Erin and Henry came to India together, having been friends for a long time, even though their motivations to work for Leave UR Mark were different. Erin made the long journey mostly because she wanted to do meaningful work in a developing country: “I’m studying nursing at the University of Akron, in Ohio. I came to India because I had some volunteering experience in Africa and wanted to see whether the healthcare measures I saw over there held true in India as well.” Henry, however, made the trip to Bangalore mostly because it seemed a fun experience: “I’m studying liberal arts at the college of Wooster and I’ve always enjoyed traveling, which comes easy to me. When the opportunity came to help Erin out with Leave UR Mark, I took it.”
They had an opportunity of teaching healthcare to street children in India through Leave UR Mark. Here is their story
Working at an orphanage for young boys, aged 8-18, Henry and Erin often arrive late in the afternoon. Henry explains:“Part of our work is to teach the kids a nighttime routine, aimed at increasing their sense of hygiene. We don’t arrive at the orphanage until the kids get out of school, and then we often stay into the evenings. In the end you’re dealing with little kids who really like the fact you’re there for them, and there shouldn’t be a restricting schedule.” When they first arrived at the orphanage, Henry and Erin brought several games and a big pile of books, which the kids enjoyed immensely. As the kids come to greet them in the street, thrilled to see their friends arrive, Henry explains:“We’ve really got a mentoring role here. All in all, these kids don’t get to see many people and to see how we act and behave is, in a way, a learning experience for them: they really look up to us.”
While Henry starts solving a puzzle with some of the kids, Erin adds: “Of course there is the immediate entertainment we’re bringing by playing with the boys, but we’re also teaching them things that will keep them healthy for years to come.” Henry agrees: “Honestly, if these kids can only remember half of what we’ve been teaching them, they will simply live longer lives. Look at their teeth, for example: the fact we’ve given them tooth brushes and taught them how to brush their teeth can have an impact as big as preventing gum disease, and ultimately heart disease.” To ensure the kids have remembered this health routine, Erin takes them apart for a small test, trying to find whether they remember how to properly wash their hands and use and use the mosquito nets they’ve been given. With a smile, she explains that she really expects their impact to last: “While we worked here, we’ve been trying to teach these kids to be leaders in their own right and in turn teach the new kids, passing on what we’ve taught them about hygiene.”
The boys’ endless enthusiasm can also be tiring however, and Erin says they have been lucky to have two other people work with them over the past few weeks: “They’re two Germans, who have been teaching the kids how to dance. They have helped us out a lot and are very enjoyable to work with.” With a laugh, Henry tells that they even invited them to go to an Indian wedding. “They’re great friends. Through their studies at home, they really managed to introduce a social aspect into the orphanage, showing us how to better work with the kids.”
In the end, though, their experiences in India have left Erin and Henry with the realization of how much they’ve still got to see. As she finishes the test she’s made, taking stock of what the kids have remembered, Erin explains: “I’ve really started to enjoy my time here, but there’s so much more to learn in terms of healthcare and culture. At home I work at a children’s hospital and it would be a great opportunity to set up a partnership with a hospital here in Bangalore.” Henry adds: “When we arrived, we had a lot of expectations on where to go and what to see, but coming here I’ve found just how big India is and how little we’ve seen, despite our many weekend trips. There’s so much more to do; I can definitely see myself coming back.”
