Meet the 2019 SVYM India GSL Team!

The 2019 India GSL Team

Emily D., Arts and Sciences (Global Health Minor) ‘21

Hello! My name is Emily D. and I’m a sophomore transfer student from central Massachusetts. I am in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Government and minoring in Global Health and Policy Analysis and Management, and I am interested in pursuing a career in health policy or non-profit management.

On campus I am involved with running club, Cornell Business Review, Anabel’s Grocery, Cornell Students for Hunger Relief, and I also work at the fitness centers. I really enjoy running and hiking, listening to podcasts, traveling, and taking pictures of aesthetically pleasing foods. I am interested in food insecurity and health in relation to infrastructure and urban planning, as I took classes in metropolitan studies last year at NYU. I am excited to travel to India and learn more about rural development, as due to rapid urbanization, many rural areas are being left behind in terms of resource access. Participating in this program will allow me to understand how to motivate people to participate at the grassroots level, and I am eager to learn more about health and the healthcare system in a region that is starkly different from where I grew up. I look forward to immersing myself in the culture of southern India and further exploring my passions this summer along with SVYM and students with similar interests.

Beth G., Arts and Sciences (Global Health Minor) ‘20

Hi! My name is Beth, and I am a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Sociology with minors in Policy Analysis & Management and Global Health. On campus, I serve as a marketing analyst for Anabel’s Grocery, a student-led and student-run grocery store that aims to combat food insecurity on campus by offering healthy food for students at affordable prices. We also seek to start an empowering conversation among the student body about food quality and choices. In my spare time, I can be found doing crossfit, swimming, listening to podcasts, or journaling. 

Originally from a busy suburb surrounding Washington, D.C., I came to Cornell interested in learning more about how societal factors influence the ways in which poverty and inequality can affect different groups. I originally felt obligated to take classes in other areas, such as computer science or math, but as time went on, I realized that studying people is what I am truly passionate about. Last semester, my interests evolved to include health policy after I took great interest in a class about U.S. healthcare systems. I decided to pursue the India Global Service Learning program because I was intrigued at the ways in which SVYM’s mission examines gender and socioeconomic inequality in the context of healthcare, and also the focus on combining traditional ways of Ayurveda medicine with modern medicine. Due to my interest in sociology, I am particularly fascinated by the concept of not just treating an individual solely through a clinical lens, but acknowledging any outside factors that may greatly affect one’s health. 

This experience will be one of my first times abroad, particularly in a different cultural context. It will undoubtedly be challenging, but I hope to challenge any assumptions that I currently hold and return a more informed global citizen. I am so grateful for this opportunity and am incredibly excited to work with SVYM, alongside my Cornell peers. I aspire to use the insight and skills gained through this program in a future career in a health policy-related field. 

Olivia H., ILR ‘20

Hi, my name is Olivia H. and I’m a Junior in the ILR School. I have several minors including psychology and anthropology, and I’d like to pursue a PhD in Community Psychology. I hope I can make a career out of increasing solidarity and awareness in communities in efforts to decrease child maltreatment. I grew up in a small town of Oklahoma, and Cornell, and the ILR School, specifically, has been an incredible experience. I love all animals, and I like to read poetry!

Genavieve K., ILR ‘21

Hello! I go by Gena and I am a sophomore studying Industrial and Labor Relations and Cornell University. I enjoy studying the history and current events surrounding labor action around the world and supplement my studies with a minor in Education and additional coursework in math and computer science. I love working with people and am excited to do that in India this coming summer! 

In the past I have worked in classrooms, with non-profit organizations, and as a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor. On campus here at Cornell I am a public service scholar, part of the policy debate team, the Student Assemblies Committee on City and Local Affairs, and the tutoring outreach organization R.E.A.C.H. I also enjoy running, doing yoga, and skiing. 

At Cornell, I am only three hours away from my home outside of Buffalo, New York. I have never travelled outside of the United States and Canada and have never been on a plane ride longer than three hours. I am excited for all of the new experiences I will have in this coming year and am overwhelmed with gratitude for SVYM the chance to travel to India.  

