WOW. I can’t believe how quickly two weeks have flown by.

The fact that my intolerance for spicy food and my pounding heart beat when crossing streets have finally subsided, I think this means I am almost fully used to the culture here. Except for hanging out of trains, I’m not sure I’ll ever fully get used to that... But I did stand near the open door!

Fun fact about Mumbai - there are 59,410 people per square mile here. To put that into perspective for everyone - there are 29,953 people per square mile in New York City. And 953 people per square mile in Sydney, Australia. This place is packed! It makes NYC feel sooo quiet!

But I love it. Everyone here is really so nice, and even though people honk their cars EVERY SECOND no one actually looks the least bit frustrated! Traffic here doesn’t seem to bother anyone here, it just gives them a chance to honk even more which they love to do!

This week was my first week in the Kalva Slums. I think I am definitely not at a point where I can internalize what I see daily yet. But to give you all a little bit of what the daily routine is like, I will describe what I see. We go to the train station in the morning and walk across the tracks. Behind the tracks are a few shacks and people selling vegetables. We walk through that area and there are far fewer cars and auto rickshaws and motorcycles. However all of a sudden there are flocks of pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, dogs, cows and bulls. We walk through this area for a few minutes till we get to this wider path where there are no shacks around it, we walk for about ten minutes on a path where on both sides are piles and piles of garbage, some of which is burning. Around these garbage piles there are kids running around on them and climbing on them and many children and sometimes adults using these piles of garbage as a bathroom, with no real form of privacy.

On this twenty minute walk to the slums, as we are walking in to it, everyone else is leaving. Most are dressed pretty nicely that you wouldn’t believe the place they are coming from unless you saw it for yourself. They are all leaving to go to work in the city of Thane or in Mumbai itself. This means that most of the kids are left alone with no adults to look after them during the day. When I walk through the slums there are so many children running around and hardly any adults around. Then we get to the classroom. My favorite part of the day!

All the students jump up and say in their adorable accents, "Gooood morning teacher, thank you teacher" and get all excited for what we are about to teach. Their smiles can literally brighten up the world. I have never seen students get so excited about learning and about their teachers. They have such respect and such gratitude for everything we do with them. I have never heard the word thank you so much in a classroom!

The classrooms are very small with no real light except for the light coming through the door. They sit on mats in the floor and everyone including teachers takes off their shoes when they come in. The classes have around 35 kids in a class. Their ages range from 5 to 13 all in one class. They all speak Hindi or Marati so we have translators in the classes for us as we give our lessons. This week was international week and we taught about 4 different countries and how they dance, eat and greet each other in these different countries and what their flags represent. Our primary job in the classrooms is to teach them about things outside of the slums that they wouldn’t normally learn about but that people outside the slums all know. This week we plan to teach them about the Olympics, rain cycles, different seasons and ocean life. There are 6 other volunteers here with me and we all split up into 4 classes for the lessons.

After me and the six other volunteers have spent about 2 weeks in Thane and Mumbai, we needed a little bit of a break for Shabbat from all the noise, so we went to a place called Matharan which is about 2 hours away all the way up in the hills. They keep this place as a pollution free zone which means no cars or buses are allowed up it. There are only two ways to get up the mountain – either by a trolley which looks like a toy train that goes up only once a day or by horses. It was getting close to Shabbat so we had to ride horses up the mountain! This area is the most beautiful area I have ever seen, as we were riding up it was sooo peaceful and quiet. For the first time in a very long time I heard birds tweeting and rays of sunlight were coming down shining through the leaves of the trees. And best of all - MONKEYS! EVERYWHERE!!!!!!! Except WARNING you can’t hold food outside or they will jump on you and snatch it out of your hand! My friend Shira experienced this first-hand. There are as many monkeys in the area as there are squirrels in Washington Square Park - which is A LOT! The views were incredible from the top of the mountain over looking all the valleys! I squeezed grapes and made grape juice for Shabbat! I filled up a whole jar, and made it in the bathroom of the hotel in Matharan over the sink!  It was so much fun - Shabbat was lovely there, so peaceful and relaxing.

This week Will also be starting a weekly Parsha lesson in the shul on Wednesday nights for some of the adults in the synagogue here who requested it.

All the best,
Adina

(Adina's next blog post will be uploaded shortly. Revisit this blog for the next exciting blog entry!)

Adina and Ilana at Chowpatty Beach - agreat place to eat

1st week teaching in the slums

Mango milkshake-Yummy!

GPM's 'Eat to Learn' nutrition program expanding to reach 1000 children!

