Our last day

Friday 28th November 2008

Another wet moring in Bangalore so needless to say we were in for a change of plan. I was down early for breakfast (did I tell you that I like the food here?!) at which point the team leader told me that the site was not safe for us to work due to the heavy rain. It basically means that sewers would flood into the homes of the community and the building materials would become uselss until dry.

As this was the last day on site we were all understandably a little gutted. We were however allowed to visit the site and say farewell to the families that we had been helping. We left on time (9am) and headed to the slums. Despite the heavy rains the roads keep working and life carries on even though it is in 6 inches of mud in places (take note TFL!!!)

We arrived at the site to the usual excitement. Word had obviously got around that we were coming back as we were met with the usual smiles and happy faces. A sludgy walk past the first two houses and we realised why it wasn't an opiton to work when it's so wet. The sand is heavy and the breeze blocks become even heavier (we spent 2 days shifting them so let me tell you, you don't want them any heavier!!)

We took a group photo and then asked to go and visit the homes. As we expected, the sewers were at bursting point trickling into the drinking water wells and the paths had become a mixture of mud, garbage and cow pats. At this point you don't know what you are treading in so you just have to get on with it. I met with the family that I have been working with. They were happy to see us and had missed us these last few days. We looked at the work that we had so diligently cracked on with over the last few day. The shell of the house looked actually quite lifeless. It has been a hub of noise, team work and laughter for such a short time yet looked like it was just bricks and mortar again. We all looked at it and, with the language barriers, made gestures about where things were going to go, how many people would live there etc.

I have to say there were a few tears as we all had to eventually say our goodbyes. Each person held our hands and said we are now 'part of their family' and expressed how much we have changed their lives.

An example for you; just by moving bricks form one side of the road to the other has saved the family a tenth of the yearly wages by not employing local staff. Given the fact that each household earns approximately 40,000rps (about 500 gbp) per year we have saved them a lot. You look around at the absolute poverty and as you walk through, everyone smiles and waves.

We left the family and headed back to the main house where we normallty ate lunch and waited for the others. The team had organised a closing ceremony where we could express our thanks to them for allowing us into their community. Before we knew it, we had a representative from each family and many giggiling children all sat in the room wirth us. We were thanked by the team at Habitat for Humanity who are really quite increidble. The projects that they embark on are across the world. We were told that now we are part of the 1 million worldwide volunteers that will be doing what we have done across the world.

Then we had an impromptue perfomance from each of the children who sang songs and did little dance moves to rapturous appplause. A translater passed on the messages from each of the family representatives. Each of them said how grateful they were for showing them repsenct in their community and their homes, they actually felt like human beings.

Some of us made a little speech and I said a few words. I explained how they have taught us humility and the joy of being part of such an amazing community, amongst other things. The whole experience has obvioulsy moved quite a few people. Even some of the big boys were shedding a tear or two. As I was talking to the grandmother of the house in very short sentences she shook her head, grabbed my hand and smiled, simply saying 'thankyou, you are in our hearts'.

Although I have tried, I actually cannot explain how amzing, diverse and charged this place is. One thing I have learnt is that you may see material poverty but actually these people are some of the richest in the world, and if I can keep that thought when troubles try and bring me down back at home, then this trip has been worthwhile. As one lady said,'who has benefitted here, them or us?' I hope it is them but deep down I don't think one person can go home without being a different person...and that could be the start of something amazing.

This is my last update from India.


Ian Edwards, NABS