Alena M., Agriculture and Life Sciences (Global Health Minor) ‘21

Hi! My name is Alena M. , and I am currently a sophomore in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences studying Computational Biology and minoring in Global Heath and Biomedical Engineering. I grew up in suburban northeast Ohio, a lovely historic little town just a few minutes outside of Cleveland. I have always loved learning and was lucky enough to have a wonderful interdisciplinary education at my high school, and as a result, I have become absolutely fascinated with the cross section of science and the humanities and how they pertain to health on a global scale. Outside of the classroom, I spend the majority of my time at volleyball practices and workouts, as I am a member of the varsity volleyball team here at Cornell (Go Big Red!!!). Other than school and sports, I also love hanging out with friends, baking, playing games, doing puzzles, and especially seizing every opportunity possible to play with anything furry!

I am inexpressibly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the India GSL program. I have very recently shifted my future career goals to a biological and global health focus, and I could not be more grateful for the sense of direction this program has given me. I am fully invested in the idea that to change the world, you need to submerse yourself in it--every part of it--and let yourself reflect in the wake of what you encounter. India is unlike anything I've encountered before, and I absolutely can't wait for it to simultaneously challenge, terrify, and better me as an individual, and prepare me to take on the world's health issues armed with a new perspective and an open heart.

Olivia M., Human Ecology ‘21 (Global Health Minor)

Hi! My name is Olivia M., and I’m a sophomore from Princeton, New Jersey in the school of Human Ecology. I’m a Human Biology, Health, and Society major in a premedical track currently pursuing the Global Health minor. I’m involved in a wide variety of activities on campus such as working on graphic design in Cornell’s Student and Campus Life Marketing and Communications office, participating in nutritional psychology research in the Canfield Lab, singing with my a cappella group, The Chordials, and hanging out with friends as a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. 

Since high school, I have been interested in the vast health inequity that exists both domestically and internationally, and the public policy that surrounds the social, environmental, and physical determinants of individual health. With that being said, I am so excited by the opportunity to work with SVYM to create a lasting impact on the lives of others, and also by the chance to grow both personally and as a global citizen!

Michael O., ILR ‘21

Greetings everyone. My name is Michael O. , and I am honored to have been selected to take part in the India GSL Program. As a sophomore transfer student at Cornell University majoring in Industrial Labor Relations, I am eager to take on opportunities that allow me to have a positive impact on communities both locally and abroad. Previously, I studied at University of St. Andrews in Scotland where I majored in Philosophy but also studied Economics and International Relations. At Cornell, I am a staff writer for The Cornell Daily Sun, a committee member of the ILR student government, and the philanthropy chair for Delta Upsilon. 

I am passionate about reading and writing as well as being politically active, having spent a summer working for a senate campaign in New Hampshire. Additionally, I spend much of my free time coaching tennis and enjoying the outdoors outside of my hometown of Boston. 

As I am sure the other team members feel, I am truly thrilled to take on such an adventure that will be so enlightening, so humbling, and so full of memories to cherish as I continue my studies. 

Kieu P., Human Ecology ‘21 (Global Health Minor)

Hi everyone! My name is Kieu and I am a sophomore studying Global and Public Health Sciences and minoring in Business. I am Vietnamese, born and raised, but I have spent five years living and working in Singapore before moving to Cornell. I love learning foreign languages and am learning French and Chinese.

I started becoming interested in global and public health in high school as I led various school projects to reach out to the marginalized communities in Singapore such as the elderly and the mentally disabled. This summer, I was an intern at a local hospital in Vietnam and became more interested in the field of infectious diseases, nutrition and traditional medicine. On campus, I am active in promoting cultural diversity by leading the Cornell Vietnamese Association and working with other Asian societies. I am also part of Cornell Minds Matter which focuses on mental health.

I am very excited to work, learn and grow with SVYM and everyone as global citizens striving to contribute to a better world this coming summer!

Sarah P., ILR ‘21 (Global Health Minor)

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah and I am from Setauket, NY. I am a sophomore studying Industrial and Labor Relations, with minors in Global Health and Law and Society. I transferred into ILR after spending my freshman year at Stony Brook University. Prior to this semester, I participated in a Cornell Outdoor Odyssey backpacking trip through Cornell Outdoor Education. On campus I am involved in the Cornell International Affairs Society where I have served as a chair for two of their conferences CIAC IX and CMUNC 2019. I am also a member of the ILR Student Government Association on the Faculty Administration Committee.

Although I am in ILR, I will be participating in the India GSL Program as a Global Health student. My strong passion for labor and legal issues, global health, and international relations stemmed from my involvement in Model United Nations from high school through college, as well as my course work. In the future, I want to combine my interests in these areas to work in public policy or international relations where I hope to increase sustainability, improve health care, and promote economic advancement and security. 

