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Dalit Solidarity was very proud and pleased to have 53 students and staff from the following academic institutions participating in its 2007 winter break Service Adventours program:
- American University
- Boston College Graduate School of Social Work
- Notre Dame University
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Temple University
- Villanova University
- Camp Hill High School (PA)
- Trinity High School (PA)
The students spent two weeks working with the following programs and activities:
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WACH. Students had the opportunity to work with our new health care initiative that focuses on improving the health of the women and children living in the rural villages of the Villupuram District. Women and Children’s Health (“WACH”) emphasizes preventative health care, a concept unknown to this segment of the population. WACH will utilize a new diagnostic computer software system that provides patients with a probable diagnosis and recommendation for treatment. Dalit Solidarity is the first NGO to license this software program from its developers. A complete medical and social history for each patient must be collected and entered into the EDPS database. Two students were placed on a team with one of our nursing students and a translator. Over the course of four days, the teams collected data from over 1300 villagers. Students gained field experience while interacting with the local Dalit population.
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Dalit Leadership Academy. Volunteers were responsible for preparing a one-day curriculum. They taught music, arts and crafts, songs, games and spoken English.
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Homebuilding. Students from American University and Villanova University helped to construct homes for two widows in our villages. Eight women and children now have new homes of their own.
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Soccer Camp. Volunteer coaches conducted two four-day camps for 360 Dalit youth. This was their first sports camp experience and for the girls, their first time playing soccer. The camps were a resounding success. There are now plans to start the area's first soccer league for both boys AND girls!
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Caroline Mary Memorial Learn-to-Swim Program. In rural India, only the boys learn to swim. Following the tragic drowning of one of our students, all of the students are being taught to swim. helped the children to overcome their fear of the water and to learn basic swimming skills.
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In addition to working with these programs, volunteers had the opportunity to attend discussion on a variety of social justice issues affecting the Dalit population. They visited the cities of Pondicherry and Mahabillapuram. The students attended a variety of cultural programs, including the First Vellakulam International Dance Festival on New Year's Eve.
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