Thought you might like to know...

I am going to Jodhpur, India to work with a non-profit for 9 weeks this summer.



Jodhpur is located in the state of Rajasthan, India, on the fringe of the Thar desert. It thus experiences extreme seasonality: in the summer (May-Aug), temperatures rise to a maximum of 42°C. The heat, unlike Singapore, is dry and thus less stifling.

Jodhpur's second largest industry is tourism because of its scenic landscape and monuments.


I obtained a grant from Emory's Center for International Programs Abroad to embark on a programme with the Foundation for Sustainable Development, a US-based NGO that has site teams in Africa, India and South America. They match me with a local NGO depending on my interests and skill sets, as well as that NGO's needs. We're still discussing where I will be placed, but it's probably going to be something related to microfinance and/or women's empowerment.

At a 6.5% real GDP growth rate, India has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Yet there exists a gap between those who can take advantage of India’s growing opportunities and those who are socioeconomically marginalized. A quarter of India’s population lives below the poverty line, and the legacies of rigid gender and caste systems restrict many women and Harijans (the lowest caste) from gaining education, employment, or financial capital.

In Jodhpur, empowering women, Harijans, and rural populations are the focus of local NGOs, which set up schools, self-help groups, training workshops, microfinance groups, and resource centers for vulnerable populations. The initiatives aim to empower the marginalized by equipping them with skills that they can use to work, learn, and advocate for themselves. In addition, they ensure relevance and sustainability by inviting community feedback and evaluation.

My site coordinator suggested Sambhali Trust, a women and children empowerment group, and Basix, a microfinance group. I haven't looked into either organisation in-depth, but if you're interested you could definitely google them (or just click on the links above). And tell me what you think!

Development is hard, unrewarding work. I enjoyed my work last summer, acting as a "neighbourhood consultant" for a neighbourhood association. But at the end of it all, I didn't see how my work had any impact on the neighbourhood. That was very discouraging. I didn't want to let go of this non-profit/development idea, though, because I believe that we need to help the marginalised and vulnerable. Market forces cannot do all the work.

That's why I decided to apply for the CIPA grant to do this programme. I don't think I knew what I was getting myself into--visa applications, more grant applications, Hindi lessons (hopefully coming soon), vegetarianism--I was just heady with the excitement of going to a new country, being able to say "I went to a less developed country" or "I went abroad during college" (not that I'm not doing that already). I was tempted to turn down the grant when I got it, but the opportunity to learning more about development and be able to design my own project was one I could not let myself pass up.

Who knows what doors, ideas, feelings this may open up for me? Yes, I'm afraid. But that's never a good reason for anything. In contact improvisation there are times when we take the whole weight of our partner. When I feel afraid, I remember God calling me to rest in Him and I remember the sensation of sinking into someone else's body, trusting that they will carry my weight.

P.S. You can read more about FSD's intern abroad programme here.