My rural immersion trip to Mokhamal was a great experience that gave me a glimpse into the lives of tribal communities. For six days we interacted with the locals understanding their lifestyle, their challenges and benefits of living a rural lifestyle. We visited schools and hospitals, and learned about their economy and culture. This trip helped me understand rural life in a practical way by doing activities such as assisting in daily chores and trekking through forests. This trip made me realize how important it is to celebrate and be satisfied with what we have as there are many around the world who don’t have the same opportunities and facilities as us.
LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
During this trip I realised my ability to adapt to a new environment. However, I realised I could also improve my patience, especially in unfamiliar situations, such as long hours of trekking, listening to the local stories of the tribes and knowing about different kinds of plants and trees which especially grow in the region of Dang only. By paying attention to our guide and making sure I listen to every single discussion during, before and after the trek, I was able to not just improve my patience but also gain knowledge about the region and the locals there.
LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills
One of the biggest challenges I faced in Mokhamal Dang was the problem in communication. This is because the majority of the locals there only speak Gujarati and are not fluent with Hindi. This became a major issue for me since I didn’t know how to properly speak Gujarati. This made normal conversation with locals much more difficult. However, with the help of my friends, I was able to overcome this issue. This is because they allowed me to communicate easily by not just becoming a translator, but also by teaching me some basic Gujarati so I can also communicate on my own. This is how I was able to identify and demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken by developing new communication skills.
LO3 – Initiate and plan a CAS experience
Although the school had planned the activities, I had to take initiative in actively engaging with them. I interacted with the local children in the school, helped with cooking and helped with making the kitchen garden trellis by adding the metal wire and making sure that it is tight enough to hold the weight of plants which were ment to be grown on the trellis. Apart from this I also took part in several donation and even helped school children fly kites to have a fun and memorable evening of their life. This trip showed me the importance of taking ownership of my role, even when working with a structured plan.
LO4 – Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience
Adapting in a rural place was not an easy task to accomplish, especially given the lack of modern conveniences. However, staying committed to all activities. I also took everything positively and ensured I enjoyed all the good moments such as the bonfire, music, sunrise trek, beautiful scenery, and peaceful sunset in the temple.
LO5 – Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively
Some of the activities posed a time when teamwork became the most important element to fulfil a task. Activities like trellis making, donating different and necessary things to underprivileged children, or even having fun near the river end. All of these activities forced me to not just communicate with my classmates but also work in a team to accomplish the given task at hand. We were given a task to purchase some ingredients from the local market so that we can prepare a well-balanced meal for the schoolchildren in a hostel. I had to effectively navigate the tribal market with my team whilst also negotiating prices. I and my team had to ensure that we purchase all ingredients that were listed in the appropriate quantities and that the quality was good as well. Team collaboration not only made our tasks easier but also helped me improve my social skills.
LO6 – Engagement with issues of global significance
This trip highlighted several important global issues. First, we visited a village school and learnt about the challenges children there face, such as a lack of resources and low attendance. For many, pursuing higher education is difficult. We also visited a microfinance bank and tribal homes, which showed the significant gap between rural and urban areas, especially in terms of economic opportunities. We discussed the digital divide between these areas and debated the quota system in Indian universities, a highly controversial topic. Additionally, we explored sustainable livelihoods and how tribal communities manage to live with limited resources in an eco-friendly way. Lastly, we observed government programmes like mid-day meals and their effectiveness in reducing inequalities.
LO7 – Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions
Engaging with the tribal community deepened my awareness of our ethical duty toward marginalized groups. It also helped me appreciate the resources I have and be more mindful about using them wisely. Additionally, learning about deforestation during the trek highlighted the importance of making environmentally responsible choices.