The GPM innovative “Eat to Learn” nutrition program will be expanding by 25% to reach 1000 schoolchildren every day in the slums of Mumbai with fresh, hot, nutritious food.
Eat to Learn, which works to combat poverty by providing nutritious meals to children who attend school, began in June 2012 with 500 children ages 4-14. In 2013, the program expanded to 750 children – and led to an increase in attendance of children in school. This June, which opens the 2014-15 Indian school year, 1000 children will be benefiting from the work of GPM, including 250 preschool children for whom nutrition is particularly important for physical and cognitive development.

The children benefiting from the GPM Eat to Learn program attend classes run by GPM partners organization REAP, an award-winning NGO running a literacy network of classrooms throughout the slums and rural villages in and around Mumbai.

“The GPM project is vital for these children,” says REAP founding director Dr. Trevor Miranda. “The program provides a very important incentive for parents and children, and helps ensure that the children receive the support that they need in order to be able to learn.”

Eat to Learn, the GPM approach to poverty, child labor and malnutrition through the delivery of hot meals in school, is an innovation that addresses both the short term and long-term needs of the children. The immediate goal of hunger relief is achieved, malnutrition abated and a sound education is established to help end the cycle of poverty for children living in the slums.

“I’m so excited to see GPM grow and expand our reach”, says GPM founder Jacob Sztokman. “To see the look on the children’s faces when we arrive is so encouraging. And it’s thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers and supporters that we are able to make a difference in the children’s lives.”

Children attending one of the REAP classes with GPM volunteers

GPM volunteers and women of the REAP self-help empowerment
groups preparing food for the children in the slums

Women of the REAP self-help empowerment groups preparing food for the children in the Kalva slums

Local women in the central kitchen for the children in the Kalva slums

Eat and Learn: Actually, the children learn first and then eat a yummy lunch

Rice, dahl, vegetables and legumes

Dishing out food for the children

The dedicated women delivering food to children throughout the slums

Mumbai Diaries: 9 weeks with GPM volunteer Adina Lichtman

Adina Lichtman, a proud member of the 8th Cohort of JDC Entwine-GPM service program in India, chronicled her experiences in a series of evocative letters to her friends and family.  Adina, a student of Social Work and Art at NYU and is Hillel Community Service chair on campus, captured some powerful and touching moments during her time on the program, caring for vulnerable children living in the slums, connecting with the Jewish community with the JDC and experiencing the wonders of India. GPM will be publishing excerpts from her diaries in a series of blog posts and photo essays.

Mumbai diaries Week 1: My first encounters with Jewish India
Namaste :) It’s been almost a week that I am here so far, and it is absolutely incredible!  I can’t stop smiling all the time here in this country!

India is the biggest culture shock I have ever experienced and I think most people who travel could say the same. Everything from the smells, to the number of people, to the transportation system and beyond, everything is completely different. The train we went on today was packed to the max and people hang outside the doors while it’s in motion the whole way!

This week we went to the synagogue here for Friday night services. We went to the Shaar Hashamayim Shul. It was the most beautiful prayer service I have ever been to. After one of the men read from the  Torah, every single man in the shul came over to shake his hand and kiss it. This experience was so eye-opening; no one in the community gets overlooked and every person is so included in every aspect of the community. After every prayer service, everyone goes around shaking each other’s hands and then kissing their hands. Every single person who steps into the Shaar Hashamayim Synagogue gets a warm Shabbat greeting from every single person in shul. To me - this is the epitome of what it means to be a Jew. And what it means when we say all Jews are family.
Everyone in shul this weekend kept coming over to us and introducing themselves and inviting us to their houses. I felt so strongly that I was a part of this community after just one weekend of being there. I walk around smiling here all the time because I feel so connected to these people I only just met. They all invited us on Shabbat to a wedding this Sunday.

I just got back from this wedding, it was beautiful! Their traditions are so beautiful. Under the Chuppah, both the groom and bride have to finish the whole cup of wine because at the bottom of the glass of wine is where the rings are! They also then use that same cup to break after the chuppah. After the chuppah, the bride and groom walk to the aron kodesh and kiss the torah. And then everyone leaves from the shul to go to the reception. Tonight’s wedding had around 800 people! The whole Jewish community of Thane and Mumbai come to the wedding. It was so beautiful and all the ladies wear gorgeous Saris with all different colors and glittery sparkles!

Tomorrow is going to be my first day working in the Slums as a teacher. I am really excited to meet my students!

