This summer, I spent two months living, learning and working with the Swami Vivikenanda Youth Movement in Karnataka, India. My project for SVYM was to create a booklet on local medicinal plants that would ultimately be distributed for use in self help groups and educational programs. This project was perfect for me because it was the ideal mix of horticulture combined with health. The goal of this booklet was to change the community’s perceptions of certain plants that they identified as weeds. These so called “weeds” often grow in abundance and have numerous medicinal and nutritional qualities that families could use to decrease their dependence on hospitals. In total, I documented the cultivation, identification, uses and Ayurvedic properties of the following plants:
· Tamarind, tree
· Neem, tree
· Black pepper, creeper
· Ginger
· Indian gooseberry, shrub
· Turmeric
· Coconut
· Holy basil
· Cinnamon
· Coriander
· Aloe Vera/
· Gudchi
· Ashwaganda
· Long pepper
· Karanja
· Jackfruit
· Banana
· Rheeta
· Hibiscus
· Arjuna
· Touch me not
· Vasa
The booklet is designed to have two pages for each plant; one that is mostly pictures and one that is mostly information. The idea behind this is that the teacher or group leader would be reading the information to the one learning while they are looking and studying the pictures.
As an Agriculture Science major and Global Health minor, this project and this experience perfectly encapsulated both of my interests. I was especially excited to further understand how global health, agriculture and horticulture are so deeply interconnected. This trip, being run through Cornell’s global health program, was the ideal situation to get hands on experience studying and working with a successful, health based NGO.
On this trip, I expected to learn about the culture of India and to increase my intercultural competency. I did do this, however, I feel that I learned more about myself in this process than I expected to. I have always considered myself an open minded person, however coming to a completely foreign country, I realized just how quick I am to judge. In addition, I realized how dependent on friends and family I can be in times of stress. Having to cope through stressful times by myself taught me a sense independence that made me a stronger college student and person. I am thankful for this experience and all that India and SVYM gave me.