The India GSL Program will allow me to pursue my interests through gaining exposure to health care and nonprofit work firsthand in an international setting. I know that the skills that I learn through this program will undoubtedly help me throughout the rest of my life, especially in my courses, my career, and by increasing my cultural awareness. 

Brianna R., ILR ‘22

Hello! My name is Brianna and I am a freshman in the school of Industrial and Labor Relations. I am from New Jersey, and I love going to the beach and trying new foods. On campus I am in a hip-hop group called Assorted Aces, am the marketing chair for the Cornell Dance Alliance, and I volunteer with the Alternative Breaks program. I will be spending spring break in New York city volunteering for a therapeutic horsemanship foundation called GallopNYC, helping children with disabilities to develop their physical and mental skills by riding horses. I have a passion for community involvement, my experiences including being the Relay for Life leader at my high school and working on Phil Murphy’s gubernatorial campaign. I am beyond grateful to be able to work with the Cornell community here in Ithaca and SVYM in India! I am hoping to pursue a career in public service, and the GSL program is a fantastic way for me to explore this field. Being given the opportunity to travel halfway around the world, directly engage in a rich culture, and serve the people of this community is something that I know will give me new perspectives and be incredibly rewarding. I am looking forward to participating in this program and learning more about public service and the culture of South India!

Leah R., ILR ‘21

Hello! My name is Leah and I am a sophomore at Cornell University from New York City. I am in the ILR School, pursuing minors in inequality studies and law & society. On campus, you could find me working at the Tatkon Center as a student assistant (ask us anything!), ILR’s Office of Career Services as the Labor, Government and Nonprofit Assistant/Peer Advisor, or with Cornell’s Cross-Cultural Adoptee Mentorship Program (C-CAMP). All my involvements allow me to give back to the community, interact with a myriad of peoples, and challenge my comfort zone. I hope to continue to take advantage of the countless opportunities here at Cornell to better understand myself and the world around me. 

The GSL India Program offered the perfect opportunity for me to do just that and so much more! I am eager to engage with and learn from the people in the Karnataka state, understand diverse cultures and histories, and develop myself as a global citizen. I look forward to this as a source of academic, personal, and professional growth. I expect to pursue a social impact career that represents and empowers disadvantaged and marginalized communities. In the past, I have considered law or work with an NGO to accomplish this, but I hope this program helps me better understand how exactly I can achieve my goals. But most of all, I look forward to advance SVYM’s mission and to serve the community. 

Zasu S., Human Ecology ‘22 (Global Health Minor)

 Salutations! My name is Zasu S., and I am from Sacramento California. I am currently a freshman PAM major in the College of Human Ecology. I am pursuing coursework in economics, public policy, law, and history. One day I hope to advocate for social justice and greater socioeconomic equality through a legal, non-profit, or legislative career. At Cornell, I am affiliated with the Cornell Political Union and the American Civil Liberties Union. Additionally, I am a member of Marginala, the undergraduate poetry review. (Still, I try to spend most of my time in the Botanical Gardens.)

I also am affiliated with the non-profit Sierra Service Project (SSP). SSP is a non-profit that helps socioeconomically disadvantaged communities through construction projects. After seven years spent working on volunteer summer construction projects, I spent seven months interning in their executive office. I worked largely on individual media projects to promote the organization. Additionally, I spent this last summer as an intern for a local congressional campaign. My work focused on grassroots campaigning and organizing community fieldwork.

In my spare time, I enjoy recreational reading, outdoor adventures, and genuine human connection.

I feel deeply honored and excited to participate in the GSL India program. It will truly be a privilege to experience another culture, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to broaden my worldview. I was initially drawn to this program because SVYM’s focus on forwarding social mobility directly corresponds with two of my deepest interests, service and advocacy. Through this experience, I hope to develop a more holistic understanding of inequality, learn how I may best serve others going forward, and explore and immerse myself in issues of inequality. I look forward to this upcoming summer as one that will be both humbling and inspiring.

Kimberly S., Human Ecology '21 (Global Health)

Hi! My name is Kimberly (Kim) S. and I am a sophomore student studying Global and Public Health Sciences with eventual minors in Inequality Studies and Spanish. On campus, I have served as the secretary for the student chapter of Amnesty International. I am currently on the e-Board for Mayor Potencial, a non-profit that focuses on community empowerment and development in El Rodeíto, Honduras. I also am very active with Christian Union, an on-campus Christian fellowship, and I currently am one of the co-leaders of their community service team.

