More about the 2012 trip!

So the plans are all falling into place. The visas are taken care of, the shots and appointments have happened, we've been talking to all the places we're volunteering... it's really happening! The fundraising is on track too - just a couple more lunch sales and we'll pass the $10 000 goal.

So, as you're probably all wondering, what exactly are the travel plans?

Here's the brief version: we'll fly into Madurai from Toronto by way of Brussels and Chennai. We'll leave on the 18th of June at some ungodly hour and arrive early in the morning local time on the 20th. From there, it's just a couple hundred kilometres by train to Ayikudi, where we'll start volunteering with Amar Seva Sangam.

From there, we'll head north, still within Tamil Nadu, to volunteer with Families for Children in Podanur Junction, just outside of Coimbatore. We'll arrive there in early July and volunteer for 10 days. And from there, we're travelling some 1000 km to Pune, Maharashtra. We've budgeted a few rest days in there along with travel time for a bit of a break, so we might take the long route by way of Goa or Mumbai - those plans are still in flux. From Pune we're getting a ride to Jamkhed, home of the Comprehensive Rural Health Project. This will be the last NGO we work with, and that will take us to the very end of July.

And from there, who knows? Some are taking off to see family in Mumbai and Delhi, some flying back to Canada right away, and others are hatching vague plans about hiking adventures in the Himalayan foothills.

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?msid=206979149495596562711.0004bf2ce3e72f5b52783&msa=0

Photos are Up and DVDs are Available!

Here is a link for photos of the evening! (Evening in India 2012 Photographs)

If you'd like to order a DVD of the evening for $10, please email us at indiahealth@gmail.com by May 4th.

Again, a huge thank you to Dr. Dev Sainani for the filming and creating a DVD, and to Dr. Sydney Siu for photographs of the evening!

Evening in India wrap-up

It's over! An Evening in India was a big success this year. We have lots and lots of people to thank - all the performers, all the people who helped with organizing the program, food, silent auction, hall, etc., and, of course, everyone who attended. We're still finalizing some of the accounting, but it looks like the total amount raised is about $6000 - we're so pleased! This money will make a big difference to the NGOs we're working with this coming summer.

The plans for the trip are coming along - we've all got our visas and vaccinations taken care of, and slowly but surely everything is falling into place.

A little more about the 2012 team

Well, it seems high time to say a little more about this year's team. Here's a brief bio on everyone:

Hello!

My name is Paige Doherty and I am very honoured to be a part of this amazing initiative. I completed my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education at Wilfred Laurier University and am currently in my first year in the occupational therapy program at the University of Western Ontario. A combination of my volunteer experiences working with seniors and with people with intellectual disabilities as well as my education has led me to pursue a career in occupational therapy. I was fortunate to be able to travel last year and through that experience I have learned many things about myself and about others. Travelling gave me an appreciation and respect for different cultures and has piqued my interest in global health. All of these experiences have shaped who I am and make me a unique part of the 2012 IHI team. As an occupational therapy student I have begun to truly appreciate the value of holistic care and I am very excited to put what I have learned to use in India. I am so grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope to provide the people I meet in India with as much kindness and knowledge as I will inevitably receive from this experience.

Hi, I’m Michelle, one of the first year medical students on the 2012 team. I’m very excited to be going to India this summer! I first became fascinated about India as a gallery guide at the Art Gallery of Ontario when they had an exhibition about the Maharaga, the Indian Royalty. It was amazing to learn about the culture and customs as well as some differences between the classes. My interests in international health and public health have thus far mostly been from a research standpoint. Having an

engineering and research background, I have always been interested in learning about global and public health advances. Now, I would like to have a hands-on-approach. I would love to travel and see where these advances would be of most use. I hope to feel that I have made a difference in patients’ experiences, as well return to Canada with a wealth of knowledge that I can use to help advocate for improved health care systems worldwide. And a bonus would be being able to do a bit of ‘real’ hot yoga in my spare time.

My name is Ashok Ramchandani, I am a first year Occupational Therapy Student at UWO. I was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I did my undergraduate degree at Lakehead University majoring in psychology with a minor in gerontology.  My background is Indian, both my parents were born and raised in Bombay, India. When the opportunity to join IHI came to my attention I thought it would be an amazing opportunity for me to learn more about my cultural background. I have never been to India before but all of my familial roots are there. I have always wanted to travel to India and learn more about my background and visit the place where my parents grew up, however, the opportunity never presented itself until now. When I learned about IHI and what the team does while in India it convinced me further. I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with the NGO's in India and have a positive impact on the lives of many people there. So far being a member of the 2012 IHI team has been great! We are well underway in fundraising and planning our Evening in India event which I am very excited for.

Hello!

My name is Aleshia Denny and I am in my final year of nursing at UWO in the compressed program. I have an honors degree in Health Sciences with a specialization in rural and remote communities also from UWO.  This program gave me solid foundation in Community Development and Rural Health, as well challenged me to explore topics on aging, health promotion, ethics, occupational health and safety, palliative care, quality of life and alternative therapies. I’m from Gowanstown, Ontario.  I am a true country girl at heart and I love to travel and experience different rural areas around the world. I have been very fortunate to have travelled to Rwanda, Cuernavaca & Nicaragua with my previous Health Sciences degree. Thus far, most of my nursing experiences have included mother/baby, geriatrics, mental health, community and the emergency department.  I am enjoying every opportunity this experience has offered so far. I look forward to broadening my nursing skills and knowledge beyond the classroom and am ready for all the excitement and new experiences this India mission’s trip will present. Together, our interprofessional team will collaborate to attain the goals we have set for this year. IHI Team 2012…This is going to be an experience of a life time! 

Hi everyone! My name is David Wonnacott, and I'm in my first year of medical school at UWO. I grew up here in London and took off to Kingston for my undergraduate degree at Queen's. I changed majors many times but graduated eventually; my degree says mathematics and economics on it. I've come back to London for medical school, and I'm loving it so far. I really wanted to learn more about how health care is delivered in other parts of the world and how health care is shaped by the culture, demographics, economics and politics around it. Developmental economics was one of my favourite courses in my undergraduate career, and I was really interested in how economic development and health care are intertwined - and almost all of the studies we talked about on the subject came out of India! The India Health Initiative seems like a great opportunity to help improve health care delivery in some underserviced areas and to learn as a medical student and as a global citizen. I hope to see you all out at the Evening in India fundraiser on the 30th, it'll be a great time and we're all excited about it.

An Evening in India 2012

The 2011-2012 IHI team is excited to announce this year's Evening in India fundraiser! This year, the show will be at London Central Secondary School, from 7:00 to 9:30 on Friday, March 30th. The theme is Festivals of India, and acts will represent festivals from religious traditions and regions all over India. Besides these wonderful performances, there will be a silent auction and refreshments for sale. Tickets will be $20, or $15 for students and seniors, or get a GOLD ticket for $40 that comes with a tax receipt. It'll be a great show and community event. 

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We're very grateful for all the help and support we're getting from the community - this fundraiser and organization wouldn't work without it!