Algumas fotos do meu último dia em Jaipur:
Ai como eu amo essas meninas! Eli (BR), Michelle(Argentina) e Dina (Egito)! As melhores colegas de quarto que eu poderia pedir!
Sweetie! Uma mãe pra nós na White House, que saudadeeeeesssss
White House!
Essa senhora sempre colocava um sorriso no meu rosto de manhã! Ela mora na rua do meu trabalho, e ela sempre estava passando roupa lá na frente. Ela não falava inglês mas mesmo assim a gente sempre sorria uma pra outra e falava "Namastê" :)
Um dia eu conheci as netas dela, e elas falavam um pouco de inglês. Aí eu sempre parava lá pra conversar com elas. No meu último dia eles me chamaram pra entrar na casa deles, conheci a família inteira, e tomei o melhor chai da Índia!
O moço da vendinha da esquina! Um grande amigo :) Provando que sorrisos e gentilezas ultrapassam as barreiras da linguagem!
Essa é o cachorrinho mais fofo e amigável que eu já conheci! Ele ficava na vendinha da esquina, era cachorro de rua. mas o moço alimentava e dava leite todos os dias. Talvez por causa do leite (faz mal pra cachorro!), um dia ela ficou doente. Eu liguei pra uma ong e eles vieram resgatar a Bapu! Porém não devolveram mais... Espero q ela tenha sido adotada e esteja num lar recebendo muito amor agora :)
A vendinha: e Abhishek!
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(texto q eu escrevi pro RAKSHA, pra eles mostrarem pros próximos voluntários)
RAKSHA Experience
My one month and a half of experience working in Raksha was
really important to me. I learnt many skills and improved others, I met people
that I will remember forever, and more important, I got experience in the field
in which I want to work for the rest of my life.
In the first part of my internship in RAKSHA I went with the
team to some schools to watch their presentations about the ngo and its
activities, as well as the threats of flying kites with Manjah. In the
presentation, the students had to pledge that they were not going to fly kites
with Chinese Manjah anymore and not to fly kites in a specific time which the
birds have their biggest activity flying from a place to another. Although the
presentations were all in Hindi, the slides were in English and I could learn a
bit about presentation skills only watching them. I was the responsible to take
picture to posterior facebook promotion.
In my 6th work day came the first challenge. They asked me
to give the introduction of one of those presentations about RAKSHA in a
school. It was a complete different situation for me, presenting in English in
a country that speaks Hindi! It was difficult, I got nervous, but it was worth
it. This unique experience helped me a lot in the nearby future, where I had to
give an entire presentation in a workshop that RAKSHA organized.
The second part of my internship was more about going to the
so expected rescues! And more than that, I went to some release programs as
well, such as the release of pigeons, a royal snake and a baby cobra. Moreover,
I learned much about the treatment of injured birds and about the rehabilitation
program. They also made me in charge of searching and organizing information
about birds and mammals of Jaipur in a booklet, which allowed me to get to know
a lot about wildlife in India. In this period we also had the Curators Birds
Rescue Workshop, in which I had the opportunity to give a presentation talking
about the seminar scope, and basic information about Makar Sakranti, kite
flying and Chinese Manjah.
The third part of the internship was about the Birds
Treatment Camp- BTC, a kite flying festival that occurs during Makar Sakranti,
in which many birds get injured due to the use of glass coated threads. There
was lots of works – sometimes it meant to work from 8am to 10 or 11pm! But at
the end it was all worth it. We have been to many rescues and I could watch
many surgeries done by veterinarians. I had the amazing opportunity to help on
those suturing, holding the birds, and the veterinarians were really attentive,
explaining everything about the procedures.
At the final part of my internship, right after the BTC, I
could help in the post-surgery treatment of many, many birds. Feeding, taking
medicines and changing bandages of birds was really rewarding. To see them
trying to fly and getting better with time make us to feel that we are finally
doing something good for the world! I could be present as well in the Jaipur
Literature Festival, helping in the fundraising for the ngo.
My experience working in Raksha was awesome. I can say for
sure that I chose the best internship for me: in my professional area, with my
favourite animals – birds-, in an amazing country with a completely different
culture and with people that are really interested and believe in what they do.
This whole experience helped me to break taboos and learn so much, not even
about biology, birds, professional behaviour, but also Indian people made me
learn to always smile at others and to be as friendly as possible- knowledge
that I will take for my entire life.
