MY TRIP TO MANVI, 2009
My trip to Manvi was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget and so worthwhile doing. Even though I heard from my brother about the trip, you can never really anticipate what it will be like on your first visit to India. The distance between England and India is like the distance between the two lifestyles. Neither is bad, there is just a completely different perception of life over there. Indian way of life is so calm and peaceful, no stress, everyone so welcoming and polite. Everything has its place, nothing is out of place. Work does not seem like work, everyday is enjoyed and relished. It is typical to dig up the ground and leave it until it flattens again. Indians never complain with how little they have or how hard they work.
... they are proud to go to school...
When I arrived in Manvi the School put on an assembly for us. From the moment the kids sung the school anthem I could see how proud they were of what they have. They sing the anthem how it should be sung, with pride. They are proud to go to school and proud that they are Dalit children. We were given a huge welcome and there was so much joy and excitement from the kids as they all swarmed round us. They just wanted to greet me, shake my hand and ask me my name. They were so happy that I had come. Our work for the project was to start the foundations for the secondary school. We worked for 4 hrs a day digging using pickaxes, backward shovels and bowls. After one day I realised just how hard it is for them.
... friendship and love makes them happy...
Although the work was rewarding and it felt good to do something that would really help, it was the time that I spent with the kids that made my experience so special. The kids that stay in the hostel have virtually nothing, just a box which contains a change of clothes and their school books. They have so little yet are so happy. ‘Happiness is not about getting what you want but appreciating what you have’. Playing football with them, lifting them up, taking photos is all they want. Friendship and love is what makes them happy. It is the happiest place I have been to and yet there is so much poverty, disease and hard living conditions. The time I spent with the kids made my experience for me; it fulfilled every reason why I came here. ‘Happiness is the feeling I get from making someone else’s dream’. Sitting down and eating with them is an honour.
... hearing the words from an English voice makes a huge difference...
During my time with project Manvi I also helped out in St Xavier’s school. 10th standard in India are children about 15 years old and their level was so high that they were studying A-level maths something I had just done for my exams. I felt I could give a big positive impact on the children. All the children wanted me in their class and teachers were so happy for me to be there, they wanted me to step in and contribute to teaching. Father Maxim let me take part in English Literature; I felt I could help so much as I am an English speaker. Hearing the words from an English voice makes a huge difference. It’s not just a school; all the kids are treated like brothers and sisters in one big family. I have been welcomed so much, respected and treated like family. One thing that stands out as a big difference between the Manvi community and London community is the friendliness. Everyone called me brother and I felt part of the family.
The village visit to Pannur was really enjoyable. Aarongya invited Ben, Ant and I to her home. Up to now all I had seen was the children at the school. On that day I saw the background the kids came from and met the families. It showed and proved to me just how important Project Manvi is. I was offered food and shown around their homes. Although they do not have much, the hospitality of Pannur village was so welcoming. In England a stranger would not even say hello to me let alone invite me to their homes and offer food. If it wasn’t for project such as this one Aarongya would be staying in a tiny house built of stone and mud with a corrugated iron roof, walking the cows for 10 rupees a day.
It was only a month but I became so close to the children. Rajeesh is 5 year old boy and1st standard. He was learning - my name is, my father's name is, I showed him how to write - my brother's name is Seb. The smile on his face after being able to write that showed me how close our bond was. Every time he saw me he would run to me with so much joy. I gave him a 5p coin which although is meaningless to me it meant so much to him. He had an English coin which many people in India have not seen. Sometimes 'The simplest thing can be the greatest'. The happiness the children show when our group was around was greater than any happiness I have seen before.
I grew particularly close to Saga an 11 year old 6th standard boy at the school. He lives in the mountain just above Manvi and has another brother Sanjeesh. I told him about my family and England, he was very interested in what I said. I brought with me an Ipswich Town football shirt which I gave to Saga. He was so happy to play football in it and loved it so much. At the end of the game he told me he couldn’t take it as dad would beat him. But the next day Saga came to me and told me that his father would let him have my Ipswich shirt. That moment was greatest of the whole trip. Something that is very close to me, my football team, which I had supported since I was boy and worn that shirt myself I was able to share with Saga.
... the experience was life changing...
I found leaving very hard and to me it showed how much I have experienced and come to love the way of life at St Xavier’s. All of the hostel kids gathered round the bus to send us off. All the kids I passed as I went on the bus would ask me when I was coming back. I hope to in the future to go back and see how they are getting on. I went to India for a month to give and to help but I feel I was given so much back. The experience for me was life changing and one that I will remember always.
Seb Cotton
