MY FIRST STEP TOWARDS CHANGING

My name is Malika Bakshi and this is my first internship. I am studying Political Science (Honors) at University of Delhi, third year. I am really enjoying being here. I have learned so much and met so many people. This is my first week here and I don't want this internship to end.

I have always been passionate to fight for women rights and domestic violence, and since joining Maitri I’ve learned about so many husbands beating their wives and treating them like animals.  I am deeply hurt after seeing this and am glad that NGOs help them to take a stand.  It is my pleasure to be part of such a NGO.

I’ve got the chance to interact with so many women.  Some were beaten by their husbands, some were not respected by their sons and daughter in-laws, and some were widows with no place to stay.  They had so many problems in life but I saw them happy and fighting.  Maitri is one reason for smile on their faces.  I am glad that Maitri has given me this opportunity.

This is my first step in the real world and I want to be a part of Maitri as long as I can to fight against domestic violence and to remove it from our society.

I just rolled into New Delhi!

My name is Alexis.  I'm Maitri's newest summer intern and I arrived last week all the way from Salt Lake City.

I'm 22 years old, I'm entering my senior year of school, and I study film.  I plan on pursuing international documentaries after I graduate and I came to New Delhi this summer to make short films for Maitri.  I'm passionate about women's rights and am so excited to further those rights in India while doing the kind of work I love.  I'll get to be in the middle of all the action, taking pictures and filming videos at Maitri's various projects and programs.  I'll be helping Tara keep up on social media (and have more pictures to post!) so that we can reach more people.  By the end of the summer, I'll have created several short films we can post as well to show everyone exactly what we're working on and how we use their donations.

I've been at work for less than a week, but I've already been able to dive in.

I spent yesterday afternoon at our Sonia Vihar center, filming the summer kids' program, sewing class, and spoken English class.  A surprise rainstorm slowed the sewing and English students from making their way over while also trapping me, so I stayed inside and watched the kids splash in the flooded parking lot.  I'm heading back over today, so if we get hit with rain again I have my jacket this time and will join them.

Today is also International Yoga Day, so we're hosting a kids' yoga class.  I'll be filming this afternoon's menstruation information session at that time, but I think I'll have to google some yoga techniques when I get home and practice on my own tonight.

I'll be here until mid-August and am going cram in as many projects and as much fun as I can until then.  I'll post updates here, and of course we'll have our social media accounts running!

Alexis