Saturday, January 3, 2009
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Calcutta Volunteer Essay
On my arrival in Calcutta, I was greeted by a group of very enthusiastic volunteers from Taiwan who helped me orientate in a new, foreign environment.
We worked with CRAWL for a few days, but soon ran into problems with the organization. The people-in-charge were inconsistent about the way in which volunteer's fees were used, and whenever we demanded an explanation, we were met with hostility and disrespect. Not only did they reprimand us for "questioning their integrity," they even expelled all the Taiwanese volunteers.
The lack of transparency in this organization was lamentable. In order to resolve the dispute, I asked to see their accounts but they got defensive. They thought that by signing, and thereby agreeing to the contract, the volunteer forfeited the right to question the organization afterwards. But CRAWL failed to honor the contract when they lied to us time and again.
They claimed that they paid an annual flat fee to the hotel to host foreign volunteers. They revealed that of the 17500 rupees that each volunteer paid for the 3-week program, 7500 went to donations while 10000 rupees went to the accommodation fee. However, on checking with the hotel management, this proved to be false, as we discovered that CRAWL was charged like any other regular customer. Moreover, with this new information in hand, we found out that many of us had actually been overcharged for accommodation.
Then CRAWL claimed that the hotel did not usually host foreigners, and that foreign volunteers were only allowed to stay there, on a discounted rate, thanks to a special agreement between CRAWL and the hotel. On checking with the hotel a second time, there appeared to be no such rule restricting the reception of foreign guests, nor was there a special discount for volunteers working for CRAWL. Time and again our investigation refuted their claims.
Then unknown, elusive charges began to crop up in their explanations. Not only were they unable to explain how the accommodation cost came up to 10000 rupees per pax, they began telling the volunteers that apart from the accommodation cost incurred at the hotel, CRAWL also had to pay the rent and utilities bill for the flat. This is outrageous because we were clearly not told beforehand that though we were staying at the hotel, we also had to share the flat expenses.
And if there was something for which they could not furnish a plausible explanation, they'd evasively dismiss it as a misunderstanding. It was very disappointing.
Nonetheless, we did not let this setback upset our plans in Calcutta. Through a stroke of luck, Christine and I found another organization, CSM (Calcutta Stations Mission), to volunteer for. This organization was started by an Australian nurse, and run mainly by foreigners with the help of a few local people. CSM is funded with donations collected overseas and unlike CRAWL, does not charge volunteers a fee.
CSM runs two free clinics that provide basic medical care and health education in slum areas. In Calcutta, public hospitals are often under-equipped, and basic wound care is often neglected. Post-surgical wounds are often left to rot due to lack of wound dressing supplies. We even heard stories of people having to amputate whole limbs because of an infected wound that was not dressed properly.
CSM therefore makes an impact by providing much-needed wound care for free. Foreign volunteers, who are often health professionals, bring in medical supplies that are not available locally. CSM makes regular visits to the local hospitals, singling out patients who need extra wound care. Overall, we were very much impressed by the professionalism that we saw while working with CSM. We also helped out with their daily food program, distributing food to the homeless at the Sealdah Train Station.
Despite the issues that I met with at the beginning, I felt that in the end it was a very enriching experience.
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POSTED BY Kok Hou Chia @ Princeton University
We worked with CRAWL for a few days, but soon ran into problems with the organization. The people-in-charge were inconsistent about the way in which volunteer's fees were used, and whenever we demanded an explanation, we were met with hostility and disrespect. Not only did they reprimand us for "questioning their integrity," they even expelled all the Taiwanese volunteers.
The lack of transparency in this organization was lamentable. In order to resolve the dispute, I asked to see their accounts but they got defensive. They thought that by signing, and thereby agreeing to the contract, the volunteer forfeited the right to question the organization afterwards. But CRAWL failed to honor the contract when they lied to us time and again.
They claimed that they paid an annual flat fee to the hotel to host foreign volunteers. They revealed that of the 17500 rupees that each volunteer paid for the 3-week program, 7500 went to donations while 10000 rupees went to the accommodation fee. However, on checking with the hotel management, this proved to be false, as we discovered that CRAWL was charged like any other regular customer. Moreover, with this new information in hand, we found out that many of us had actually been overcharged for accommodation.
Then CRAWL claimed that the hotel did not usually host foreigners, and that foreign volunteers were only allowed to stay there, on a discounted rate, thanks to a special agreement between CRAWL and the hotel. On checking with the hotel a second time, there appeared to be no such rule restricting the reception of foreign guests, nor was there a special discount for volunteers working for CRAWL. Time and again our investigation refuted their claims.
Then unknown, elusive charges began to crop up in their explanations. Not only were they unable to explain how the accommodation cost came up to 10000 rupees per pax, they began telling the volunteers that apart from the accommodation cost incurred at the hotel, CRAWL also had to pay the rent and utilities bill for the flat. This is outrageous because we were clearly not told beforehand that though we were staying at the hotel, we also had to share the flat expenses.
And if there was something for which they could not furnish a plausible explanation, they'd evasively dismiss it as a misunderstanding. It was very disappointing.
Nonetheless, we did not let this setback upset our plans in Calcutta. Through a stroke of luck, Christine and I found another organization, CSM (Calcutta Stations Mission), to volunteer for. This organization was started by an Australian nurse, and run mainly by foreigners with the help of a few local people. CSM is funded with donations collected overseas and unlike CRAWL, does not charge volunteers a fee.
CSM runs two free clinics that provide basic medical care and health education in slum areas. In Calcutta, public hospitals are often under-equipped, and basic wound care is often neglected. Post-surgical wounds are often left to rot due to lack of wound dressing supplies. We even heard stories of people having to amputate whole limbs because of an infected wound that was not dressed properly.
CSM therefore makes an impact by providing much-needed wound care for free. Foreign volunteers, who are often health professionals, bring in medical supplies that are not available locally. CSM makes regular visits to the local hospitals, singling out patients who need extra wound care. Overall, we were very much impressed by the professionalism that we saw while working with CSM. We also helped out with their daily food program, distributing food to the homeless at the Sealdah Train Station.
Despite the issues that I met with at the beginning, I felt that in the end it was a very enriching experience.
