Day five
Tuesday- A(dvocacy) day of coming together, culture and contrasts
Today we carried only the WAGGGS flag. On arrival at Sangam we came as our individual nations but now one flag better represents the team-building which has taken place during this seminar and our common group identity.
Reflection was based on Quakerism. Quakers gather together (in silence) in "expectant waiting" for divine leadings and, if they feel they are moved by the spirit, stand up and share a message. This silence was a stark contrast to the chatter which is characteristic of this seminar!!!
In the morning, we had the opportunity to visit the Kayakalp ’Changing Lives project’. The centre works with female sex workers in Pune’s red light district. Set up in 1993, Kayakalp provides a crèche for children brought up in this environment. Some sex workers act as ’peer educators’ to inform their colleagues about the risks of HIV and AIDS.
The project is an illuminating example of advocacy in action. We were moved by meeting the prostitutes in their brothels and inspired by the story of one peer educator who has hidden her job and illness from her family and community. The visit gave us deeper cultural understanding of Indian society.
A very precious experience
I appreciate the mothers for thinking of their children
I was astonished one lady told us she would die here
In the afternoon, we worked on our own advocacy campaigns, having private consultations with our planning team which helped consolidate our ambitious ideas. We feel inspired to take these plans and dreams back to our associations.
The evening was another cultural experience: a Bollywood dance party! Even if we thought we couldn’t dance we soon learnt that slowly, and with some practice, we sure can! With the music turned up loud, it was a vibrant evening!
Lal Patrol (Red)
Your comments
alia - 10 January 2008 - 10.35AM (GMT)
hi. I saw all the amazing work that all girls did. I am really proud to belong to such an astonishing movement. I am from the Arab region and I missed it but hope will be able to be in the next one really :(
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