Last
summer, I had the exciting opportunity to participate in the ILR India
Global Service Learning Program. I was guided by my mentors, Dr. Dennis and Mr.
Ramprasad, in developing a marketing flipbook and standard operating procedures
for the Viveka Rural Livelihood Centre, Kenchanahalli. The flipbook included
key information to be used in motivating indigenous individuals to take part in
VRLC's
programs, and featured alumni testimonials and pictures of past participants.
The flipbook included courses such as the Fashion Design program, Fisheries
education, and a Beautician course. Throughout the process of creating the
flipbook, I was inspired by the stories of how VRLC's courses had empowered
students in their personal and career goals. The standard operating procedures
were to help outline pandemic recovery, how motivation practices should empower
women and youth, and job design to most efficiently allocate tasks within the
Centre. The standard operating procedures were the most difficult task, but Mr.
Ramprasad was always willing to help throughout the process. I began with
conducting a literature review of SOPs from similar organizations and compiled
the research. Mr. Ramprasad helped me identify areas of the SOPs that had to be
specifically tailored to the indigenous populations that VRLC interacts with.
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Final Presentation slides on SOPs & Discoveries
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Starting
at our very first meeting, my mentors were incredibly kind and offered to
assist with any questions I had regarding my projects. My mentors made the
process very collaborative; in preparation for our meetings, I would
compile suggestions for possible flipbook designs, recommendations for
recruiting VRLC volunteers, etc., but I knew that my knowledge alone was not
adequate enough to best serve SVYM. The pre-departure course preceding the program
emphasized that participants should not act as experts, and always ask
questions rather than treating our own ideas as superior. For example, VRLC
works primarily with the Jenu Kuruba tribe, and I have not met members of this
community nor extensively studied the tribe as my mentors have. I learned to
not make assumptions about the tribe's needs or how I thought my projects
might affect the tribe. I always made sure to ask my mentors if my ideas could
realistically be implemented, and if not, what adjustments should be made. One
part of the standard operating procedures was to include policy on how to best
encourage women and youth to attend VRLC's courses. Because of the difference
in perceptions of gender in India, I could not default to my own views, and my
mentors gave me all the information needed to compile best practices for VRLC.
Synthesizing my work with my mentors' experience made for a challenging and
rewarding experience.
SVYM
coordinated several guest lectures throughout the program; some of my favorite
topics were the health care system in India and labor law. I enjoyed being able
to learn about topics that I'm passionate about in a different cultural
context. I also found the discussions I had with my peers about our experiences
to be incredibly valuable. As a cohort, we supported each other while learning
about the diverse projects we were each developing. While the program was
virtual, SVYM nevertheless did an excellent job of creating an enriching
environment. From the start of the program to the final presentations, I
learned invaluable skills about collaboration and working with cultures
different from my own. I am grateful for the experience I had working with my mentors and Dr. Rekha and Mr. Sudarshan of SVYM, and for
their assistance throughout the process.