Evelyn Dias Jorge
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(texto pra AIESEC Jaipur - Case Study)
Case Study Project Wild Aid- AIESEC
Jaipur
Evelyn Dias Jorge
Week
1
15.12.14
~ 21.12.14
In my first day of work,
15.12.14, Aman brought me to the office and introduced me to Tania, which
explained a lot about RAKSHA and its activities. Then, I went with Joy Sir,
Kartikay and Manan to Saint Wilfred College where they made a presentation
about RAKSHA and the threats of flying kites with Manjah. In the presentation,
the students had to pledge that they were not going to fly kites with chinese
manjah anymore and not to fly kites in a specific time which the birds have
their biggest activity flying from a place to another. Unfortunately in the
first day I didn`t bring my camera to take pictures, so I just watched.
The first week was full with
presentations in many different schools such as Sanskar School, Karni College
and ICG Girls College. Although the presentations were all in Hindi, the slides
were in English and I could learn a bit about presentation skills only watching
them. I was the responsible to take picture to posterior Facebook promotion. I
also helped to coordinate a project with ICG Girls College, in which they went
to many public schools to give presentations about kite flying, Makar Sakranti
and the dangers of Manjah. I`ve been to P&G School, Dadabadi Basti School
and Khejro Ka Vaas with them and Kartikay from RAKSHA, in the first and second
week of work.
In my first week I could go to
two snake calls – I was really excited to my first rescues! However,
unfortunately the first one was a fake call and the second one we spend a long
time trying to find the snake, but we failed. I also went to two release programs:
in the first one I released 3 red sand boas, which they rescued in this first
week. In the second one, I released a Royal Snake. It was sad because the Royal
Snake had a broken vertebra, and we couldn`t do anything since the surgery is
too costly and requires a technology that we don`t have. Therefore, we released
the snake knowing that it would die soon or later probably by predation. The
release place for snakes is Jhalana Rescue Park, where RAKSHA have an authorization
to release even poisonous snakes. It was really nice to go to this place, since
I could see many birds and blue bulls - but the quantity of trash in such a
beautiful natural environment was a bit worrying.
On Saturday 20th, in which
they asked me to work as an extra day, came the first challenge. They asked me
to give the introduction of one of those presentations about RAKSHA in
Vidyalaya S.M.S. School. It was a complete different situation for me,
presenting in English in a country that speaks Hindi! It was difficult, I got
nervous, but it was worth it. This unique experience helped me a lot in the
nearby future, where I had to give an entire presentation in a workshop that
RAKSHA organized. Still in my sixth day of work I could go to my first snake
rescue – finally a true one. I could rescue a Glossy Bellied Racer, a middle
poisonous snake. Meanwhile, in this day Rinaldi arrived at the White House –
the house where I and other interns lived in.
Week
2
22.12.14
~ 28.12.14
In my second week Joy Sir made
me in charge of searching pictures and basic information about birds that can
be found in Jaipur and organize a booklet. It was really tiring – and it took a
lot of extra time at home until the final of the third week- but it was really
interesting and helped me to familiarize with the most common Indian Birds.
On 22nd we had another release
program in Jhalana Forest, and I could watch the release of a baby Cobra by
Abhishek. We went to Jhalana Forest really early to do birdwatching as well but
something really interesting happened: they told us that there was a leopard in
the surroundings, so it was not safe to stay for a long time there.
Unfortunately – or fortunately?- we couldn’t see birds nor leopards. In this
day also Leo, the third and last intern for my project, arrived in the White
House.
On the 23rd I went to
birdwatching with Abhishek in Lake Maan Sagar Paal, behind Hawa Mahal. It was
really nice to see all those birds and try to recognize the species, as well as
to take pictures of them. I had an amazing time, and after we went to the
Jaipur Zoo Rehabilitation Centre and I could see tigers and lions. Still in this day, I had the opportunity to
go to an AIESEC meeting, I met many new people and got to know many fun songs.
My supervisor Aman applied to became the new Vice President, and fortunately he
got it! We went everyone to have a dinner together.
In this week at the shelter we
received a really interesting bird. A grey Hornbill – such a wonderful bird,
with a big and singular beak. Rakesh taught me the proper way of how to feed
birds with this kind of beak, which was really interesting. More interesting
was the fact that he couldn’t speak English, only some words, but we managed to
communicate and became good friends.
