Namaste!
We’re writing to you from the rural clinic campus of Kenchanahalli, outside of Mysore, in southwestern India. We are working with the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM), a grassroots organization that promotes public health and community-based healthcare in the surrounding 110 villages. From SVYM’s mission statement and our own observations, there is dedicated attention to sustainability, community participation, and serving the needs of the rural poor.
Our projects include:
- Documentation of Ayurveda procedures and preparations, which will contribute to a one-year nursing program
- Creating a standardized protocol for sickle-cell screening, hospital treatment, and community outreach
- Development of training materials for community health workers who will conduct a gestational diabetes population risk assessment
We are also thrilled with the opportunity to attend weekly mobile health clinic visits that serve remote communities in forests near the Kerala border.
Outside of these projects, we are learning Kannada, sipping on lots of chai, going for walks in the rain, running away from spiders (the size of your haaaand!), practicing yoga, snapping photos of wild elephants, and eating delicious vegetarian food. SVYM has a great website at svym.net if you want to read more. Also, we will be posting more reports, stories, and reflections – along with photos – so keep checking in.
Shubah ratri,
Team India – Sarah, Kimmi, Kallista, and Mara
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