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English class at an IIMC school

Street children in Calcutta in the early morning when we visited some temples

I always wanted to be a doctor and here in Calcutta I got the change to help at the clinics and it has been wonderful!

The IIMC has a wonderful volunteer program, every month 100-500 people apply. In March we were about 20 people from six different countries, mostly medical students, but also economics and education. We really get to do and see a lot!

Greetings from the beautiful city of Darjeeling! We are at 2000 metres next to the Himalayas :)

If I feel like hugging someone, I can always go to the nursery. The only problem is that they all want to sit in your lap at the same time :)

We work with the poorest of the poor so we also try to live a simple life here. Simple food, simple sleep, simple transport. In the local train I felt like a cow in a cattle wagon :)

Pictures from the indoor clinic. The medical volunteers are taking care of the children. The patients stay at the clinic mainly for three reasons: burns, skin infections and malnutrition.

From the wall of a IIMC primary school in Dhaki. The manager Shamon (who is amazing!!) told me that he saw this quote in a book, but originally it said "making men" so he changed it :)

One of the many things we get to do here are the home visits to the IIMC sponsor children. Sanjiv is 17 years old and lives with his mother, who sells jewellery in the village. Sanjiv's father died when he was 6 years old to a heard attack. He has italian sponsor parents and he was able to continue his studies. In the future Sanjiv would like to study computer science because he thinks it is the future. He has very good grades so I hope he can make it. He likes to play cricket with his friends. When I asked if his friends go to school, he said no, they are dropouts.

Transport in Calcutta

Lunch at the office 10 rupees (0,11 €). With fish or egg 15 rupees (0,17 €)

Women's Day here at the IIMC is one of the most important days of the year. We had a big celebration with music, dance, role play and speaches. I gave the speach on behalf of the international volunteers :)

Today I went to a Solar Energy seminar with Dr. Sujit at the Jadavpur University. The IIMC is already using solar energy in Dhaki area and has provided 300 solar lamps to poor families without electricity. "If there is no light, how can there be development?"

Today I met Raki, who is one of the 25 000 women under the Micro Credit & Micro Savings -program. Her first loan to start a little shop was 3000 rupees (35 euros), which she has already payed. The second loan is 5000 rupees (60 euros) and she pays every week 125 rupees back to the bank.

The Institute for Indian Mother & Child (IIMC) is a non governmental voluntary organization, committed to promote child & maternal health, literacy and to accelerate International solidarity & Peace. IIMC was initiated by Dr. Sujit Kumar Brahmochary and was set up in 1989, with the mission to give support to the medical needs of the poorest and most backward people of West Bengal, India; people who have no access to basic healthcare and medicinal facilities. Today, IIMC has expanded its activities to include Medical Program, Health Education & Health Promotion Program, Network Program, Education & Sponsorhip Program, and integrated rural developmental projects including women economical empowerment though Micro Finance Banking Program and agricultural program.

From the office to the guesthouse we take a tuktuk (20 min.) + the metro (20 min.) The trip is always full of wonders :)

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