In the entire week I learned
about the rehabilitation program, how and what medicines to take for the birds,
and I could treat 4 pigeons helping in activities such as applying betadine and
anti-fungus spray, giving water with calcium and vitamin B complex diluted and
changing bandages. We had a really special and sad case. There was a pigeon
that fell down on a bucket full of blue ink. The pigeon was really weak, the
feathers were all blue and even his excrements were blue-ish due to the ink
ingestion. We did our best to try to help it, we cleaned its feathers, gave him
water, food and medicines, but unfortunately it didn’t survive.
We also received a baby pigeon
and I could help to take care of him feeding and giving water. Unfortunately
the majority of birds that RAKSHA receive don`t stay at the shelter, usually
they shift them to another ngo, and I couldn`t get to know what happened to
many of the birds that I saw in the shelter.
On the 25th we had
the Christmas Holidays, and Kirtika from AIESEC came to my house to bring us
some Indian food. It was really nice from her, we ate lot of rotis, paranthas – my favourite-, a sauce that I wouldn`t remember the
name, and finally a special dessert made of carrots! Super different and tasty.
I also gave her a Brazilian dessert that I had cooked that day: brigadeiro. At night, Vedanch, Aman,
Aditya and Sam from AIESEC came to the White House to have some party with us.
On 26th Rohit Sir
explained me everything about the rehabilitation process and how to treat the
birds. I had already done everything of that in RAKSHA before- but it is always
good to double check information! In this day we went to the Popular Public
School for video screening and we started our Signature Campaign – we made big
posters where people could sign pledging that they were not going to use
Chinese Manjah anymore. I kept taking pictures, and it was nice to see the enthusiasm
of the students to sign those posters.
Week
3
29.12.14
~ 04.01.15
In the third week I finally
went to my first bird rescue. I went on 29th to a rescue of two
Australian Birds with Tania. A men bought them to keep in a cage but they
started fighting a lot. One of the birds had a severe injury in its head and
unfortunately arrived in the shelter with no life anymore. I also could release
a recovered pigeon, while the other interns took pictures for promotion.
Still on 29th we
have been to SMS School for one more presentation and for the signature
campaign. A group of students from this school had the amazing idea to make a
performance about birds and Manjah and we helped them going to some malls to
get a presentation permission. Throughout the day we went to different places
with SMS school where they presented, attracting a lot of people`s attention,
while RAKSHA was there with the posters of the signature campaign. The places
covered were: Birla Mandir, another temple next to the City Palace, as well as
two different shopping malls.
On 30thv December
my holidays were finally going to start, but I faced some problems withdrawing
money from my Australian card that didn’t allow me to travel until 3rd
of January.
On 31st I went to RAKSHA again to
handle some pictures, and they wanted me to stay working. I said that I could
do the work, but I would like to do that in my home because I was on holidays.
At night, AIESEC people came again to my house to party, they are so awesome
that even brought a cake and samosa for us.
On first of January I spent my
day sleeping and relaxing, and on second of January something singular
happened. At 01:30 am, Rinaldi knocked my door saying that there was an injured
bird upstairs. We had to wake up our friends to get to the upstairs’ veranda
and there was indeed an injured pigeon, stuck in a net. We rescued it and had
to go to the streets to find a box to put the bird in, cause we didn`t have it
at home. Later, after having a proper
sleep, we went to RAKSHA to give them the bird and I handled the booklet.
However, I guess my boss forgot I was on holidays and he gave me more wok, I
had to format everything in the booklet – something that in the beginning he
said he would do. I got really frustrated, after all I was on holidays….
On the third day of January I
finally solved my issues with my card- I could withdraw money, and it meant I
finally could travel! Right after in the next day, I went with Rinaldi to
Pushkar. It is a lovely city, however, I tried a Special Lassi and got really
sick. For my luck, people from the hotel were really attentive and called a
doctor to me, and in the next day I woke up better and went back to Jaipur.
Week
4
05.01.15
~ 11.01.15
Throughout my 4th
week, I kept working in another booklet – this time a mammal’s booklet. I also
learnt how to sterilize some utensils which was useful for the BTC later.
On
January 5th a sad thing happened again, another pigeon got stuck in the same
net upstairs in the White House. We rescued him and decided to cut and throw
away that net.
