After preparing for a couple days before all the students arrived, the South Asian students presented on their cultures for the international students. You can read more here, and see a few student interviews here, beginning with Olga!
Monica
Mohammad
Rohini
Kultwisiso
Shilpi
Memories that stood out:
- The change in beauty of Dharamshala coming from Agastya.
- Morning walk at Agastya, going through bushes and trees to get away from the monkeys.
- Not talking to many people at the beginning to now socializing with many people. Forgetting about my shell.
- At Agastya, practicing cultural presentations. I wanted to represent my Philippino community. I was nervous, but chatted with Eli, and was able to sing the next day.
- Getting close with friends.
- The first bus ride in Hyderabad. It hit me that we were in India, seeing crazy traffic and dogs and pedestrians.
- Not only one moment from the beginning, but the time we spent together as friends.
- For our cultural show, Indians generally know how to dance, but I personally don’t know how to dance. When we had to, I watched and copied a dance of the Indian group. That’s when I realized I could dance. There’s noting you can’t do, you just have to push yourself.
- With traditional dance and presentations, I got out of my comfort zone. I knew I could get out of my comfort zone, talk to everyone, and be myself.
- When we left South Africa, I wanted to get into plane and get to India. My bag was stuck, the plane was about to leave, the trunk wouldn’t open. I was nervous and flying out of South Africa made me nervous. How was I going to fit in? Then I met Eli, Aya, Ashlene. At first, I tried to analyze the group to see where I would fit in. Then I realized that resilience isn’t always fitting in. You don’t have to follow the group, but you can still learn from other’s experiences.
This trip has allowed me to change my views of what family and friendship means. At times I hated being here but I would start talking to people here and I forgot that I was across the world and jumped out of my comfort zone. These people made India my home away from home. They brightened my dull moments with optimism and joy. We laughed and cried together and we were mad at each other but that’s what families do. I am proud to be apart of 360+ Leadership Collective 2018. I am extremely happy and gracious to have experienced India with these people and I hope to have more experiences to come.
‘SHEROES’ brave acid attack survivors
The woman on the right of me, her mom hurled acid on her face, melting it away completely.
Imagine that in a single moment your face was gone, destroyed by an acid attack. That’s the fate of hundreds of girls and women around the world each year, according to the Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI).
Acid attacks happen across the world and it affects women disproportionally. India has the highest number of acid attacks in the world and the victims are usually women between the ages of 14 and 35 years. There are 250 to 300 acid attacks reported in India every year, despite laws restricting the sale of acid or other deadly chemicals, according to Stop Acid Attacks, a non-profit group.
The attack often occurs as revenge for rejecting a marriage proposal or sexual advances and act usually stems from the male dominance or the preconceived notion that women are powerless. The reasons range from not bringing enough dowry, to bearing a female child and as frivolous as not cooking well.
The psychological trauma is intense — as most victims withdraw to the seclusion of their homes unable to face society. Yet, year after year there are horror stories of victim and out of the hundreds who been attacked only a handful have the courage to come out in the open and face the world fearlessly.
It was so emotional moment for me to meet such iron ladies in person and to hear their incredible stories of how they fought back to emerge stronger than ever. I was literally crying while listening their hearth-breaking stories of acid attacks and their rollercoaster journey so far. I salute you all brave and the most beautiful ladies for your courage and determination, now sky is the only limit! Kudos!!
#moveforward #struggle #acidattacks #inspiration
Sources:
https://www.asti.org.uk/
http://www.stopacidattacks.org/
https://www.sheroeshangout.com/