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POSTED BY Kok Hou Chia @ Princeton University
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Masala! 印度攝影展暨服務成發~
活動日期：10/20(一) ~ 10/28(二) 9:00AM-5:00PM
活動地點：政治大學藝文中心三樓創意學院
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策展人：
政治大學 金融四 陳玫君、廣電四 楊筑珺、廣告四 劉欣蓓、廣告四 陳品伊、廣告四 魏閤廷
特別感謝：
政治大學課外活動組、青輔會、萬邦鞋業執行長陳清煙、台灣醫界聯盟執行長林世嘉;國際事務部主任周劭彥、盧有恆老師、陳文玲老師、張芷盈學姊、政治大學創意實驗室、以及每個為印度捐款及捐獻物資的大朋友小朋友們、與我們親愛的家人。
印度志工服務心得(下)
深 入Field我們在CSM的第一天是到一個叫塔壩的村落進行醫療計畫跟衛生教育。醫療計畫的部分就是幫當地村民包紮傷口。但剛開始我跟國豪比較像從旁協助的小護士，跟著他們一步一步學，或是包一些小傷口。On the first day in CSM, we went to a village called Dhapa Durgapur to provide medical care and basic health education to the villagers. As I was inexperienced, I stood at the sideline and watched the more experienced volunteers dress wounds. Gradually, I got the hang of dressing minor wounds.
包完傷口後就是很有趣的衛生教育時間：幫小朋友洗澡!對在台灣長大的我們來說，用乾淨的水洗澡是理所當然的。但他們不是! 在CSM到那裡前，他們的洗澡方式就是跳入池塘--- 一個同時用來洗衣服、洗鍋子、洗小狗、與大小便的池塘。我去一次大概要洗十幾個小孩…洗得我腰酸背痛，全身溼透。不過看到他們全身亮晶晶的樣子就很有成就感。而且小朋友都好可愛! 搶著要給我抱抱，還有的搶著要牽我的手指，有一個小女生因為搶不到我的手指就跟另一個小女生吵架了…讓我尷尬又好笑。After that comes the interesting part: bathing the children! As someone who grew up in Taiwan, I realized how much I used to take clean water for granted. Before CSM started this program, young children used to bath in the pond--- the same one that was used to do the laundry, to wash the utensils, animals and where human waste was disposed of. Now, water was drawn from the well for bathing purposes. I washed several children until I got a backache because it was a very tiring task! Nevertheless, I felt a sense of achievement when I saw their sparkling clean bodies. Moreover, the children were just so lovable! Two girls competed to hold my finger…It was embarrassing but at the same time so funny!
CSM的另一個醫療計畫是在Topsia進行。它們借了一間塗滿亮橘色的房間當作clinic。我在那裡除了協助醫療服務外主要是教一個有心智障礙的小女生英文數學。她一開始原本很害羞，但後來我發現她其實很愛唱歌，所以就開始放音樂給她聽。然後她就聽著五月天或是蘇打綠的歌開始打著節拍搖滾起來…很可愛。而且她還會幫我把教書時不斷掉下來的瀏海塞到耳後，就甘心。CSM also runs another medical clinic at Topsia, where a small, orange- coloured room was used as a clinic. I taught math and English to a young girl with learning disabilities. She was very shy at the beginning, but I later discovered that she liked music, so I started playing songs of Mayday or Sugargreen(Taiwanese Ban) on my mobile phone. She looked so lovable when she clapped gleefully to the rhythm of the music! 有一次俄羅斯女生帶我們去看當地的鞋工廠。結果我大概離50公尺遠就快暈倒了，因為全都是強力膠的味道! 結果後來走近一看，裡面有一堆童工。我覺得心好痛，又忍不住一陣鼻酸，這些小孩應該去上學而不是在那裡…。We also visited a shoe-making factory nearby. I could smell the chemicals from 50 meters away and I almost fainted! When I approached the factory, I saw a lot child laborers inside. It grieves one deeply to see these children not having the opportunity to go to school.
傷 口Wound在加爾各達印象最深刻的其中一個服務經驗是幫一個遊童小女孩包紮腳上大姆指的傷口。Perhaps, one of my most profound experiences was watching a small girl getting her toe bandaged.
我們看到她的時候，她腳上的大姆指指甲只剩一半，另一半露出紅肉，腳的四周都是硬掉的泥土，我們幫她清洗了好久，泥土都清不乾淨。There was half a piece of toenail in place, and raw flesh oozed out where the other half of the toenail was missing. We spent a long time cleaning away the soil stuck in her toenail.
消毒的過程中，她看起來好痛。我看著看著，然後我就哭了，覺得好心疼，不懂為什麼一個小小的生命要承受那麼多痛苦。As we disinfected her toe, she was clearly in pain. Seeing her in pain, I cried to myself, not understanding why a small life like her had to withstand so much pain.
幫他包紮的過程中她一直聞我們頭髮，可能是她覺得很香吧! 後來包紮完畢她看著我們開心地笑了，還講一句：「better!」我當下內心感到熱熱暖暖的，覺得好幸福。She was trying to smell my hair all the time. My hair must have been very fragrant! Finally, we were done with her. When she smiled and said that she felt better, I experienced so much warmth and happiness inside!
不過當我一抬頭，後面又是不停前來的遊民要包紮傷口跟要食物，我瞬間覺得百感交集，無力感好重。However, when I turned to see line of vagabonds waiting to have their wounds dressed, I felt helpless.
融 合Fusion我跟國豪沒做志工外的時間就會在城市裡面到處閒晃觀察。我們捨棄了計程車，開始跟當地人擠公車或走路到Sudder Street、到維多利亞公園、到河邊。有時一天甚至有4、5個小時在路上走路。找到機會就敞開心胸跟當地人聊天互動。結果到後來我即使晚上10點獨自在街上行走也覺得很安心，我的呼吸脈動和這個城市融為一體，我彷彿就是印度人。When Kok Hou and I were not volunteering, we would explore the city. Eventually, we stopped taking taxis. Instead, we took the public buses, and sometimes even took long walks to Sudder Street, Victorial Memorial and the riverside. Sometimes, we even spent 4 or 5 hours walking on the road. During our journeys, we mixed and mingled with the local people. Gradually, I even found the courage to travel alone at 10 pm. I could feel myself merging with this city, almost as if I were Indian.
在懶洋洋、濕黏的雨季，沿著胡格利河行走，看著忙亂擁擠的人群中仍然充滿著印度乞丐，聽著印度苦力們壓在瀝青馬路上的乾巴巴的腳步聲。我突然想起《深河》裡的一段話…「河流包容他們，流呀流地。人間之河，人間深河的悲哀，我也在其中。」在印度我體悟到或許人生就是要學會接受一些事情吧! 並且要多珍惜跟關心自己身邊的人，因為一切得來不易…這是我付出了好多才學會的。In the layback and humid monsoon,walking along the Hooghly River,I saw the road was still crowded by Indian beggars and I heard the voice of Indian coolies steping on the asphalt. Suddenly it reminded me of a passage in 《Deep River》:"The river accepts them.It's the river in life. The grief of the deep river, which I am also in." In India I realized maybe we just have to learn accepting something in life. In addition, we alsot have to cherish and care more about people beside us, because nothing should be taked for granted.