 I was born in Queens, New York but currently live on Long Island. However, the majority of my family was born in Haiti, and my familial and cultural heritage has much inspired my interest in global and public health. I participated in my first service learning trip to Puerto Rico three months post-Hurricane Maria during winter break of my freshman year. This spring break, I have the opportunity to volunteer with a non-profit called MEDLIFE in their mobile clinics and community development projects in Lima, Perú. Both of these trips have taught me how our health is determined by many other components other than our physical well-being and factors such as policy and political status can impact it, for better or worse.

Last summer, I worked as a field assistant with the Harrington Lab to help a Ph.D. with their research dissertation on the feeding ecology of the Aedes albopictus mosquito. This internship has given me first-hand experience in field research, and I now work as a research assistant in the lab on campus with that same Ph.D. student as a mentor. However, through that internship, I was also able to see how socioeconomic inequalities could affect the potential risk for illness. I am blessed that all of my experiences, domestically and internationally, have helped narrow my career aspirations and goals.

 While I have had a clear focus on Latin America throughout my career, I hope that working with SVYM this summer in India will be an opportunity to push out of my comfort zone and completely immerse myself in a cultural context that I am unfamiliar with. I want to learn more about health care systems and how to address the structural inequalities that are present with them. I am particularly interested in the use of traditional holistic healing in conjunction with standard biomedicine and using a more integrated health approach in the treatment of disease. Understanding this intersection will hopefully provide more ways for health care to be more accessible to underserved communities. I am thankful to be able to explore this interest of mine with SVYM this summer and am excited to share this experience with the rest of my cohort. 

Hayden S., ILR ‘22

Hi! My name is Hayden, and I’m a first-year student studying Industrial Labor Relations with plans to pursue minors in Law and Society and Public Policy! I was born and raised in a small, rural town in Mississippi, and this upbringing has substantially shaped the way I view my life and my access to education, medical resources, and even just supportive, open-minded communities. On campus, you can find me writing for the Cornell Undergraduate Law Review, participating as a GlobeMed member, or, if it happens to be snowing, probably just looking up to the sky and grimacing at the cold and unforgiving weather. I am a major foodie, travel enthusiast, and coffee fan, but when I’m not seeking out new restaurants to visit or places to explore, I am usually reading, working as a volunteer for a few small grant-writing internships, or hanging out with my peers at RESULTS, a DC-based nonprofit where I have the chance to engage as a fellow for international tuberculosis relief and maternal and child care health! 

I wanted to participate in the India GSL program because I know how important global experiences are to diversifying and enhancing one’s perspective on life. My first step towards understanding the importance of regional differences in the context of law, society, and even just community relations was moving from a small town to a massive college campus as a first-generation college student. I hope to continue to increase my set of experiences and travels to become a better student, team member, and human through the GSL program and learn from the many peers and partnerships that I anticipate finding!

Katrina T., ILR ‘21 (Global Health Minor)

Hi everyone! My name is Katrina T. and I transferred to Cornell University as a sophomore from a Christian Bible college near my hometown in Southern California. I am majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations with a minor in Global Health. I have felt a strong calling on my life to go into ministry and do missionary work in places around the world with unreached people groups. My heart’s desire is to spread God’s love and help people in areas that do not have the same access to opportunity that I have from simply being born in the United States. 

I feel extraordinarily blessed and thankful for this opportunity to help people in India through this global service learning program. Coming to Cornell has literally been a dream come true and to be living in this dream is absolutely incredible. When I’m at Cornell University a constant thought I have is that this institution is beyond what I could have ever asked for or thought of. I do not take this opportunity lightly at all, I feel humbled and full of excitement to contribute to our team in India this summer. I cannot wait to see the ways in which each of us learns, contributes and is of service in India. 

Amanda T., ILR ‘21

Hi! My name is Amanda, and I am a sophomore in ILR pursuing minors in Business, Law & Society, and Inequality Studies. I am extremely excited to immerse myself in such a rich culture and work alongside members of SVYM through the GSL program. On campus, I am an ILR Peer Mentor and also work to connect with alumni as a University Representative for the Cornell Annual Fund. Additionally, I am involved with the Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, the Society of Women in Business in the Emerging Leaders Program, and the Student Government Association. 

