We went and visited one of the rickshaw puller
camps this week to get a picture of Maitri’s project for the annual
report; this was my second time going there. Maitri has been working hard to
educate the community on how HIV is transmitted, encourage testing for HIV, and to facilitate treatment and counselling
afterwards. Other agencies have worked to improve the living conditions in the
camps. So much more needs to be done. Fairly simple measures could drastically improve
the situation- such as cement or concrete walkways to prevent the large mud
puddles that appear any time it rains. I was told this becomes a much larger
problem during monsoon season. This is just one example of many. The camps are
not just for those employed pulling rickshaws- some of the wives and children
live in the camps as well. Most of the children were very outgoing and wanted
to have their picture taken, but one young girl decided to stay out of the
group pictures- it was a quiet reminder of the unique personality
of every
individual. It becomes too easy to group people together around the issue. I
left the camp feeling as I did on the first visit- glad that there are agencies
working to make a change, overwhelmed at the enormous need that is still
present, and grateful for the opportunity I had to meet each individual I
interacted with.
No comments:
Post a Comment