要離開加爾各答的前一晚我跟旅館櫃台的哥哥聊天聊到半夜3點多，談到印度很多令人無力的問題。後來他問我說：你要回來救我們嗎? 我答應他以後我有能力一定會自己辦一個NGO回來設法做更大的改變，也叫他要加油。他也說他也會努力賺錢，幫助當地的窮人。The night before I left Calcutta, I spoke with hotel receptionist until 3 o’clock in the morning. We talked about the issue of poverty in India. He asked me: “Would you come back to save us?” To which I replied that if I could, I would come back someday to set up my own NGO to bring about greater change. I also encouraged him to work hard. He said that if he made enough money, he would also help the local poor.
隔天中午我在旅館吃著最後的午餐準備要去機場，回想起剛到印度的不適應，被CRAWL逐出時渡過的漫漫長夜、到後來找到更好的NGO、又自己解決許多困難，就覺得一陣惆悵，也覺得好捨不得旅館的朋友跟國豪，眼淚竟撲簌簌又開始流不停…。到了不得不離開的時刻，我跟國豪抱抱say good-bye再又跟旅館的人一一道別。最後就坐計程車去搭飛機離開加爾各答，結束這一趟精采的志工行。As I was eating my last meal in the hotel, I began to reflect on my experiences in India thus far. I recalled how difficult it was to adapt to India, how I was expelled from CRAWL and the sleepless night that followed, how fortunate I was to find CSM, how I had to solve many problems on my own. I felt melancholic thinking how much I was going to miss my friends. I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks. After bidding everyone goodbye, I took a taxi to the airport, thus concluding my volunteer mission in Calcutta.
需 要Needs待在加爾各答三週，我們看到的問題什麼? 到底當地需要的是什麼? 其實說穿了，印度主要的問題還是人口。人口過多，但資源有限。During our 3-week trip to Calcutta, what were the problems that we saw? At the end of the day, the crux of the issue lies in overpopulation, and limited resources.
當然印度政府的貪汙腐敗跟官僚體制，還有印度內部階層剝削階層的社會現象也是一大原因。所以當政府組織運作沒有效率時，就需要靠當地的非營利組織來運作改善當地的環境。The Indian government's embezzlement and corruption within the bureaucratic system, and the caste system also contribute to the problems. When the government is incapable of responding to such needs, non-profit organizations are relied upon heavily to improve local conditions.
那當地的非營利組織需要什麼? 以CSM為例子，除了資金之外，我想他們目前比較需要的是有醫療背景的志工。而如果它們明年的學校計畫弄好，那就需要教育志工。What do non-profit organizations need? Take CSM for example. Besides funding, they needed volunteers with a medical background. And if they wanted to start a school, they would need to train volunteers to run the school.
除此之外，我也看到印度的優勢：深厚的文化根基、強大的思辯能力、天馬行空的創意、世界一流的科技產業、香料混雜的印度美食、獨門的織布技術、渾然天成的藝術天份…。In addition, I also see India's superiority: its strong cultural foundation, its unrestrained artistic and creative energies, its world-class high-tech industry, its good food, its weaving technology…
印度的潛力無窮，他們需要的不是更多錢與物資，而是需要有人去empower the people，建立他們的自信心，讓他們能夠發揮潛力，自己有工作能力。India's potential is infinite. What India need is neither money nor material goods, but leaders who can empower the people and build their self-confidence, urging them to stand up on their own feet.
當然憑我們幾個人，三個禮拜能給予的幫助很小。真正的改變需要很長時間與更多人的投入。而只要有持續的計畫，接棒的人更多，改變就一定會造成!Several volunteers could not do much in three weeks. Change takes a long time and requires everyone’s cooperation. But so long as there is a plan, and so long as everyone participates, change will certainly come!
反 省Introspection記得跟CRAWL談判那天，一個英國志工看我們拒絕付錢，就一直對著我們說：「Do you enjoy it! Do you enjoy it!」。I remember how a British volunteer from CRAWL, seeing that we were hesitant about paying the fees, asked me: “Do you enjoy it? Do you enjoy it?”
這句話真是吊詭、諷刺、又發人深省。I found these words strange, ironic even.
究竟我們是用什麼樣的心態在做志工? 是可憐他人來豐富自己的人生嗎? 所以我覺得很享受，我就應該付錢? 那是消費體驗價? 所以那些小孩是工具嗎?The question arose in my mind of what it means to be a volunteer. The implication of that question appears to be that if I had “enjoyed” volunteering with CRAWL, then I should pay the fees. Are we consuming those kids? Are these street children just tools of whose misery NGOs could make a quick buck then?
我想答案並非如此，應該是說，本來全然無私的利他就很難持久，或多或少包含了某種層面利己。做志工獲得的利益就是自我成長和喜悅。但我們的喜悅是來自於愛，來自於了解他們，並建立起他們的自信心，而非可憐他們來成就自己的人生，這是有差別的。I think these are not the right answers. What we should say is that a completely unselfish altruism is hard to last. More or less it includs of some kind of egoism. The benefits from volunteering are self-grow and happiness. But our happiness comes from love, from understanding them, and building their confidence,but pitying them to complete our life. These two are different.
親身參與國際志工的價值就是培養自己獨立思考的能力和遇到突發狀況的應變能力；因為當你支身在國外，孤立無援時，一切要自己來，遇到危機要自己和當地組織處理，你會發現你各方面能力突飛猛進。Overseas volunteering has its value. It teaches a person to think independently and puts him in unexpected situations which he then has to find a way out of. When you are overseas, you are essentially on your own to deal with crises. You have to negotiate with local parties on your own and in the process you will grow by leaps and bounds.
成長的過程往往也是這樣，常常自己問的問題，然而沒有人可以回答你，只有自己最清楚問題的核心，也只有把真相剝開才能速度驚人的解開疑惑；別人說再多都只是參考，只有自己最知道應該怎麼做。The growth process also involves asking a question. Very often no one could give you a reply. Yet, you are the only one who understands the core of the question, and so you must resolve your own doubts. What other people can tell you is at best a reference.
這次的事件給我們最大的教訓就是，參與當地NGO前，要問清楚權利義務關係，並做好事前評估，了解當地物價，且不要用自己的邏輯推測當地組織的運作方式。The biggest lesson that I drew from this volunteer experience is: before participating in a local NGO, I must first do extensive research on it and not speculate on how the organization is run.
跌倒正是考驗我們如何面對挫折，如何面對失敗。我們沒有乖乖付錢然後就將不愉快的經驗，屏除不去正視，假裝沒有發生過，假裝那是一次完美的志工服務。雖然原訂計畫沒有完成，但是後來替代的計畫反而更好。且如果我們沒有去質疑，沒有受傷，沒有離開，又怎麼會看到更好的組織。回顧當時的作法，我可以勇敢地說：我很滿意。This experience taught us how to deal with a setback. We didn't pay the money and then omit the unpleasant experience,pretend that it never happens, and pretend that's a perfect volunteer journey.Our trip did not go as planned, but as it turned out, we had a more enriching experience with CSM. In retrospect, I am very satisfied.
