This summer as part of the ILR Global Service Learning program, I was fortunate enough to work with the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement in Mysore, India. I feel so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to immerse myself in such a different culture that pushed me to new levels of growth and intercultural competence. India challenged me daily, empowering me to embrace ambiguity and grow personally, professionally, and mentally as an adaptable global citizen.
During our first 2 weeks with SVYM, our cohort was fortunate enough to take classes on Indian Culture, Gender, Labor, HR, Law, Religion, Healthcare, and Kannada language as well as act as a mentor and judge for a debate workshop held for teenage girls.
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| Amanda facilitating debate exercises with Mysore high school students. |
This debate workshop was one of my favorite parts of the program; each day, I was so inspired and empowered. Sharing stories and learning about the lives and culture of these young ladies allowed us to get to know them on a personal level. Over the course of the workshop, we were able to watch their confidence grow as they powerfully voiced their arguments in a space void of male dominance. As the future leaders of India, they challenged norms and one another on topics such as paternity leave, media influence, and Indian beauty standards. After we learned more about the Indian culture through classes and engaging with young students in the debate workshop, we went on to complete our service projects with newfound knowledge and insight.
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| Final presentation of the HR study to mentors and SVYM staff |
For my project, I was tasked with creating an employee feedback survey to improve employee satisfaction and engagement. Initially, I researched and analyzed survey distribution practices and talent acquisition challenges. Given that SVYM is an NGO, I was able to gain insight on the challenges NGOs face in attracting and retaining talent. After researching the most effective survey methods, I was able to design employee feedback surveys for 800+ employees in SVYM’s 6 locations. In order to gather as much data as possible, I also made the paper survey into a google survey and sent that out to as many employee emails that existed. Though the online survey proved to be effective in gathering more responses, most employees did not have the ability to respond online. I was given the opportunity to travel to different locations in order to conduct surveys and interview employees. Through my visits to tribal communities, schools, and hospitals that SVYM works with, I was able to meet such inspiring, welcoming locals and see firsthand how SVYM’s development efforts are initiated and progressed. Along the way, I enjoyed creating a video documenting what different employees like best about working at SVYM. At the end of my project, I analyzed my findings, and developed and presented recommendations that I think can help SVYM improve organizational training, employee satisfaction, engagement, and future survey distribution processes.
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| Meeting SVYM staff during community visit. |
Ultimately, my favorite part about my project was the people I met. I learned that there is no better way to familiarize yourself with a culture than to ask questions and communicate intimately with members of that culture. I have found myself learning the most interesting facts and customs from our program director and the women I became such close friends with in the HR department.
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| Amanda with her SVYM HR mentor and HR colleagues. |
Lastly, I am so unbelievably grateful for this life-changing experience. Through this program, I was able to embrace the rich Indian culture and allow my curiosity to drive me to experience differences. Appreciating these differences has allowed me to gain intercultural competence as well as grow as a global citizen and continue to question the world around me.
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| Cornell students attending a cultural show. |
