October 20, 2014

Being tourist in my city

My fellowship with AIF has been such an amazing experience. I am learning both at professional front as well as personal font. When I first learnt I would be located in Kolkata I had a sense of comfortness and familiarity as I had visited the city during my college days.

I was aah I know all about Kolkata, but my interaction with co – fellows during orientation helped me zoom out my outlook of the city I would be in for 10 months. The curiosity, excitement of my American fellows to experience India culture, food and their inquisitive questions of India energized me to explore and discover my Indian culture consciously. By the time my co fellows asked me “are you excited to be in Kolkata I just blurted out Yeah am gonna be tourist in my own Country “.

Here I am sharing the moments and places I have traveled being AIF fellow and working with switch on:

I had never seen jute plant in my life so I was thrilled to see it but oops it smells like awful.:-)

I visited a village in Nadia district which is close to Bangladesh. I learnt there is train direct from Kolkata to Bangladesh and I am already dreaming myself on the train right now.

I spent a night in the historical indigo cottage more than 30 years where switch on has their solar learning center.

I had an amazing boat ride on Ganges to Belur math and had a spiritual experience

I had an awesome time with big boi Andrew, Laura and Ilana while visiting kumortuli which is famous for artisans making Durga idols.

Lastly it just a beginning and I know there is still so much to see, hear and experience but I truly love my fellowship till then.

Author

Yojna Lama

Yojna studied Social work and during her Bachelors she volunteered for Pulse Polio Immunization Camp Participated in ASER Survey for NGO Pratham and conducted AIDs awareness campaign. During her Masters she had interned with NGO Vashundhara in Orissa to conduct process documentation on "Empowerment of Women through Forest Right Act". After her Masters, Yojna worked as Enterprise Promotion Executive with Udyogini. She handled Intel Udyogini School of Entrepreneurship and facilitated training on entrepreneurship, life skill and functional literacy. In 2012 Yojna joined Eco Tourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim. She handled Nokia E-waste School Awareness Program which accentuated her interest to work with youth on environment sustainable development issues. She is a member of Zero waste Himalaya. She was engaged in research study on Compliance Level of Plastic Ban in Sikkim. She lead a team to conduct baseline data collection on status of sanitation and hygiene under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan in Sikkim. She represented Sikkim in the Indian Mountain Development Summit and was involved in drafting youth recommendation for sustainable mountain development. Yojna also volunteered with WWF-India where she developed a curriculum on Environment Sustainable Development.

View all posts

yojnalama

Yojna studied Social work and during her Bachelors she volunteered for Pulse Polio Immunization Camp Participated in ASER Survey for NGO Pratham and conducted AIDs awareness campaign. During her Masters she had interned with NGO Vashundhara in Orissa to conduct process documentation on "Empowerment of Women through Forest Right Act". After her Masters, Yojna worked as Enterprise Promotion Executive with Udyogini. She handled Intel Udyogini School of Entrepreneurship and facilitated training on entrepreneurship, life skill and functional literacy. In 2012 Yojna joined Eco Tourism and Conservation Society of Sikkim. She handled Nokia E-waste School Awareness Program which accentuated her interest to work with youth on environment sustainable development issues. She is a member of Zero waste Himalaya. She was engaged in research study on Compliance Level of Plastic Ban in Sikkim. She lead a team to conduct baseline data collection on status of sanitation and hygiene under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan in Sikkim. She represented Sikkim in the Indian Mountain Development Summit and was involved in drafting youth recommendation for sustainable mountain development. Yojna also volunteered with WWF-India where she developed a curriculum on Environment Sustainable Development.