找到撐起世界的那根槓桿Finding the lever to move the world
阿基米德說：「給我一個支點，我就可以舉起地球。」Archimedes once said,“Give me a place to stand on, and I can move the earth.”
而這次的印度志工行給我最深刻的感想就是：「想舉起地球，得先找到自己撐起世界的那根槓桿!」My deepest feeling as a volunteer in India is “if you want to move the earth, you have to find the lever by yourself first. ”
一趟印度志工行，讓我看盡了人生的千瘡百孔，也上了一堂活生生的震撼教育。短短三週的濃縮成長，不僅改變我觀看世界的態度方法，也讓我對真實的世界有一番全新的視野。In this trip to India, I feel like I’ve seen all the sadness of life, and what I’ve learned from the trip doesn't only change the attitude I have toward this world, but also make me view this real world with a new eyesight.
此外，更重要的是，我因此對自己的人生方向更加清楚。what’s more, I understand the direction of my life more than before.
我深刻體認到，要改變世界不能只靠滿腔熱血，而是要先對這個世界有第一手的了解，並找到自己可以貢獻的方向努力前進。I realize profoundly that people cannot change the world by passion only, instead, they have to understand the world first, and then step toward the direction to which they can devote themselves.
世界上有4000萬的愛滋病人口，全球有14億窮人每日不到1.25美元維生。要拯救世界並不簡單。就像「若水」創辦人王文華講的，做公益比賺錢還難，如果沒有專長，真的幾乎只能付出勞力；但如果是比爾蓋茲去做公益，因為他有科技這支槓桿，他的影響力就非常大。There are 40 million AIDS infections in the world. 1.4 billion poor people live under 1.25 dollars a day on the earth. It's not easy to save the world. Doing public welfare is harder than making money, especially when we have nothing special but labor only. For example, the influence of Bill Gates to public welfare might be significant because he has the lever of technology.
重點是如何真的以自己堅強的能力去幫助那些人;而那些人被我們幫助過後真的 make a big difference。要幫助別人，絕對要先充實自己; 努力念書，並找到自己撐起世界的那根槓桿!The point is how can we help those people in need with our ability, and to make them have a different life. If people want to help others, they must study as hard as they could, and find their own levers of changing the world.
人生並不完美，世界充滿殘缺。但跌倒了要繼續往前走，身處絕望就要努力創造希望!The life is not perfect, and the world is not complete. If you fall down, you have to stand up and step forward; if you are in desperation, you have to work hard and create hope!
It’s not giving up. It’s growing up.
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POSTED BY Christine Chen @ National ChengChi University,Taiwan
印度志工服務心得(上)
啟 程Start
大約在三年前，我透過世界展望會的資助兒童計劃認養了一位印度女兒，她剛好就居住在我們這次志工計劃的服務城市---加爾各答。從認養她的那時起，「探訪她的生長環境」、「了解當地需要」、「幫助當地兒童」就一直是我的心願，我的「志工計畫」因她而漸漸萌芽。About three years ago, I adopted an Indian girl through World Vision. That girl is living in Calcutta, where we volunteer in. After adopting that girl, I’m always hoping to “visit where she lives in”, to “understand what people there need”, and to “help children who live there. ” Because of her, my “volunteering plan” starts to bloom.
直到今年暑假前幾個月，我開始瀏覽青輔會網站與台大政大校內服務性社團的看板，找到了印度的非營利組織CRAWL SOCIETY--他們招募國際志工投入服務的行列，內容包含幫助貧民窟孩童的非正式教育中心計畫、街頭遊童救濟計畫、婦女覺醒計畫等--十分符合我的期待，於是我就向CRAWL提出申請，並找到了其他四位校內同學組隊。I started to surf the website of National Youth Commission, Executive Yuan, and service organization(student club) of NCCU and NTU a few months before this summer vacation, and found out CRAWL SOCIETY. This organization looks for international volunteers to join its project, such as “Non-formal Educational Centre project” “Women Awareness project ”or “Self Help Group project”. Due to the satisfaction with those projects, I applied to be an international volunteer of CRAWL SOCIETY, and teamed up with another four schoolmates.
我們一行人懷抱著無比的熱誠，從企畫書、到向企業拉贊助、在台大及政大公開舉辦募款及募集物資等，親身力行完成了許多前置作業後，終於，我們飛往印度加爾各達，準備進行三週的志工服務，正式上路。After we passionately completed many preparations, include the writing of proposal, the finding of sponsors, and the holding of fundraising campaigns in NTU and NCCU, finally, we flied to Calcutta to start our three-week-volunteering job.
抵 達Arrival
到達加爾各達後，一下飛機，就是一連串的衝擊。AS soon as we arrived in Calcutta, a series of shocks flooded to us
滿街無家可歸的遊民令人怵目驚心; 黃砂飛揚的空氣與垃圾堆發出的惡臭迎面撲鼻; 震耳欲聾的喇叭聲像環繞音響般連續轟炸;坐上黃色計程車後更有如終極殺陣的劇情，一路險象環生飆到旅館;路上還充滿各式各樣的動物：鼠、牛、馬、羊、雞、狗、猴…。Streets were stuffed by homeless people, the air was full of dust and the stinking smell of garbage, the horns of cars were as loud as surround stereo system, and the taxi driver was racing on the streets, which are full of animals--- mice, cows, horses, sheep, chickens, dogs, monkeys……..
我簡直像掉入一千零一夜的世界，眼花撩亂，興奮與不安交織。I felt like falling into the world of Arabian Nights, which is so amazing and exciting.
進入旅館後，發現台大志工社的15位團員已經在那裡一個多星期，他們也是在CRAWL進行志工服務。After getting into the hotel, I found out fifteen members of University of Taiwan volunteer's society group, who had already been there for 1 week as volunteers of CRAWL.
我被告誡了房間裡有一堆蟑螂，所以晚上睡覺不要關燈，不然全部的蟑螂都會跑出來。果不其然，一進房間就有3隻蟑螂跟我打招呼，當然後來還有更多跑出來跟我吟詩作對，非常地詩情畫意。I was told that there’s a large amount of cockroaches in the room, and that don’t turn off the light when sleeping or all the cockroaches would come out. I found out it’s true after entering the room and running into 3 cockroaches, and of course, I saw more of them later.
旅館裡沒有熱水、沒有冷氣、沒有洗衣機也沒有脫水機，彷彿回到原始生活。但這些都不算什麼，因為浴室蓮蓬頭那塞滿綠綠黑黑的洞才是經典。住在旅館裡的三個禮拜我沒有一天關燈睡覺，而頭頂上的大電扇吹得我頭痛欲裂，但一關掉又是無比難受的悶熱。Without hot water, air-conditioner, laundering machine, and drier, my life in the hotel was like the life in the ancient world, however, those stuff are nothing when comparing with the green and black hole of shower nozzles. In the three weeks of staying in that hotel, I never turned off light when sleeping. What’s more, the electric fan, which is set on the ceiling, always made me have serious headache, but I would feel breathlessly hot and windless if I turned it off.
