Choosing a good firm for your
internship is not an easy job. I was lucky enough to choose one. Sshrishti
India Trust was the organization I shortlisted after much research. At Sshrishti, I had fun
as well as learned a lot about NGO working and its principles. Learning is the
important part the important lesson which my mentor Ms. Ankur gave me was interning
in a Ngo is an adventure. You get to visit and understand places in your city you
never thought existed.
Me and my friends interned in Sshrishti means creation.
It has the mission of creating a literate and equitable society with every
child and woman empowered to pursue their dreams.
It is a very good Ngo to work for
and I was lucky enough to get selected. On our very first day we went to see
some of the centers of Sshrishti. Sshrishti Ladli and Sshrishti Jai Hind camp. These
are some centers which are located near Vasant Kunj. There we met some inquisitive
children and we had candid discussions with them about school, sports and the
locality in general. I chose to work in the office area for some time and later
went into field work. The office work was fun and we came to know how actually
the ngo’s work. How they raise funds and where and how are those funds are spent.
It was good to know that Sshrishti is a financially transparent organization.
Later on, for my field work I
went to Bhatti Mines, Sanjay Colony to conduct a survey. The survey was to know what are the opportunities
given to people living over there what work they do and how their lives can
become better through various skills. The survey was also a test of your
people-skills. How you conduct your questions how you talk to them how you
behave. Survey is easy if you fit in with people for that you have to keep your
ego aside if you have any and talk to them as your friends. The entire exercise
becomes fun if you are able to talk to everyone on the field and have the
patience to explain to them why are you doing what you are doing. Going to
Bhatti mine itself was an experience. The road till the village was excellent
but the way inside was bit rough but it was a ride worth it. On the first day I
met Mr. Babar and Ms. Hema who helped me do the Survey. Going to a Village and
talking to women in northern part of India is not easy for a male person and so
I needed a female to talk to them. Ms. Hema went with me to houses and asked
women to answer my questions which was a big help. Ms. Hema and Mr. Babar work
in one of the Sshrishti center in Bhatti mines. They sure were a big help in
guiding us through the field and making us acquainted with the community
members. I observed that Sshrishti has made many changes in the area and most
children go to Sshrishti Bal Shiksha for their early years education while many
young adults have joined Udyam for skill development. Sshrishti is a household
name there and when we would approach people as volunteers of Sshrishti, they
would treat us with much familiarity.
The overall experience in the
village Bhatti mines was like an eye-opener. We were acquainted with the
realities of Delhi which were not so pleasant but presented a hope for a better
future. It was good to interact with the villagers and know about their hopes
and aspirations, an opportunity we wouldn’t have got otherwise. Also its an
adventure worth a life time and was instrumental in instilling in us a sense of
compassion for the underprivileged. We also learned that these are kids and
young adults not so different from us. Only difference between us and them is
that we are a bit more privileged. With much efforts from NGOs like Sshrishti,
these children can go a long way.
After a ten-day fieldwork I came back
to head office and there I submitted my surveys to my mentor and then she would
tell me the mistakes in my survey. There sure were many but it was a good
survey which I conducted. Then I again started working and learning in the head
office and in between kept going to some of the centers near by to meet
children and spend time with them and I finished my internship by writing this
reflection of the experience of my internship. Overall, it was an experience
worth penning down.
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