By Diane Wong, World Vision Child Sponsor
My prayer when I decided to embark on a trip with World Vision to India was to lead me away from the busy and often hectic yet mundane work in this city. I was hoping for an escape to take a step back and slow the pace of life with a deeper reflection; to make sense and account for what I have accomplished in 2009; to experience and see for myself the great need out there. Indeed, I witnessed a hard fight for life, for needs that seem so available to my peers and me back home, that we take it for granted. The trip also brought the prayers and love of the child sponsors in Singapore, to encourage the children and their families that although we seem very different on the outside, we care in the same special way. One of the ways that we can help is to provide financial support that improves their lives, empowerment through knowledge that leads to a bigger transformation, and a new life.
The visit to Dhemaji Area Development Programme (ADP) in Assam, northeast India from 11 to 15 October 2009 saw five working city girls from Singapore with our gifts and anticipated hearts, led by World Vision staff embarking on a long journey. From Kolkata to Dibrugarh in Assam, then a three-hour boat ride crossing the Brahmaputra River and finally a bumpy and dusty ride to Dhemaji village. For the first time in our lives, we have to live peaceably with the countless insects in our rooms, bathrooms and beds! I felt sorry for the hotel staff that had to endure our occasional shrieks while preparing our meals, comprising small servings of fish or chicken with potato and dhal and not forgetting a hot brew of Assam tea that we grew to love.
Dhemaji is one of the poorest districts in Assam and World Vision’s involvement in this area began in 1993 during a flood relief programme. That realisation helped me further appreciate the work of the organisation. The Dhemaji ADP team, led by the Programme Manager, Mr. L. Khobung possesses such great dedication to develop solutions for the people’s critical needs. Each of them, in their own area of work, be it training workshops on livelihood programmes (e.g. piggery farms, dairy programme) or the daily walkabouts through the sub villages to listen, to see and to feel the struggles of the people, I see love and passion so true and strong that I believe, the satisfaction and reward from their calling has to be of one truly sacrificial and giving, and not measurable in terms of monetary compensation or self glorification.
The interaction with the people and the community was heartwarming and humbling. We were greeted with dance, cultural shows and warm handshakes, their warm ways to express their gratitude and heartfelt thanks. The people were initially curious, inquisitive and maybe even shy. Through the games with the little ones, sharing and exchange with the adults and many questions that span from personal ones like: What are our dreams and aspirations? What do we do for a living? To bigger social ideas like: What is the economic situation in Singapore? What is the government doing to promote and increase the fertility rate? Are women respected and treated equally? I personally felt privileged to be able to share with the young women and men that we are made equal in God’s sight and only through education and knowledge that we will be empowered to change our lives, to one that is better and out of the vicious cycle of poverty and rigid stigma of social inequality and mistreatment. The visiting group and I want to encourage and garner their spirit that financial help can only help develop a community and solutions for their critical needs, but it will be their self -dignity and will power that prevails for years to come. World Vision will leave the Area Development Programme one day, a sad but real reminder that the people have to be independent and self-sufficient. I had a chance to share during a leaders’ conference and my note to the leaders was that we are the real privileged ones to be able to walk, hear, feel and see their struggles. it will be the love of the people to sustain and carry them through in times of great distress and challenges. I pray that with God’s guidance and direction will be their leading light.
I left Singapore for India, thinking what more could be done to encourage and bring joy to the little children? Did I bring enough gifts and sweets? What should I say when I meet them and will it be awkward? Would language be a great barrier between us? Doubts and uncertainty lingered initially. In the end, I came home with a spirit humbled by their faith and fight for a better life, simplicity so real that I felt I was more blessed and received much more in return. I boldly spoke for my fellow visitors and I that we too thanked them for teaching us and bringing us back to basic – to be grateful for whatever we have everyday.
Life itself is a blessing and to live one well and victoriously should be our common path. Life itself is a celebration. So, if you have not taken the first step to embark on a journey to see the work being harvested in the fields, it is my prayer that you will take the first step soon and sponsor a child or even visit your sponsored child and their families. You may be pleasantly surprised and deeply touched that your mere presence with the people will be enough and be of a great blessing and joy. At the end of the day, it is a realisation that we are doing our little part to help and empower a hero from within, investing in the lives of these little children of God.
Click here to watch a photo slideshow of the Dhemaji Child Sponsors Trip.