不過大概是因為年輕適應力強，心理也早有準備，所以對於貧乏簡陋的生活環境後來慢慢習慣也就可以隨遇而安。It might be because I’m young enough to adapt to the new environment, or I’m well-prepared psychologically, I was getting used to this poor environment gradually.
質 疑Suspicion
相對於環境的衝擊，後來在CRAWL發生的事件帶給我的震撼才是完全超乎想像，而我學到的事情也是始料未及的。Comparing with the shocks of the new environment, the shocks of the very event happened in CRAWL was completely out of my imagination, and what I learned from that was also unexpected.
剛到CRAWL的前幾天，我跟台大志工社的領隊聊天發現他們有跟CRAWL發生爭執。因為他們去年只繳了4000多盧比，但同樣是二個禮拜，今年CRAWL卻要求他們繳11000盧比。A couple of days ago, while speaking with University of Taiwan volunteer's society group leader, I discovered that they also had a dispute with CRAWL. Just a year ago, a group of volunteers only paid 4000 rupees per person to volunteer for two weeks, but this year CRAWL actually requested 11000 rupees per person.
聽了他們的狀況後我們就覺得事有奚翹，為什麼我們要缴17500盧比(約台幣12000)這麼多錢的註冊費給CRAWL，問了旅館櫃台的人後，發現食宿費三個禮拜才4000盧比，越想越覺得13500的捐款未免也太多了，決定要趁繳費當天問清楚。In our case, we were asked to pay 17500 rupees (approximately T$12000)! After asking the hotel, we discovered that the food and lodging expenses for three weeks cost only 4000 rupees. Isn’t 13500 for donations a bit unreasonable? So we decided to raise the matter during the meeting.
當我們開始問CRAWL是怎麼分配志工的這些註冊費時，秘書一直不願意告訴我們確切的捐款數字是多少，只說我們繳錢後收據裡就會寫了；且當我們拿出在台灣募集到的物資要給他們的時候，秘書一臉諷刺的表情跟我們說：「喔~那還真是“謝謝”你們啊!你們這種“unkind donation”我們也會開收據給你們。但是你們還是要繳錢。」聽到這種不客氣的話還真是完全超出我們的預料之外!But the secretary was not willing to tell us the exact donation amount, saying that this amount would be reflected in the receipt later. And when we gave them the donations in kind that were collected in Taiwan, the secretary told us sarcastically face satire's expression said to us: “oh ~ thanks for that too! You’d also get a receipt for this “unkind donation! But you must still pay the fees!” Hearing these impolite words really surprised us!
我覺得我們是來做義工，不是來捐款的。而且要捐多少錢是志工的自由意願，怎麼可以用報名費的名義一付順理成章地強迫捐款?I thought that since we were volunteers, the amount of donation should be up to us to decide. It is just unethical to preset this amount and lump it together with the registration fees.
當我們沒搞清楚狀況下拒絕繳費的時候，秘書就一副你們怎麼可以不繳錢的態度。我們說了食宿費三個禮拜才4000盧比的事實後，秘書卻說我們的食宿費不止4000是10000。原因是當地人跟外國人的住宿費不一樣，外國人會比較貴，所以她們每一年要額外付給旅館一筆年費讓我們拿到當地人的折扣。說完我們就馬上打電話回旅館問有沒有這筆錢，此時秘書開始神色緊張。果然，櫃檯說根本沒有這筆錢。When we have not made clear under the condition resists to pay expenses, secretary on you how may not give the money the manner. We told her we found out that food and lodging expenses for three weeks should only come up to 4000 rupees, but she told us that the actual cost was 10000 rupees. According to the secretary, foreigners would have to pay a higher amount than local people to stay at the hotel, so CRAWL actually had to pay an annual flat amount so that volunteers working for CRAWL would only have to pay local rates. But when we called the hotel (by which time secretary started to look anxious), her claims proved to be false.
後來我們自己繳了食宿費，完全就是一樣的價錢，沒有比較貴。Afterwards we paid our food and lodging expenses ourselves, which is in the same price.
總之，後來氣氛鬧得很不好CRAWL可能也怕更多真相leak out，所以當場就叫我們離開組織!Possibly fearing that more truths would leak out, CRAWL expelled us from the organization right away!
應 變Contingency Plan
由於我們完全沒有心理準備，被逐出CRAWL的當下真是驚慌失措，沮喪到了極點。Because we were completely unprepared for what happened in CRAWL, our spirits were rather crushed after that.
當天晚上我睡不著覺，惴惴不安，一個人在床上翻來覆去渡過漫漫長夜。That night I felt so anxious I could not sleep.
這真是一個無與倫比的經驗，因為只有當一個人受到重大挫折或考驗時，才有辦法了解個人能耐跟應變能力。 This experience tested and setback a person receives the significant setback or the test, only then some means understand individual ability with the strain capacity.
當時還有一位念普林斯頓大學的汶萊男孩，國豪跟我們站在同一陣線。他也認為CRAWL的確鬼鬼祟祟。所以在我們離開CRAWL幾天後他也毅然離開了。There was another volunteer from Brunei who stood on our side throughout the entire ordeal. He also thought that CRAWL was acting stealthily. A few days after we were expelled, he too left the organization.
隔天起床後，我跟國豪決定馬上找替代方案，我們上網去research當地的NGO。 We lost no time scouring the internet for another local NGO.
果然，我們找到了二個在加爾各達的NGO。We did find two NGOs in Calcutta.
第一個是印度人創辦的NGO，叫SMILE ; 另一個是澳洲人創辦的叫Calcutta Stations Mission (CSM)。但我們後來很快就發現那個SMILE果然也是個騙局，因為它也是要住在規定的旅館，並繳一筆所謂的「住宿費」，而且它比CRAWL還貴!There was another NGO started by local people, called SMILE which we later discovered to be a fraud as well. Fortunately, we found Calcutta Stations Mission, which was started by an Australian.
澳洲人的CSM一毛錢也不收，從它網站清楚寫出每個project需要的經費，也寫明捐款自由，看得出來這是個很legitimate的組織，於是我跟國豪便一起跳槽到了這個澳洲的組織。而其他四位團員後來決定隔幾天就離開加爾各答。Unlike the other organizations, CSM does not charge volunteers a registration fee. Donations are 100% voluntary. Their website gave us a good vibe. Feeling that it was a legitimate organization, Kok Hou and I decided to volunteer for them.
