Sabrina, Kandace and Helen have been challenged, changed and inspired, making some wonderful friends along the way. Join the girls as they reflect at the end of their six months as part of an Oasis Global Action team in Chennai.
Click here to find out more about our Global Action teams.
Sabrina Derham
Reasons for joining a Global Action team: I had always known that I was meant to go and work for a charity in my gap year. A friend recommended Oasis and I had always wanted to go to India.
Most excited about: The work that we would be doing as we didn't really know what it would be.
Most nervous about: Being ill and leaving everyone at home.
Time spent: Teaching Maths, English, hobbies and games to the girls at the vocational training centre; doing songs, colouring and crafts at a nursery; organizing games and crafts for children before their extra tuition classes and anything that needed done in the office.
Best thing: Getting to know people, spending time with the children and girls that we worked with and seeing them smile!
Biggest lesson: To go with the flow and take each day as it comes, and to rely on God in all situations.
Advice for future volunteers: Be prepared to work hard but throw yourself into it and enjoy every moment.
What's next: Working for 6 months before I go to university to read geography. If in future I came to spend a longer time abroad the length of time and missing people won't worry me so much then.
Kandace Tiala
Reasons for joining a Global Action team: I wanted to take a break from education and after visiting Mali in Africa, I was sure that I should do something abroad.
Most excited about: The work that I would be doing. I didn't really know exactly what that would be, but just reading about the possibilities made me feel excited.
Most nervous about: Getting sick and leaving my friends and family for such a long time – or what seemed like a long time.
Expectations: I didn't know what I would be doing so it was difficult to have any expectations. I hoped that I would be of real use here and that the experience would change me in some way. It has exceeded my expectations.
Best thing: The relationships I have built, chatting to the girls we teach, listening to a nursery child sing a song that we had taught them, playing games with the slum kids.
Most challenging thing: At first the language barrier was incredibly frustrating. I also felt like I had been thrown in at the deep end when I arrived.
Biggest lesson: Humility – I am not always right and my view of the world is not necessarily the only or the right one. And that life isn't all about what I achieve - not everything is about 'doing'.
Advice for future volunteers: Be prepared for a fantastic experience. There will definitely be ups and downs, but it is worth every one.
Helen Melon
Reasons for joining a Global Action team: I wanted to take a break from my studies and to have the experience of traveling and doing voluntary work. I wanted to do this as part of a team so that I wasn't alone in my experience.
Most nervous about: Missing home loads and not liking India, and I was scared about getting ill.
Most excited about: Seeing a new country and culture
Expectations: That I'd find it a worthwhile experience and that I would be of use. I have been able to contribute lots whilst learning lots.
Best thing: All the friendships I've made, from adults to tiny children.
Most challenging thing: Sometimes not knowing what I was doing or what was expected of me. Not being able to communicate properly because of the language barrier.
Biggest lesson: Not to be surprised by sudden changes but just to embrace everything and know that it doesn't matter if not everything goes to plan. Also to look to God with every problem or fear.
Advice for future volunteers: Concentrate on building relationships and enjoying yourself and then everything else will follow. Expect the unexpected! I don't think you'll ever know what its like till you get here.
What's next: Exeter University to study Theology. I'm not sure how my time here will affect my future I guess I'll just have to wait and see...
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