Update from Jelle (see earlier report) |
Vizhinjam, 9th March, 2009 |
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I still well remember my first breath of Indian air when I stepped out of the aeroplane onto Indian soil. I thought "How can one survive in such a moist climate?". The air felt so dense that my lungs had problems swallowing it. But through the years I have grown to love this air. |
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As he still does now, Paul was waiting for me outside the airport with the SISP schoolbus and its drivers. Today, the scenery is still the same, but some of its protagonists have changed. Bus drivers have come and gone, following their own path to fortune and happiness, after SISP gave them a stepping stone, an escape from extreme poverty. Also the school bus has changed. From a raggedy old white bus to a brand new, marine-blue TATA van. My first encounter with the school was mindblowing. So much energy, so many smiles and tears, so many stories cramped together in a small house. But the mix of all these aspects makes SISP the beautiful blend that it is. |
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Throughout the years the project has grown tremendously, flirting with the borders of its capacity. Children, beneficiaries and SISP employees have come and gone. We’ve grown - from an old rented house, to a brand new, self-owned schoolbuilding, big enough to house all the different aspects of SISP. But the chemistry remains and every single day pure goodness pours out. My role in the project has also changed, simultaneously with my growth as a person. The first time I arrived here I was a young adult, not always happy with my role as a student social worker but with a lot of energy and curiosity. Since the ocean has always been my passion, and riding its waves my way to make love to her, I had no choice but to take my surfboard to India. |
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It wasn’t always easy and some situations ended unhappily, but when I look back now I’m proud of 'my' children. Today, the Kovalam Surf Club has around 20 members, most of whom show up every Saturday and Sunday and, most importantly, go to school on a regular basis. Thanks to our sponsors we now have a surfboard for every child and an appropriate surfing outfit. The children have their own clubhouse, where we keep our equipment and slip into our surf shorts. The local authorities know the surfing children and respect them now, as long as they behave appropriately, which they learned to do. |
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This year’s highlight is definitely the arrival of a television crew from the Belgian TV channel Ketnet. This week they are shooting ten episodes on SISP, two of which will cover the kids surfing. Besides this, a professional cameraman and reporter will arrive here at the end of this month, to make a documentary on Indian society, in all its beauty and cruelty, and the role SISP plays within it and the surf club. The only three members of Kovalam Surf Club older than sixteen will also get a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel with the cameraman and reporter to the remote Andaman Islands, in search of good waves and good times. Hopefully this will stimulate these adolescents in their responsibility of being good role models for the younger children. |
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When looking back, I can conclude that all energy, time and money I, together with hundreds of people with the same dream as me, have spent in helping SISP has been more than worthwhile. I have seen and felt so many smiles and hope, but I have also seen so many tears, so much cruelty and have felt deep disappointment and powerlessness. But at the end of every day, all experiences, good and bad, I find a balance, which keeps me motivated to continue… |
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Last night I lay awake in bed, reliving my time in India. I tried to make a recapitulation of my last 4 years. Has it been worth spending time, effort and money in SISP? Is my aid really making a difference for the poorest people of this region, or has my time spent here just been an educative experience for myself?