差 別Difference
跟其他四位團員道別後，我跟國豪就開始到澳洲NGO做志工。而去CSM開始做志工沒多久，我跟國豪就覺得我們的旅程要亮起來了。因為他們真的比CRAWL好太多了! 在CSM我們看到一個很用心經營的NGO。After saying good-bye to another four members,Kok Hou and I became the volunteers of Calcutta Stations Mission. Soon after we were in CSM, Kok Hou and I felt that our travel became more and more bright for CSM was much better than CRAWL! We could see that staffs of CSM operated this organization with their whole hearts.
在此先簡介CRAWL Societ和Calcutta Stations Mission (CSM)兩個組織的計畫異同：
CSM made our trip to Calcutta worthwhile. It was different from CRAWL in many respects:
CRAWL Society：
1、卡達鄉村非正式教育中心： 這個計劃主要服務的對象是貧民區中的兒童。服務內容為每個星期三天教兒童英文和數學，兩天讓他們動手做一些勞作或是帶他們進行一些遊戲。1.Khardah village education center: This project targets slum children. English and Mathematics are taught thrice a week, while practical skills training are taught twice a week. Sometimes, they play games.
2、火車站遊童救濟計畫： 這個計畫目前在Sealdah 及Dum Dum火車站進行，因為火車站是加爾各答主要的遊民聚集地。服務內容為遊民的傷口包紮及提供街頭遊童食物。2.Basic wound care: This plan is carried out in the Sealdah and Dum Dum Train Stations, where the majority of Calcutta’s homeless reside. Besides providing wound care to the people, food is also distributed to the children.
Calcutta Stations Mission：
1、Food Programme ： 一年365天在Sealdah火車站進行。選擇有mental problem的遊民給予食物。Food is distributed to mentally handicapped homeless people at the Sealdah Train Station 365 days of the year.
2、Village Mobile Medical Clinic：在塔壩村落提供村民醫療服務與衛生教育。To provide basic medical service and health education to villagers in Dharpa Durgapu village.
3、Slum Mobile Medical Clinic： 在Topsia的貧民窟提供當地居民醫療服務。To provide wound care and medical service to residents living in Topsia, an urban slum.
CRAWL跟CSM的主要異同在於，CRAWL有火車站遊民的醫療服務及食物救濟，以及所謂的「兒童教育計畫」;而CSM的服務對象除了火車站遊民的食物救濟，主要還是針對鄉村及貧民窟的村民提供醫療。兩者的服務計畫看起來差不多，但執行內容其實差異很大。 The main difference between CRAWL and CSM is that CRAWL has the projects of medical treatment and food relief to the homeless in train station, and the so-called “Non-formal Educational Centre project” to children, while CSN put emphasis on providing medical treatment to people in villages and slums. Even though the projects of these two organizations look similar to each other, the content of their projects are totally different.
CSM在車站是365天都發食物，而且發的是一個飯盒(CRAWL的是30cc牛奶跟二片麵包)。另外，他們的人員都有專業醫療背景。不僅藥品要先擺好在檯面上才開始處理傷口，包紮跟消毒的過程也很嚴謹。相形之下，CRAWL很像是讓一群大學生在玩包傷口遊戲，不僅沒有行前訓練(還好是台灣人自力自強，由高醫的教了台大後，台大再教我們包)，藥品也只是放在一個醫藥箱裡，就開始包傷口。In train station, CSN provided lunch boxes to people everyday, while CRAWL offered only milk of 30cc and two pieces of bread. Besides, staffs of CSM all have professional medical background. When dealing with wounds, they would put everything they need on the table first, and they dressed and disinfected wounds carefully. However, the way staffs of Crawl did was like let university students play the game of dressing wounds. They not only had no pre-training for volunteers but also started to deal with wounds when medicine was still in the medical box.
CSM是由一個在Mother House服務過的澳洲人創辦的，但他主要是待在澳洲做funding的工作。負責加爾各答的主管是一位俄羅斯女生。而我覺得她根本是俄羅斯“女神”。為什麼說她真的是很偉大? 因為她每天就是疲於奔命，不停地把病人調到診所，又要去醫院跟醫生吵架 ---因為當地的公立醫院很差勁，醫生開完手術都不包紮傷口---而且她原本是從加州的大學畢業，應該可以領高薪的美金，結果她自願來印度做NGO，領微薄的盧比薪水。她的勇氣跟精神很令人欽佩。CSM is founded by an Australian, who worked in mother house. However, his major job is to raise fund in Australia. The one who is in charge with everything in Calcutta is a Russian woman, who is like a Russian “Goddess” for me. Why she is so great? Because her job everyday is to refer the sick to the clinic, and to fight against doctors of public hospital, who don’t dress the wound after surgical operations. What’s more, she voluntarily gives up the high salary job she could have and come to India to work in NGO with low salary. Her courage and spirit are all respectable.
大約在三年前，我透過世界展望會的資助兒童計劃認養了一位印度女兒，她剛好就居住在我們這次志工計劃的服務城市---加爾各答。從認養她的那時起，「探訪她的生長環境」、「了解當地需要」、「幫助當地兒童」就一直是我的心願，我的「志工計畫」因她而漸漸萌芽。About three years ago, I adopted an Indian girl through World Vision. That girl is living in Calcutta, where we volunteer in. After adopting that girl, I’m always hoping to “visit where she lives in”, to “understand what people there need”, and to “help children who live there. ” Because of her, my “volunteering plan” starts to bloom.
直到今年暑假前幾個月，我開始瀏覽青輔會網站與台大政大校內服務性社團的看板，找到了印度的非營利組織CRAWL SOCIETY--他們招募國際志工投入服務的行列，內容包含幫助貧民窟孩童的非正式教育中心計畫、街頭遊童救濟計畫、婦女覺醒計畫等--十分符合我的期待，於是我就向CRAWL提出申請，並找到了其他四位校內同學組隊。I started to surf the website of National Youth Commission, Executive Yuan, and service organization(student club) of NCCU and NTU a few months before this summer vacation, and found out CRAWL SOCIETY. This organization looks for international volunteers to join its project, such as “Non-formal Educational Centre project” “Women Awareness project ”or “Self Help Group project”. Due to the satisfaction with those projects, I applied to be an international volunteer of CRAWL SOCIETY, and teamed up with another four schoolmates.
我們一行人懷抱著無比的熱誠，從企畫書、到向企業拉贊助、在台大及政大公開舉辦募款及募集物資等，親身力行完成了許多前置作業後，終於，我們飛往印度加爾各達，準備進行三週的志工服務，正式上路。After we passionately completed many preparations, include the writing of proposal, the finding of sponsors, and the holding of fundraising campaigns in NTU and NCCU, finally, we flied to Calcutta to start our three-week-volunteering job.