(Read Week 2 of Adina's blog 'My first time in the slums' HERE)

Adina ready for the wedding

Shaar Hashamayim Synagogue Thane

Kivunim participants build exciting connections with GPM volunteers

Jewish peoplehood came alive at GPM when participants from Kivunim, a Jewish gap-year program encountered GPM Entwine Spring 2014 volunteers. The meeting, which took place at the famous Mumbai landmark Knesset Eliyahu Synagogue in late March, was facilitated by GPM Program Coordinator Sigalith Isaac Kurulkar. Sigalith introduced the Kivunim group to GPM’s work with vulnerable children in the slums of Mumbai, exploring the impact of GPM nutrition, health, hygiene and literacy initiatives. GPM volunteers described their day to day work in the slums of Mumbai and the experiences and challenges of living in Mumbai while caring for marginalized children. The groups exchanged insights, ideas and emotions about the roles and responsibilities of the Jewish people in caring for vulnerable children of the world.

Kivunim is a unique gap-year program built on the philosophy of instilling in young Jewish adults a “world consciousness”. As part of the Kivunim vision of Jewish education and peoplehood, participants experience an intensive academic and experiential encounter with Middle Eastern, North African, Asian and European cultures. Kivunim participants study and travel to a dozen different countries, where the history of Jewish life demonstrates the powerful integration of surrounding cultures into the rhythm and experience of Judaism, fostering a strong identity rooted in knowledge of Jewish life while engaged with the international community.

Special thanks to Kivunim Founder and Director Peter Gefen for relaying his support in saying that GPM is doing “such magnificent work!”

The GPM team looks forward to more encounters with Kivunim.

When Purim and Holi fall out on the same day!

When (Shushan) Purim falls out on the Hindu holiday of Holi it means a whole lot of fun in Mumbai!

Take a look at this picture gallery for a whole lot of Purim/Holi excitement...

Holi color war!

Adina at Chabad Purim Party in Mumbai

GPM fellows and JDC staff preparing Mishloach Manot and Matanot Levyonim

Chabad Purim Party in Mumbai

Itai at Chabad Purim Party in Mumbai

Organizing the Bollywood themed Purim Shpiel at the Mumbai JDC

Chabad Purim Party in Mumbai

Rebecca at Chabad Purim Party in Mumbai

Chabad Purim Party in Mumbai

A Bollywood Purim Party at the JDC

Pre-Purim visit to JDC's Bayiti Jewish old age residence in Mumbai

Class before Holi in the slums

Pre-Purim visit to JDC's Bayiti Jewish old age residence in Mumbai

Pre-Purim visit to JDC's Bayiti Jewish old age residence in Mumbai

Pre-Purim visit to JDC's Bayiti Jewish old age residence in Mumbai

Womans Day empowerment celebrations - News from REAP

On 8th March 500 women from REAP's Self Help Groups (SHG's) from Ghatkopar area came out in large numbers to celebrate Women's Day.An impressive  rally began from Ghatkopar Station, Mumbai and wound its way to the crowded market area where it culminated in a street show with a big stage right in the middle of the market.

The rally was accompanied with the beat of drums and their own women leading with the 'legim' dressed in colourful traditional sarees. The road show was a delight with women putting up a variety of entertainment skits, dancing and song. With celebrations through the night, the entire experience was one of of unity and solidarity. Many  local municipal corporations were present and lent their support to make it a success. Similar celebrations were held in Kalwa, Kalyan and Dolkhamb, Shahapur Taluka.

The pictures say it all:

Israeli Diplomat in the Slums of Mumbai

When Mr. Matan Zamir, the Deputy Head of the Consulate General of Israel in Mumbai joined Gabriel Project Mumbai volunteers in the slums, it was a learning experience for everyone.

Mr Zamir’s first stop in the slums was the central kitchen used by the women from GPM’s grassroots partner, REAP as the base of GPM’s Nutrition Program for the children in the slums. Here Mr Zamir joined the 30 women, and GPM volunteers, in preparing chapattis (flat bread) and vegetable dishes for the 500 vulnerable children attending REAP classes in the slums. Mr Zamir showed exceptional talent in rolling the chapattis and the women were quiet impressed. (It took many days of practice before any GPM staff or volunteer were able to roll a chapatti that passed the quality assurance test of the women in the kitchen; Mr Zamir succeeded on his first try!)

After a 20 minute walk through the slums, Mr Zamir joined one group of GPM volunteers in teaching two classes. Upon entering the class the teacher asked the children if they remembered how to say ‘hello’ in Hebrew as Mr Zamir was from Israel. Having been taught a few words in the many languages of over 50 international GPM volunteers, it took just a little prodding for the children to scream out “Shalom!” Mr Zamir had a big smile on his face when he replied ‘Shalom, Namaste!’

