Ranchi

From the 22nd- the 26th of Feb. we went to go visit the YMCA in Ranchi to see all the work that they do.
We had to travel over night on a train to get there... that was an experience! The seats fold down into bunks, the ride was cold and bumpy and loud! But we made it, exhausted, but there! The Y had us staying a convent, that also rents rooms out for people to stay in or for groups to stay. We had our breakfast there and then got right into the visit! We met all of the secretaries of the Ranchi Y, They were all so friendly and fun. Mr. Sangar is the head. The first day we went to the slums all day, we saw 2 schools the Y has set up for the children. The families only have to play a very small fee so that their children can go and get an education. The Y also provides the students with lunch. We saw a health clinic that Y has set up for this particular area. The students at the Y school get free check ups and medicine. Everyone else in the community only has to pay very small amounts for treatment. The most eye opening place we went to was a school that is literally set up outside, under a bridge. Cars are passing by overhead and right next to the school. This is school is for the children of the leporse from a colony the Y set up. We visited this colony also. The Y provides them with clean water and medicine so that they are not contagious and get take care of themselves. There were only a few people in the colony because when we went to visit everyone was out begging. The Y helps about 77 people with Leprosy and their families. Later we went to a vocational training school. This school taught girls and women embroidery and clothes making. Everything is done by hand! Their work was so beautiful! The girls were a lot of fun to talk to, they asked us questions about the US and we asked them about India. They told us attendance was low today because there is a festival for women. The women must fast all day and make an offering at the temple, the purpose is that if they do this, they will get a good husband. We went to the local temple to see all the women. We even made it on the news! Alison gave a short interview! That night the secretaries took us out to dinner at a hotel restaurant and had some amazing Indian food! The best was the Saffron and Pistachio ice cream.
The next day we visited 2 more vocational schools the Y set up. The first offered sewing and stitching and clothes making. The women here made beautiful rugs made form old Sarees. Typing, computer, and exam help classes where also offered. Attached was a small elementary school. The Y also offers karate, badminton and volleyball for its members. Then we went to a vocational school, it was mainly a school from KG- class 7. They are working on becoming credited and offering all the way to class 10. The children in the classes all sang us songs! This school also offers typing and stitching classes for adults. That evening the girls that had all passed their sewing classes were receiving their certificates, so they had the credentials to then go get jobs. We were the quests of honor and handed the girls the certificates. There were many girls there from our first visit. The girls were all very happy to have gotten these certificates because now they are able to go get jobs and not have to depend on anyone else. Uni-Y was also there to watch. Uni-Y is a group of YMCA college students that come together and volunteer for their local Y's.
Our last day in Ranchi we were taken to the country side to visit a tribal village that the Y is helping. We were greeted by the Y youth group. we were given Leis and their were drums ad dancing and singing. We got to learn some of the dancing! We were taken around all day and we say a small school the Y has set up for the village children. The teacher must got to the children's houses every day to bring them to school because their parents are to busy working. We sang "baby shark" to the children! We also saw a bee farm where the Y teaches the people from the village how to make honey, we got to try some, it was delicious and we got to take some home with us! We also so a women's group the Y set up. We also got to enjoy and wonderful Indian tribal lunch!
The trip to Ranchi was so amazing! The YMCAs in India have really impressed me. They are reaching out to all the different kinds if communities, the slums, the villages, students, families, and so many more people. I think it is really neat the YMCA has been able to set up school for children that would otherwise not be getting any form of education. They are really giving the people a chance to succeed. It was a short trip with so much to take in. It is incredible how so many people here are really living with absolutely nothing. I am glad there is an organizationlike the Y that is helping to make such a huge difference.