I grew up in a small suburb in northern New Jersey. My parents are both immigrants; my mother is from Egypt and my father is from Italy. Being raised by immigrants from separate cultures has allowed me to better understand and accept cultural differences as well as appreciate the uniqueness of each one. 

I am interested in Law and Human Resources Management with a focus on gender equality in the workplace and the educational advancement of women. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to participate in service learning and grow as a global citizen in India.

Hanni W., ILR ‘22

Hi, my name is Hanni W. and I am a freshman in the ILR School.  I was born in Ethiopia, but grew up in Bozeman, Montana. I have four siblings, three dogs, and two wonderful Montana raised parents. I am a big fan of the outdoors, reading, and spending time with my sister. I’m passionate about leadership, mediation, and public speaking. I’m not sure what I want to do with my ILR degree, but I do know that an international and cultural experience will be a big part of it. I am very excited to be a part of SVYM’s mission of community service, grassroots political activism, and unique organizational strategy that incorporates human and social capital in order to in act economic change. I can’t wait for this summer!

Steven Y., ILR ‘22

ಹಲೋ! My name is Steven Y., and I am a first-generation, Asian-American male from Staten Island, NY. I am currently a freshman in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and my involvements at Cornell include Minority ILR Student Organization and Assorted Aces, a beginner’s dance club.

In the future, I hope to pursue a career where I can help others as a global citizen. Although I haven’t finalized which career field I wish to pursue, I see myself traveling the world on grand stages where I can use my voice as a means to spread love. What interests me currently is psychology and self-identities, as I only began to understand my Asian-American identity more deeply when I entered Cornell. I hope that this GSL experience will help me narrow down my focus after college. 

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To give some background of myself, I have never been on a plane, so this will be my first experience abroad. With that, I am filled with excitement for the opportunity to participate in this India GSL program, and I hope to bring SYVM a successful experience. See you in June!

Human Resources at Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement

This past summer, I had the privilege of returning to India after five years to work with Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement’s Human Resources team in Mysore. Unlike a lot of my peers, Iam Indian-American and have been to India over ten times. Nonetheless, these six weeks gave me the chance to explore India from a new, purely academic lens and for a purpose other than vacationing in the comfort of my family’s home in Mumbai. I was very interested in the learning about how topics like healthcare, law, and employment were all interrelated in this international setting, and some of the lectures we had during the first week of the program challenged me to think critically about my own beliefs and even question them. 

For me, my decision to come to India meant remaining open minded and understanding that there was much more to gain from this program than just learning about Indian food, clothing, and religious customs – it was about reorienting myself as someone from the outside serving as a member of the Indian workforce. For my project, I was essentially tasked with developing a plan to better SVYM’s recruitment. What most interested me about this project is that I would get a chance to see the administrative side of an NGO, specifically the behind-the-scenes of sourcing talent. I was to collect information about the challenges faced in recruitment, research and analyze how other Indian NGOs attract talent, and create a document detailing ways SVYM could improve their own practices. To help SVYM act on some of my recommended strategies, I also designed visual content for the website, created contact information spreadsheets for potential partnerships, and collected employee testimonials to attest to the work culture. Throughout my project, though, I was mindful of the fact that, despite my observations and research, each of my recommendations had its own advantages and disadvantages based on the resources and desires of SVYM. 

Ultimately, I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the ILR Global Service Learning Program this summer and, upon reflecting on my experience, feel that I have grown both professionally and personally. I was able to see firsthand the needs and limitations of the social sector and contribute to SVYM’s mission in developing human capital, while learning a lot about myself along the way.

                                                             -Nidhi

Ayurvedic Medicine at Vivekananda Memorial Hospital

For my project this summer, I was placed at the Vivekananda Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Sargur, India. The roots of my project, however, go back to the first hospital opened by the founders of SVYM, an Ayurvedic hospital in Kenchanahalli (now reconverted to a livelihood center). Although VMH serves principally as a multispecialty hospital with allopathic care and treatment, the Ayurvedic foundation of SVYM's first hospital are not forgotten. An Ayurvedic department at VMH offers therapies, counselling, and treatment for those who seek it. With two medical philosophies under the same roof, there are often areas of confusion or disagreement for patient recommendations. My task was to work with the ayurvedic doctors, medical doctors, and counselling department to create informative materials integrating recommendations for diabetes, pre/post-natal care, and diet. During the creation of the of the posters and flipbooks for patients, I conducted extensive research, spent countless hours shadowing in the outpatient departments, went on field visits, and spoke with many experts at the hospital to obtain a well-rounded understanding of each topic. 