The session was in art appreciation. The children were looking at pictures of famous sculptures, paintings, music and film, and learning to express their own impressions of the works. In addition to opening the children’s eyes to a world of beautiful artwork, the session also had an important message behind it. The children learned that they each have a unique and authentic voice, and it is completely legitimate and valid for each of them to express their own feelings and ideas about how they experience the art work. For vulnerable children this concept is very powerful because it is not a message that they often receive in their lives. But it was also difficult for the children to express their feelings. The children wanted to know what is the ‘right’ answer. They were eager to look at the art work before them and say this is good or bad. Faced with the challenge of trying to get the children to express their subjective and personal feelings, GPM volunteers tried many teaching methods but it was Mr Zamir who really brought out the children’s ideas. Mr Zamir simply asked the children, ‘Why?’ That is, ‘Why do you think the art work before you is good or bad?’ Slowly, the children expressed the reasoning behind their answers. “The dark colors of the painting makes me feel cold/lonely/sad…” or, ‘The smiling face makes me smile and feel happy’. Suddenly the children were excited to express their thoughts and feelings. For children immersed in an environment not conducive to self-expression, this lesson inspired and encouraged the children to value their feelings and opinions.

Mr Zamir had a memorable impact on the children, and we hope that the children had a memorable impact on him as well. He is always welcome to return for a visit to make chapattis and teach a few classes!

Matan Zamir preparing Chapattis

Mr Zamir outside one of the classes

Volunteer inspired Project H.E.A.L - Hygiene Encouragement Awareness Learning

Check out this great clip! I am so proud of the new hygiene initiative (H.E.A.L) conceived by the current batch of GPM-JDC Entwine fellows for vulnerable children in the slums of Kalwa, India. 

After a month of volunteering with Gabriel Project Mumbai in REAP classrooms in Mumbai, Simona, Benjamin, Adina, Shira, Itai, Rebecca and Ilana created this incredible initiative after seeing some children with rotten teeth and other physical ailments caused by lack of hygiene. 

Education and access are the key to health in the slums and the group is doing both: educating the children as to healthy/hygienic habits AND access to hygienic materials. Really beautiful...Help them out by donating here! http://www.rootfunding.com/campaign/4598

Click here to read more about GPM's 'H.E.A.L' Initiatives for children living in the slums of Mumbai.

Simona: From Slovakia to The Netherlands to Mumbai

Simona has always dreamed of spending time in the developing world working on alleviating poverty and hunger. Originally from Bratislava, Slovakia and now living in The Netherlands, the vibrant and intelligent 24-year-old is passionately committed to the welfare of children. She was searching for a way to taking part in an innovation to help children, and decided to volunteer with Gabriel Project Mumbai. After a month as a GPM-JDC fellow, she couldn’t be happier.

“This program is awesome,” says Simona, who holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science and a degree in Business Administration. “What we are exposed to makes me think about inequality in the world and how we can fight it. In Europe and in the West we have certain ideas about how to help the poor and vulnerable populations, but being here opens my eyes to the complexities of the challenge. I think through volunteering and experiencing the extreme conditions you also get to know yourself and who you are.”

Simona is part of the eighth cohort of GPM volunteers, which includes participants from all around the world including: United States, Israel, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, France and now Slovakia! Simona, who is fluent in English, German, Dutch and Slovak and has spent time studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, lives with the other volunteers in the Mumbai neighborhood of Thane, close to the slums where the volunteers work every day providing nutrition and literacy to 750-school-age children. The volunteers are also located in proximity to the Jewish community of Mumbai with whom they collaborate on many facets of the program.
Simona, who spent two years as the President of the Slovakian Union of Jewish Youth president for two years, serving the communal needs of 120 Jewish youth and university students as well as the local Jewish community, is surprised herself at how attached she has become to the children. “I did not expect the children to show so much enthusiasm in learning,” she admits. “Their smiles when we arrive every day give us so much.”

Simona and the rest of the volunteers have in fact taken a keen interest in the dental hygiene of the children.  “I have a hard time seeing these children living with certain difficult realities,” she says. “There are some children, as young as 4 or 5, who have rotten and decaying teeth and even though they are now receiving good nutritious food from GPM, their teeth have rotted from years of malnutrition and neglect. It breaks my heart every time I see them smile.”
 
The group of volunteers decided to launch a program to help provide the children with toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap, as well as basic information about oral health, hygiene and healthy living. The program, called H.E.A.L., which stands for Hygiene Encouragement Awareness Learning , has raised over $1000 to date.

 For Simona, this wonderful achievement, which will drastically improve the lives of 750 children, is inspiring. “It is not difficult at all because the children are so worth it.”

Simona teaching a class

Simona participated in the Fifth Forum of the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, worked in the German Parliament and recently completed an internship at a Dutch engineering consultancy Royal Haskoning DHV in the field of corporate social responsibility with a focus on UN Global Compact. At the end of the program Simona will be returning to The Netherlands, where she will pursue a career in Corporate Responsibility. Thank you for being part of GPM, Simona and veľa sťastia-good luck!