Moments of hope in a desperate place

On Easter Sunday, as I began to write about my most recent trip to Pardada Pardadi, I struggled for words that would be adequate in describing this experience in India. I have had so many friends, family and supporters asking about my time there, so it’s time to find the words. My heart is always with the girls at PPES, who count among the most needy girls in our world. Their hope for a bright future is the result of everyone who cares enough to provide support for their education, and for the incredible work being done at PPES.

Processing my experiences has become more challenging, as I have been given the privilege of delving deeper into the lives of the people, and witness so many unthinkable things that are a part of life in the village. From our arrival in Delhi, until my departure, every day provided the opportunity to live amongst, and love, so many wonderful girls and their families, and the staff, who have allowed me to be a part of their lives. The warmth and hospitality, along with the many incredible experiences that most in the western world will never experience, can also be too much at times. Yet, I know that God gives me all that I need to continue the work I have been called to.

The first week was filled with 5 days of medical camps, with two US and three Indian doctors. This incredible team was able to see hundreds of patients/villagers during five days of camps in two of the very poorest local villages, as well as at the school. Bringing medical care to the people in this region is huge, as virtually no care exists in this region. Students and staff alike were able to see doctors, and be treated for a vast array of conditions. Lots of antibiotics were distributed for the many infections, mostly the result of poor hygiene. Our dermatologist, was able to treat so many skin conditions that will never be seen in the US, most of which could be prevented with simple hygiene. The people tend to have little concept of what that entails. We hope that through school and community health and hygiene education programs, villagers can begin to practice safe hygiene, thus improve their health.

International Medical Relief - IMR -will be returning to PPES in June. Last year, 22 US medical personnel saw 2500 villagers during 6 days of medical camps. PPES looks forward to hosting IMR this June, when they return to bring medical care to the villagers. $20,000 is needed for the Health Center, nurse’s salary and two doctor’s salaries. Two doctors come to the school on Saturday’s to see girls and villagers.

Incredible moments include the the distribution of 2200 pair of undies, all donated in the US. Many of our girls have never had a pair of new panties, so this was an exciting time. Thank you to all who made this project the great success it was. Last summer, our students appreciated receiving over 1000 bras from the US.

120 preschoolers receiving their first combs. This included a hygiene lesson about combs being your own, and they are not to be shared. Lice, bugs and scalp infections are a challenge at the school. I brought treatmet for lice to the school to be used by our school nurse. Again, it was fun to watch!

A big thank you to Soap Box Soaps for donating 1800 bars of soap to the school, for girls to take home, and for use at the school. Soap, and handwashing, has decreased illness significantly.
Thanks too to the students who worked with the doctors at the medical camps. This may change the course of their futures, as they consider a nursing as a career. The confidence and leadership abilities demonstrated is gratifying, knowing we are truly making a difference. A simple, “I’m so proud of you”, “you’re doing a great job”, are words they may never have heard before. A great smile makes my work so gratifying.

Eyeglasses is a newer concept at the school. 22 of our girls visited the local eye ophthalmologist. 60 % of our girls are malnourished by WHO standards, which causes problems with vision. Though some of our girls now have eyeglasses, their eyesight will continue to be problematic until their nutrition improves. The school needs $12,000 for the Nutrition Enhancement program, which will improve the overall health of our girls.

One of the highlights of this trip was the opportunity to visit many of the villages, and the homes of our girls. This experience ranged from excitement to heartbreak. Word spreads quickly that we are in the village, and before long I feel like the pied piper walking the streets, accompanied by children, as we weave in and out of houses. Among the images, forever etched in my mind, is this little girl who is so extremely malnourished, likely to die from the condition. This is a common reality in the village, not just a picture in a magazine.

I met with Pooja’s mother and her 6 year old sister. Pooja, 8 years old and a Class 1 student, was recently killed by a poisonous snake, as she swept her home. The snake still roams, as Hindu beliefs prevent killing anything. I cannot imagine the fear of her family and villagers, knowing the snake is still out there and can strike down another life. The pain of the mother losing a child is the same the world over, so meeting with Pooja’s mother was heartbreaking. I think of Archna, her 6 year old sister, having lost her big sister and best friend. Her cousin, Kajill, pictured here, also attends PPES.
Elsa, our school nurse and my interpreter, took me to Manisha’s house to meet her 95 year old, blind grandmother. Manisha has no parents, and her role in life is to care for her grandmother, in one room, infested with rats at night. They count among the most vulnerable. I am left to wonder what will happen to Manisha when her grandmother dies. Will she be “married” off, sold into the brothel life?

My tour guides. Anjali and Chamma…they were a delight as they accompanied me for a day of village tours. They were thrilled to carry my backpack, notebook and cameras. It has been wonderful watching these girls grow since 2010. Their father and grandfather are in prison, so the children and mothers are on their own. It is great fun being with them, as they take pride in taking me to the homes of our students.

Polio continues to impact lives in rural India, despite what WHO reports. I have met too many young people who have polio, including students at PPES, with no treatment available, nor devices to improve their mobility. Typhoid continues to kill children in the village, as does cholera, malaria and many other diseases long eradicated in the US. $26,000 is needed to vaccinate our girls, as the Indian government, continues to nothing for these children.

There is a vast scale of conditions for living in dire poverty. The narrow roads, too small for a vehicle, the intense heat of the sun, the animals living in the homes(some just one room, with a buffalo or two),while the children and adults roam barefoot, the dust and smoke in the air, the stench of garbage piles can be too much at times, and the condition of the children, malnourished, in rags or nothing at all, so very dirty-are all witnessed on these visits. Though all of our girls live in the dire of poverty, some live better than others. This might mean the house has a toilet(outdoor, squat), a water source, and a dirt floor swept clean. It also might mean the family has a door on the house. The women and children are so vulnerable, with no protection.

Child sponsorship- $40/month is what it costs to educate a child at Pardada Pardadi. This includes 3 meals a day, 2 uniforms/shoes/sweater, transportation(bicycle or bus), textbooks and health care.

Every day at Pardada Pardadi is incredible! To witness success, confidence and self-esteem, as our girls learn that they deserve to be treated as equals to boys, to have dreams and actually live them out, and to change the face of India for their own daughters, is what keeps me coming back.

We cannot do this without your help. Please visit education4change.org to make a donation today.
Or send a check to: PPES 321 Hillside Lane Kennett Square, PA 19348
I can assure you that your donation will be well used, in the area that you see as the need you would like to support. …………………………………………..
Mary Cairns