My work and time in India were not limited to just my pre-assigned project, however. I had the chance to MC with other Cornell students at a presentation for newly minted doctors, work on an Ayurvedic-themed calendar to be retailed for 2019, continue the work of a former program attendee on herbal medicine labels, assist in children's yearly checkups at the tribal school in Hosahalli, and travel with the Mobile Health Unit to rural hadi's in Karnataka. I made lasting connections and friendships with doctors, interns, fellow students, the canteen staff, patients, and too many others to name. These past weeks have been incredibly rewarding and challenging, and I have grown professionally, intellectually, spiritually, and personally because of it. I am forever grateful for the incredible warmth, hospitality, and wisdom shared with me by all the people at SVYM. I know I will carry this experience with me for a lifetime. 

-Joanna

HIV Prevention Sustainability Plan

This summer, I had an incredible experience and pleasure of working with Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) in creating a HIV Prevention Sustainability Plan for migrant workers. The ultimate goal of my project was the reduce the prevalence of HIV among migrant workers in Mysore, India. Due to increasing globalization and industrialization in India, the demand for construction workers has increased, thus also increasing the population of job-seeking migrant workers from rural to urban areas. However, due to their migration status and often low levels of education contributing to unsafe sex practices, migrant workers also serve as the bridge population of HIV between sex workers and the rest of the population. 

Thus, the TI-Migrant Project at SVYM is dedicated to reducing HIV prevalence and increasing HIV awareness among migrant workers in Mysore. My task during my time working on the TI-Migrant Project was to first create a survey tool evaluating the impact of the HIV intervention through interviews and focus group sessions with the migrant workers during field visits. Then, through analyzing the survey data, and comparing the TI-Migrant Project to other HIV prevention interventions in India, I created a sustainability plan to promote HIV prevention behaviors among the migrant workers. 

This project has been incredibly meaningful to me and I am extremely proud to have been able to be a part of a team towards the ultimate goal of making the world a healthier place. 

-Rui

The Devaraja Market

The Devaraja Market is a cite of dozens of local vendors in the city of Mysore.  Here, you can bargain with vendors for a great deal on essential oils, holi powder, soaps, flowers, fruits, grains, spices, jewelry, and more.  The air is filled with excitement, shouting, laughter, and haggling over every last rupees.  

I especially enjoyed going to the oil vendors; they all have a vast selection of oils to choose from, some with special properties like stress reduction, sleep aid, and alleviation of body pain.  The Mysore Herbal oil smells better than any perfume I’ve ever bought in a U.S. department store, and the Blue Moon oil smells like an expensive male cologne. Overall, the Devaraja Market is a great way to experience Mysore in its purest and most unfiltered forms.  I recommend a stop to this collection of local vendors if you are ever in the area.  

-Wyndham

Prerepana Project

My project focused on evaluating the impact of the de-addiction services that SVYM provides to seven slum project areas in Mysore as part of Phase II of their Prerepana Project.  This involved field visits to these slum districts and interviews with recovering addicts, their families, and their friends.  In the interviews, I asked respondents about their drinking habits, earnings, the amount of money they spend on alcohol, their health condition, and their relationship to their families before and after their involvement with SVYM. I organized all of the data that I collect into a pdf document where each page is table with the results from the interviews.  The numerical data that was collected was then put into a spreadsheet, so that data analysis could be done.  This data analysis culminated into a report that discussed the impact of SVYM’s de-addiction services.  I found that those who were able to receive help for their addiction through SVYM’s services experienced an overall decrease in alcohol consumption, an increase in daily earnings, a decrease in daily spending on alcohol, an increase in daily spending on the family or savings, and a decrease in health issues. This suggests that SVYM’s de-addiction services have made a positive impact in the project areas they serve.  

In addition to this report, I wrote another report that discussed strategies to prevent youth substance abuse in the seven project areas.  As part of this report, I created a pdf file with suggestions for posters that could be put up around the community as part of an anti-drinking media campaign.  

Overall, I learned a lot about addiction, myself, and my privilege through my experiences in the field.  The opportunity to meet women who are struggling to raise a family with alcoholic husbands while simultaneously joining community-based empowerment groups was truly inspiring.  I cannot wait to apply what I have learned in India to my coursework at Cornell and beyond. 