抵 達Arrival到達加爾各達後，一下飛機，就是一連串的衝擊。AS soon as we arrived in Calcutta, a series of shocks flooded to us
滿街無家可歸的遊民令人怵目驚心; 黃砂飛揚的空氣與垃圾堆發出的惡臭迎面撲鼻; 震耳欲聾的喇叭聲像環繞音響般連續轟炸;坐上黃色計程車後更有如終極殺陣的劇情，一路險象環生飆到旅館;路上還充滿各式各樣的動物：鼠、牛、馬、羊、雞、狗、猴…。Streets were stuffed by homeless people, the air was full of dust and the stinking smell of garbage, the horns of cars were as loud as surround stereo system, and the taxi driver was racing on the streets, which are full of animals--- mice, cows, horses, sheep, chickens, dogs, monkeys……..
我簡直像掉入一千零一夜的世界，眼花撩亂，興奮與不安交織。I felt like falling into the world of Arabian Nights, which is so amazing and exciting.
進入旅館後，發現台大志工社的15位團員已經在那裡一個多星期，他們也是在CRAWL進行志工服務。After getting into the hotel, I found out fifteen members of University of Taiwan volunteer's society group, who had already been there for 1 week as volunteers of CRAWL.
我被告誡了房間裡有一堆蟑螂，所以晚上睡覺不要關燈，不然全部的蟑螂都會跑出來。果不其然，一進房間就有3隻蟑螂跟我打招呼，當然後來還有更多跑出來跟我吟詩作對，非常地詩情畫意。I was told that there’s a large amount of cockroaches in the room, and that don’t turn off the light when sleeping or all the cockroaches would come out. I found out it’s true after entering the room and running into 3 cockroaches, and of course, I saw more of them later.
旅館裡沒有熱水、沒有冷氣、沒有洗衣機也沒有脫水機，彷彿回到原始生活。但這些都不算什麼，因為浴室蓮蓬頭那塞滿綠綠黑黑的洞才是經典。住在旅館裡的三個禮拜我沒有一天關燈睡覺，而頭頂上的大電扇吹得我頭痛欲裂，但一關掉又是無比難受的悶熱。Without hot water, air-conditioner, laundering machine, and drier, my life in the hotel was like the life in the ancient world, however, those stuff are nothing when comparing with the green and black hole of shower nozzles. In the three weeks of staying in that hotel, I never turned off light when sleeping. What’s more, the electric fan, which is set on the ceiling, always made me have serious headache, but I would feel breathlessly hot and windless if I turned it off.
不過大概是因為年輕適應力強，心理也早有準備，所以對於貧乏簡陋的生活環境後來慢慢習慣也就可以隨遇而安。It might be because I’m young enough to adapt to the new environment, or I’m well-prepared psychologically, I was getting used to this poor environment gradually.
質 疑Suspicion相對於環境的衝擊，後來在CRAWL發生的事件帶給我的震撼才是完全超乎想像，而我學到的事情也是始料未及的。Comparing with the shocks of the new environment, the shocks of the very event happened in CRAWL was completely out of my imagination, and what I learned from that was also unexpected.
剛到CRAWL的前幾天，我跟台大志工社的領隊聊天發現他們有跟CRAWL發生爭執。因為他們去年只繳了4000多盧比，但同樣是二個禮拜，今年CRAWL卻要求他們繳11000盧比。A couple of days ago, while speaking with University of Taiwan volunteer's society group leader, I discovered that they also had a dispute with CRAWL. Just a year ago, a group of volunteers only paid 4000 rupees per person to volunteer for two weeks, but this year CRAWL actually requested 11000 rupees per person.
聽了他們的狀況後我們就覺得事有奚翹，為什麼我們要缴17500盧比(約台幣12000)這麼多錢的註冊費給CRAWL，問了旅館櫃台的人後，發現食宿費三個禮拜才4000盧比，越想越覺得13500的捐款未免也太多了，決定要趁繳費當天問清楚。In our case, we were asked to pay 17500 rupees (approximately T$12000)! After asking the hotel, we discovered that the food and lodging expenses for three weeks cost only 4000 rupees. Isn’t 13500 for donations a bit unreasonable? So we decided to raise the matter during the meeting.
當我們開始問CRAWL是怎麼分配志工的這些註冊費時，秘書一直不願意告訴我們確切的捐款數字是多少，只說我們繳錢後收據裡就會寫了；且當我們拿出在台灣募集到的物資要給他們的時候，秘書一臉諷刺的表情跟我們說：「喔~那還真是“謝謝”你們啊!你們這種“unkind donation”我們也會開收據給你們。但是你們還是要繳錢。」聽到這種不客氣的話還真是完全超出我們的預料之外!But the secretary was not willing to tell us the exact donation amount, saying that this amount would be reflected in the receipt later. And when we gave them the donations in kind that were collected in Taiwan, the secretary told us sarcastically face satire's expression said to us: “oh ~ thanks for that too! You’d also get a receipt for this “unkind donation! But you must still pay the fees!” Hearing these impolite words really surprised us!
我覺得我們是來做義工，不是來捐款的。而且要捐多少錢是志工的自由意願，怎麼可以用報名費的名義一付順理成章地強迫捐款?I thought that since we were volunteers, the amount of donation should be up to us to decide. It is just unethical to preset this amount and lump it together with the registration fees.
當我們沒搞清楚狀況下拒絕繳費的時候，秘書就一副你們怎麼可以不繳錢的態度。我們說了食宿費三個禮拜才4000盧比的事實後，秘書卻說我們的食宿費不止4000是10000。原因是當地人跟外國人的住宿費不一樣，外國人會比較貴，所以她們每一年要額外付給旅館一筆年費讓我們拿到當地人的折扣。說完我們就馬上打電話回旅館問有沒有這筆錢，此時秘書開始神色緊張。果然，櫃檯說根本沒有這筆錢。When we have not made clear under the condition resists to pay expenses, secretary on you how may not give the money the manner. We told her we found out that food and lodging expenses for three weeks should only come up to 4000 rupees, but she told us that the actual cost was 10000 rupees. According to the secretary, foreigners would have to pay a higher amount than local people to stay at the hotel, so CRAWL actually had to pay an annual flat amount so that volunteers working for CRAWL would only have to pay local rates. But when we called the hotel (by which time secretary started to look anxious), her claims proved to be false.
後來我們自己繳了食宿費，完全就是一樣的價錢，沒有比較貴。Afterwards we paid our food and lodging expenses ourselves, which is in the same price.
總之，後來氣氛鬧得很不好CRAWL可能也怕更多真相leak out，所以當場就叫我們離開組織!Possibly fearing that more truths would leak out, CRAWL expelled us from the organization right away!
應 變Contingency Plan由於我們完全沒有心理準備，被逐出CRAWL的當下真是驚慌失措，沮喪到了極點。Because we were completely unprepared for what happened in CRAWL, our spirits were rather crushed after that.
