Feb-Apr 2024 ~ Vrindavan, UP, India
For the last two months I have been working with the superb organization, Food for Life Vrindavan (https://fflv.org/), in their media & outreach department. My work has consisted of taking images of the girls, taking images of products made by the girls for online store, and of assisting the media team on their projects. A lot of their products were jewelry, so I spent much time learning about commercial photography. Lighting, reflections, and color choices were some of the details I learned to focus on in order to get good photos of the product. I also learned more about how many obstacles young girls in impoverished communities face in getting an education. Lack of funds, limited access to schools, long and dangerous commutes, families prioritizing brothers' educations, and child marriage are some of the hurdles they face. Nevertheless, the girls are enthusiastic and diligent in their schoolwork. They are highly talented in the various after school programs, such as music, traditional dancing, yoga, martial arts, embroidery, and art classes. All these programs give these girls more skills and experience to use after they graduate, whether they choose to further their studies or find employment. Either way, education allows the girls to be more self-sufficient, lessening their chance of being married off before they are ready. Seeing the impact of education on these girls has made me feel all the more grateful for my privilege of earning an education. Finally, on a more personal level, it has been very encouraging to me to contribute to this organization, even if it was only very little. While in Vrindavan, I've tried to focus less on my own selfish desires, and instead ask myself, "What can I do for somebody else today?" Questions like these don't come naturally to me, but I've found that every time I gave money to someone who was begging, protected a young child from a monkey, or hugged one of the several little girls, I felt the joy of thinking of others. I believe that selfishness is the cause of so much of my own misery, and it is so beautiful to think that the means of healing the self is to help others. Vrindavan is the city of Krishna and Radha, and humility is a very important component of spiritual life here. I have been humbled in witnessing the sadhus on the road who live with so little, because they have sacrificed their own desires in order to prioritize God above all else. I feel humbled every time someone decides to educate me about their culture or their religion. Sometimes I feel like I have no words at all any more, for I am simply a tree soaking it up. Each person, moment, insect, temple, feeling has been influential and educational. I've gained a newfound sense of peace about life, for I have faith that anything that happens is in God's Hands, so there's no point in worrying. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Ram, Hare Ram, Ram Ram, Hare Hare <3
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