Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Journey to Ghagas

The Journey to Ghagas would end with an oppourtunity to see the Sehgal Foundation implementing training on village governance with delegates from several surrounding villages.
Village Women paying attention to a discussion on various different topics concerning rural villages' governance.


One of many vendors found along the rough path.


It is unbelieveable how close these people walk near upcoming, reckless traffic.



This dog did not open up a trash bag. It is a part of the landscape.















Wednesday, May 27, 2009

We have it made....

Here are some pictures taken near where we stay:


Lady assisting in the production of a form of concrete
A woman walking near some sheet metal (sadly it is their residence)
People Bathing in a vacant area early in the morning.
Photos: Juan Elizondo

IRRAD is a ballin place....






So I am in Gurgaon, Haryana. I am at the IRRAD (Institute Of Rural Research And Development) headquarters which is an eco-friendly building to the max. It has the most gorgeous architecture inside and out and is a self-sustainable facility that symbolizes the self-sustainable initiatives of the Sehgal Foundation (The non-profit I am documenting while in India). I am blown away by the building, but also blown away by looking out the window 50 yards outside the facility and seeing people living out of sheet-metal shacks, bathing in scarce water, going to the bathroom in a hole in the ground, and just wishing they could do something but the 112 degree weather makes it difficult. It pays a little from being from Texas because the heat isn't too bad because it isn't humid like the dirty south.

My time in the villages starts very soon. All of my research was worth my time this semester, but I believe it will all be thrown out of the window soon when I encounter first-hand experiences. I will have videos and pictures to come. If you have skype please let me know so when I am bored and desperate I will have something to do.