-Wyndham

Malikul Muhamad BSILR'20, Labor Law

This summer I had the fortunate opportunity to visit India and work with Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement and Purushotham & Associates. It was truly a humbling experience and I loved every moment—well almost every. Throughout the trip, I faced my share of challenges and I have grown so much as a result. 

As part of the program, I had two projects to study working conditions in factories and hotel establishments and alternative dispute resolution processes in India and suggest improvements to the current systems. Right from the start of working with the firm, I realized how much I would learn as I was able to be a part of a mock bargaining case with a local college and attend an actual bilateral meeting between management and union representatives. From then, I was able to sit in on client meetings, listening to HR managers discuss their issues and sometimes even giving my own insights, and attend court case hearings where I was able to see actual labor and employment cases being tried in person. I did reflect a lot on the value of my projects, specifically because the results of my projects were not as tangible as some of my peers, but I eventually realized the importance of what I was doing and the importance of the educational aspect behind them. Presenting my final deliverables and seeing the smile on the Purushotham’s faces was an incredible feeling, knowing I had made them proud.

Being in India was an invaluable experience, particularly because I was able to grow professionally, academically, and personally. Because of my time with Mr. Purushotham, I have learned so much about alternative dispute resolution, Indian labor laws, Indian factory working conditions, and HR concepts. I have also learned how to work in difficult situations and with different individuals that are not like myself, and I have learned how to get the most information from someone in the matter of 3 minutes (I’m talking about you, Mr. Purushotham). But above all, I learned what it means to emphasize with others, care deeply for them, and how to be compassionate. Seeing the hardships people face in India has really impacted the way I see things and I hope I can bring this same compassion to the U.S. with me. I hope I can use this experience to inspire other Cornell students to apply and come to India and be a part of something greater than just a resume builder. This experience has truly been a rewarding one and I will take it with me wherever I go.

Meet Raju 

Meet Raju. This man has been so incredible throughout my experience, and I hope I can say everyone else’s as well. Raju is the SVYM trusted auto-rickshaw driver that had to deal with our indecisive, confusing, and partially chaotic behinds on an almost daily basis. From driving us to Big Bazaar or to the gardens, Raju is the reason many of us had an enjoyable experience in India. For me personally, I was able to get to know Raju on a personal basis from our daily rides to and from the Purushotham office. I was able to talk to Raju about my project, Indian and geopolitical topics, the current state of affairs of the prime minister, the caste system in India, and about his and my family. From our daily rides, political talks, and samosa breaks, and meeting his adorable little girl Dhanvi, it is safe to say, Raju is one of the main reasons I loved being in India and I could not have imagined my trip without him.

-Malikul Muhamad

Eid in India

With over ten percent of India’s 1.3-billion-person population, it is no surprise that India is the third largest Muslim country. Even despite this fact, I had never imagined I’d see so many people cramped in one mosque.

I celebrated Eid Al-Fitr in Mysore, India this year—away from my family and local community. This was a very new experience for me largely because this was the first time I’d experience Eid away from home. But being able to experience another country’s culture and Eid celebration was worth the separation.

On this day of Eid, I wore my khorta and silk pants that I had gotten from Big Bazaar and was dropped off by Raju to attend the prayer. I had no idea what the Mosque nor the prayer would be like. It was an interesting experience walking with the crowd of nearly ten thousand people and climbing up the seemingly mountain of a hill where the Mosque sat to obtain a prayer spot. It was a little overwhelming. But, it was a beautiful sight. 

There were a couple things that I did struggle with, however. I quickly learned that women are sadly not allowed to enter mosques in India. It was difficult for me to wrap my head around and I felt extremely guilty for going, especially when a female Muslim student from Iowa was not allowed to come. I realized that the dissonance I was facing was a result of my adjustment to a different a culture and a different interpretation of Islam, but it left me with so many questions. Upon returning from the mosque, I did some research and talked to locals to get their perspective and understanding on this topic. I still may not agree with that interpretation of the religion, but I at least understand the local viewpoint and respect their cultural ways.

            I am really fortunate and equally glad I was able to experience Eid in this new culture. I was able to admire the beauty of Mysore and the mosque and the so many different people, listen to the khutbah (lecture), even despite not understanding any of it because it was in Kannada, and I got to spend the rest of the day with my cohort sharing this experience with them.

-Malikul Muhamad