On 6th of January I
went to Agra with Leo and Rinaldi, and the bus experience was at the same time
scary and funny – those stories that we tell to our friends like “the day that
I took the worst bus in my life, in India”. But I don`t regret it, since the
day I chose to go to India, I was willing to experience it in all of its facets – such as using the different
bathrooms, taking a shower with a bucket, eating street food, or taking crowded
buses.
On 07th of January
I was back to work. I went to a white pigeon rescue with Devang , and I also
helped in making and sealing many letters for the Birds Treatment Camp
invitation. The next day was my birthday – and coincidently Tania’s birthday as
well. People from my work were really friendly and brought us a cake and
flowers.
The 9th January I
spent treating around 9 pigeons and giving them water, as well as preparing
myself for my presentation in the next day. The Curators Birds Rescue Workshop
on 10th was a really nice experience. My presentation was about the
whole Seminar scope, and basic information about Makar Sakranti, kite flying
and Chinese Manjah. Unfortunately the other presentations were all in Hindi so
I couldn’t get much of them.
On 11th we received in the
shelter a dehydrated egret and I could watch its treatment: an injection was
necessary. We finally would have the so-expected training for the Birds
Treatment Camp! However, it was with the other volunteers and it means entirely
in Hindi. I and the other 2 AIESEC interns complained to our boss, we were so
excited about the training and couldn’t understand it. But we didn’t receive
any other type of training and it was a bit scary to go to the BTC with no
preparation.
Week 5
12.01.15 ~ 18.01.15
On 12th we had the Peace
Rally with some schools, a walk against kite flying and utilization of Manjah.
Unfortunately I was feeling a bit sick and had to leave earlier that day.
From 13th to 15th
January was the Birds Treatment Camp started! We had a lot of work - sometimes it meant to work from 8am to 10 or 11pm! But at the end it was all worth it. We have been to many rescues and I
could watch many surgeries done by veterinarians. I also helped in folding
flyers, pasting flyers in otto rikshas and giving information to people
interested that came to the stand. I had the amazing opportunity to help on
those suturing holding the birds, and the veterinarians were really attentive,
explaining everything about the procedures. In the three days of BTC I’ve been
to 15 rescues, being 14 pigeons and 1 red wattled lapwing. I also watched many
surgeries and could help in 8 of them. At the shelter, I helped Rakesh sir to
treat around 35 pigeons changing the bandages, applying betadine and etc.
On 14th I did two
interviews for E TV for Rajhastan. At the same day I went with Rohit sir to an
event in Tagori Hospital that provided the ambulance for the BTC. The event was
photographed and published in the newspapers one day later.
On 15th when I arrived at
the office, there was many boxes with birds in one room and some of them were
opened. No one had arrived yet – it was only me and Rinaldi at the shelter-,
but I decided to put the birds back to the boxes. I got to put 2 pigeons and 1
parakeet back to the boxes. That was an awesome opportunity to put in practice
what I've learnt in the Curators Workshop and in my days working in RAKSHA
Throughout BTC I could see many birds
arriving at the camp, such as pigeons, lapwings, doves, egrets and black kites.
When I went to rescues by motorcycle I could observe how serious was the
situation: lots of threads everywhere. Once when I was with Naresh in the bike
we stopped to help two woman in another bike that was stuck in Manjah. They had
Manjah even in their necks, that`s super dangerous. Later, Naresh came back
from a rescue with a little mark in his neck due to Manjah. Fortunatelly it was
nothing serious, but it could be!
After BTC we had a lot of
work in the shelter: I helped Rakesh sir to treat 30 pigeons on 16th,
36 pigeons on 19th and 36 on 20th. In the weekend of 17th
and 18th I went to Sawai Madhopur with Leo and Rinaldi to do a
Safari in Ranthambore National Park.
Week 6
19.01.15 ~ 21.01.15
Finally, my last activity
in RAKSHA was on 20th and 21 st when I went to the
Literature Festival. I helped to sell some merchandise for fundraising, and I
could watch a really good session about story telling with Cat Weatherill.
Conclusions
My experience working in RAKSHA
was awesome. I can say for sure that I chose the best internship for me: in my
professional area, with my favourite animals – birds-, in an amazing country
with a completely different culture and with people that are really interested
and believe in what they do. This whole experience helped me to break taboos
and learn so much, not even about biology, birds, professional behaviour, but
also Indian people made me learn to always smile at others and to be as
friendly as possible- knowledge that I will take for my entire life.
