This is the first time, Shiva coming out of India, This is great learning opportunity in terms my personal carrier development as well as my child and youth organization for social justice work globally, this trip made me to reanalyze the my spiritual faith, being a atheist I use to criticize the religion, god and spiritual faith but after visiting the Unitarian Universals Church, it was taught me their principles and values beliefs towards humanitarian and social justice and action towards the peace and justice for all. Especially I would like to share with you all about the culture and food habits in California, Every day I was tasted different variety of food items, particularly Mexican food, Irish foods, Chinese and Japanese hotel and food and Indian Instant food items (Channa Marsala, Sam bar Rise, Tomato rise, Combo Thali, North Indian tahli , Badam milk, butter milk, Mango laasi and so on). With regard to culture and dress code, I was little bit nervous to Hug them first few days I try to shake hands but they will hug me, now I am completely alright with hugging the people in US. Even though spring climate people are wearing so short cloths in University campus and school campus. I realized about the way of living and cultural advantages and barriers in India and USA.
Here, I would like to highlight some of my learning experience in Southern California, are
I have been connected with various interdepartmental professors and administrators in University of California, Riverside for my research work in India, and also I am very much excited about the guest speaking and lecture program at UCR.
Through library resources I got new ways and methods for qualitative research for Social work and effective field work instructions for Social work students and faculties and field instructor.
I have been using the UCR Social science library resources for my research, there are lots and lots of updated social work research books and online articles and journals.
I facilitated program with No rte Vista High School students and Quall Wally Elementary School from these schools I got opportunity to learn about the primary and high school system in US. In public school, they have well developed infrastructure for the students and teachers and advanced technology was adopted for the teaching and learning, students and parents are actively involved in the extracurricular activity and after school programs.
I went and visited the Universal Unitarian church, it was really impressive and after the formal prayer (it is not a prayer, kind of meeting space for share our ideas and knowledge and get to know each other) I heard two songs both of them about love, justice and Human relationship.
I met all the CLP youth, interns, volunteers, board of Directors, friends and few donors, shared about CLP India work and my research, get to know about the issues prevailing in California and activities done by CLP in US, It was really great exposure to see all the projects and interns and volunteers initiatives
I have got opportunity to attend the URBAN GARDEN PROGRAM with students and faculties of Department of Environmental studies and other inter department students. It was attractive one, for community garden program they are looking at three perspectives one is Environmental, second Anthropological and third Botanical all three department eminent faculties facilitating the whole program. In Urban garden I was engage with sail test this is first time I tested the soil PH, Potassium, Nitrogen and so on.
I learnt about the Local fundraising strategies and method for nonprofit, youth and young adult organizing for Social justice.
The issue in India and US almost similar, the degrees of impact and the approaches of interventions are trivial different, I got several idea to eliminate drop out from the villages and slums.
The Education innovation and innovative multi disciplinary research projects begins from undergraduate itself. The students got vast knowledge about the particular area of interest.
The connection between community, Nonprofit organization and higher education institute and students is very high, I am very much impressed about these projects and activities in California.
At the meanwhile I am sharing my knowledge, ideas and views about social work education in India and globalization and its impact on Child Rights and Child Protection globally and my personal life and family and village.
I use to Share about the CLP India and our partners and volunteers, and their amazing contribution for social justice in India.
Through this Action and learning journey I did small study about homelessness and its impact on migrant children in California, I am working on GLBT civil rights issues in USA, very soon I will write about GLBT too.
I crossed the half in this action and Learning journey in USA, still lots of thing to be done here in order to learn and implement in India for the better world.
There are plenty of ideas and connections are going on my mind and heart for better work for the community
Almost above mentioned everything …………………….I will take back to home (India) for the positive change for our Society.