當天晚上我睡不著覺，惴惴不安，一個人在床上翻來覆去渡過漫漫長夜。That night I felt so anxious I could not sleep.
這真是一個無與倫比的經驗，因為只有當一個人受到重大挫折或考驗時，才有辦法了解個人能耐跟應變能力。 This experience tested and setback a person receives the significant setback or the test, only then some means understand individual ability with the strain capacity.
當時還有一位念普林斯頓大學的汶萊男孩，國豪跟我們站在同一陣線。他也認為CRAWL的確鬼鬼祟祟。所以在我們離開CRAWL幾天後他也毅然離開了。There was another volunteer from Brunei who stood on our side throughout the entire ordeal. He also thought that CRAWL was acting stealthily. A few days after we were expelled, he too left the organization.
隔天起床後，我跟國豪決定馬上找替代方案，我們上網去research當地的NGO。 We lost no time scouring the internet for another local NGO.
果然，我們找到了二個在加爾各達的NGO。We did find two NGOs in Calcutta.
第一個是印度人創辦的NGO，叫SMILE ; 另一個是澳洲人創辦的叫Calcutta Stations Mission (CSM)。但我們後來很快就發現那個SMILE果然也是個騙局，因為它也是要住在規定的旅館，並繳一筆所謂的「住宿費」，而且它比CRAWL還貴!There was another NGO started by local people, called SMILE which we later discovered to be a fraud as well. Fortunately, we found Calcutta Stations Mission, which was started by an Australian.
澳洲人的CSM一毛錢也不收，從它網站清楚寫出每個project需要的經費，也寫明捐款自由，看得出來這是個很legitimate的組織，於是我跟國豪便一起跳槽到了這個澳洲的組織。而其他四位團員後來決定隔幾天就離開加爾各答。Unlike the other organizations, CSM does not charge volunteers a registration fee. Donations are 100% voluntary. Their website gave us a good vibe. Feeling that it was a legitimate organization, Kok Hou and I decided to volunteer for them.
差 別Difference跟其他四位團員道別後，我跟國豪就開始到澳洲NGO做志工。而去CSM開始做志工沒多久，我跟國豪就覺得我們的旅程要亮起來了。因為他們真的比CRAWL好太多了! 在CSM我們看到一個很用心經營的NGO。After saying good-bye to another four members,Kok Hou and I became the volunteers of Calcutta Stations Mission. Soon after we were in CSM, Kok Hou and I felt that our travel became more and more bright for CSM was much better than CRAWL! We could see that staffs of CSM operated this organization with their whole hearts.
在此先簡介CRAWL Societ和Calcutta Stations Mission (CSM)兩個組織的計畫異同：
CSM made our trip to Calcutta worthwhile. It was different from CRAWL in many respects:
CRAWL Society：
1、卡達鄉村非正式教育中心： 這個計劃主要服務的對象是貧民區中的兒童。服務內容為每個星期三天教兒童英文和數學，兩天讓他們動手做一些勞作或是帶他們進行一些遊戲。1.Khardah village education center: This project targets slum children. English and Mathematics are taught thrice a week, while practical skills training are taught twice a week. Sometimes, they play games.
2、火車站遊童救濟計畫： 這個計畫目前在Sealdah 及Dum Dum火車站進行，因為火車站是加爾各答主要的遊民聚集地。服務內容為遊民的傷口包紮及提供街頭遊童食物。2.Basic wound care: This plan is carried out in the Sealdah and Dum Dum Train Stations, where the majority of Calcutta’s homeless reside. Besides providing wound care to the people, food is also distributed to the children.
Calcutta Stations Mission：
1、Food Programme ： 一年365天在Sealdah火車站進行。選擇有mental problem的遊民給予食物。Food is distributed to mentally handicapped homeless people at the Sealdah Train Station 365 days of the year.
2、Village Mobile Medical Clinic：在塔壩村落提供村民醫療服務與衛生教育。To provide basic medical service and health education to villagers in Dharpa Durgapu village.
3、Slum Mobile Medical Clinic： 在Topsia的貧民窟提供當地居民醫療服務。To provide wound care and medical service to residents living in Topsia, an urban slum.
CRAWL跟CSM的主要異同在於，CRAWL有火車站遊民的醫療服務及食物救濟，以及所謂的「兒童教育計畫」;而CSM的服務對象除了火車站遊民的食物救濟，主要還是針對鄉村及貧民窟的村民提供醫療。兩者的服務計畫看起來差不多，但執行內容其實差異很大。 The main difference between CRAWL and CSM is that CRAWL has the projects of medical treatment and food relief to the homeless in train station, and the so-called “Non-formal Educational Centre project” to children, while CSN put emphasis on providing medical treatment to people in villages and slums. Even though the projects of these two organizations look similar to each other, the content of their projects are totally different.CSM在車站是365天都發食物，而且發的是一個飯盒(CRAWL的是30cc牛奶跟二片麵包)。另外，他們的人員都有專業醫療背景。不僅藥品要先擺好在檯面上才開始處理傷口，包紮跟消毒的過程也很嚴謹。相形之下，CRAWL很像是讓一群大學生在玩包傷口遊戲，不僅沒有行前訓練(還好是台灣人自力自強，由高醫的教了台大後，台大再教我們包)，藥品也只是放在一個醫藥箱裡，就開始包傷口。In train station, CSN provided lunch boxes to people everyday, while CRAWL offered only milk of 30cc and two pieces of bread. Besides, staffs of CSM all have professional medical background. When dealing with wounds, they would put everything they need on the table first, and they dressed and disinfected wounds carefully. However, the way staffs of Crawl did was like let university students play the game of dressing wounds. They not only had no pre-training for volunteers but also started to deal with wounds when medicine was still in the medical box.
CSM是由一個在Mother House服務過的澳洲人創辦的，但他主要是待在澳洲做funding的工作。負責加爾各答的主管是一位俄羅斯女生。而我覺得她根本是俄羅斯“女神”。為什麼說她真的是很偉大? 因為她每天就是疲於奔命，不停地把病人調到診所，又要去醫院跟醫生吵架 ---因為當地的公立醫院很差勁，醫生開完手術都不包紮傷口---而且她原本是從加州的大學畢業，應該可以領高薪的美金，結果她自願來印度做NGO，領微薄的盧比薪水。她的勇氣跟精神很令人欽佩。CSM is founded by an Australian, who worked in mother house. However, his major job is to raise fund in Australia. The one who is in charge with everything in Calcutta is a Russian woman, who is like a Russian “Goddess” for me. Why she is so great? Because her job everyday is to refer the sick to the clinic, and to fight against doctors of public hospital, who don’t dress the wound after surgical operations. What’s more, she voluntarily gives up the high salary job she could have and come to India to work in NGO with low salary. Her courage and spirit are all respectable.
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