Formal Presentation
Trip Start
Feb 24, 2007
1
10
14
Trip End
Mar 09, 2007
Gwalior,
India
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
The evening started a little late (we were waiting for the commissioner who had promised to attend) with a formal welcome from Dr Singh.
Myself, Dan C and Andrea then gave a short presentation on behalf of the supporters visit. Translated by Dr Singh, we discussed our impressions of WaterAid India and the fantastic work which we have been privileged to see. We also talked the important role of hygiene education - probably the element of WaterAid's work, which I have learnt the most about during the visit. Its really easy to measure progress by the installation of hand pumps and latrines, and especially easy to tell donors that this is how their money is been spent
Andrea and Dr Singh
. Measuring the successes and showing donors the benefits of the hygiene education is much harder. Yet, the simple act of teaching people about the importance of hand washing, can cut diarrhoea by 40% which is incredible. After our presentation we gave the WaterAid India team a scroll; on which we all promised to take home the messages we had learned and continue to raise funds to support the projects, and a signed WaterAid T shirt as a reminder of the trip and a small token of our thanks. They had also prepared gifts for us, and we each received a beautiful traditional ornament, which will always remind me of the warmth and kindness with with they have treated us all.
The presentation continued with the table of dignitaries each receiving a wrapped copy of the documents, which were well received by the audience. Finally, a video about the slums of Gwalior was shown to the group. The video was fantastic and really showed the slums as we had seen them earlier in the day.
At the end of the meeting it was time for our final surprise, WaterAid asked if we would sing, expecting a performance of our signature turn (heads shoulders). Little did they know that we had secretly been rehearsing a new number. Conducted (brilliantly) by Dan B, we sang a Hindi friendship song "Chorengay", which i suspect received more marks for effort, enthusiasm and entertainment than quality or musical ability! But it was great to be able to show our appreciation.
The evening was a real success, both documents were well received and the commissioner gave an interview to the papers and a TV crew
Concluding remarks
. But for me it was great to be able to actually help WaterAid India spread their message and use what we have seen over the last 10 days to start to help communities like Mudheka on the first day where their seemed no hope. After the presentation concluded dinner was served and we had the opportunity to talk to audience. The highlight for me was getting to talk to the leader of the womens group from the slum we visited earlier today. In the slums she commanded respect from everyone around her and I was impressed by the enthusiasm she had for her role and the changes she was driving. But tonight she spoke, to an important and highly educated audience, as an equal, it was truly amazing to see the wider impacts of WaterAid's work. By setting up self help groups they are educating people about how they can change their own lives and help themselves, and it is really working.
On a much lighter note, the most entertaining part of the evening was definitely part taking of a local custom. We had organised a thank you cake and it seems that the Indian tradition is not to eat the cake yourself but to feed (small pieces) of it to other people; which with a cake topped with cream had endless possibilities for silliness!
Enjoy the photos,
Claire x
