Teach for India --- Mid-year Retreat

Four months into the Teach for India Fellowship and we get our first break of sorts – the Mid Year Retreat at Ahmadabad for four days -- All second year fellows (2014) and some first year fellows (2013) and the staff, of course. We stayed at a Jain ashram and slept in a 20-bedded dormitory.

Yes, we stayed away from what to do in the classroom and how to make our lessons better. But this was a different learning experience altogether. Sounded simple enough -- Simply answer the following questions: What are your core values? What are your passions? What is your purpose in life? How would you see that purpose helping educational equity in our country?

We mulled over these questions each day as our City Director, Sandeep Rai , took us through various videos and presentations. I kept asking myself --Isn’t it true that these questions are an end in themselves and we spend a lifetime answering them?

This was one part of the retreat. The other part included meetings with people who have made their passion into their life’s purpose because of their values. These people have dedicated their lives to the service (Sewa) of others. All real life examples. For several of us it was difficult to stomach. Most of our learning time was spent at Manav Sadhana, an NGO at the Gandhi Ashram in Sabarmati.

The second half of the last day there were five different activities to choose from. A Padyatra, Flowing with Love, Visiting 3 different communities. I chose to visit the community of beggars and those afflicted with leprosy. This colony is called Loving community and I chose it for the simple reason that a leper and beggar community to me meant a lot of discomfort. So about 15 of us reached this place and I was pleasantly surprised to see a neat and well maintained colony. The children were quite a happy lot and the seniors seemed content. We played with the kids, changed the bandages of those leprosy infected people who needed help that day and helped serve food to the seniors. Dinner here is served for all senior citizens by Manav Sadhana. I must mention the refreshing tea and the delicious pulao that we had.

At night, the next generation of young people , back from work and college, chatted with us and played their regular game of volley ball. We slept in the huge community centre with 10 other kids. Though we left at 5 am, the children woke up to say goodbye. Vijay, our coordinator, said he would accept our thanks only when we came to visit again. That night we took the train to Pune. But the churning of my mind had begun. The four days flashed by leaving behind so many questions for me to answer.