Ripples effect

In collaboration with UK based Asha Foundation, started by human rights campaigner and author Zerbanoo Gifford, the Lila Poonawalla Foundation undertook an ambitious project of grooming young women into peace ambassadors. 8220;This is the first batch that we sent and it has been a wonderful success. Many of these girls had never been out of Pune, let alone on an airplane to UK, they were neither familiar with poetry nor public speaking and had not got a chance to discover life beyond routine. Now they can confidentially act out sonnets from Shakespeare, skillfully manage time, assume leadership and respect other cultures,8221; says Lila Poonawalla.

The project from August 10 to August 30, included trips to Oxford University, Tin Tern Abbey, Jane Austen Centre, Roman Bath and the Grange, a centre for people with learning disabilities. The girls attended a series of lectures on effective leadership, stress management, cultural appreciation and negotiation skills. They presented plays, dances, performed eurhythmy and cooked delicacies for an Indian tea party for the people at the Grange. 8220;We had heard that foreign countries are clean and disciplined, but there we observed their social life, first hand. My English has improved I have become more punctual and learnt to listen, not just speak,8221; says Madhuri Kad.

For Kasturi Paigude this trip was about discovery. 8220;We have so many social norms and expectations bogging us down here, there we were free and empty and could absorb whatever we wanted to learn.8221;

Swarada Angal says that she has returned a new person, 8220;This has been the most enriching experience of my life, to observe the education system there and interact with professors who treated their students with respect was something I am not accustomed to here. I also learnt about dignity of labour 8212; be it gardener, shop attendants or the disabled people weaving shawls, everyone enjoyed their work and did it with complete dedication.8221;

8220;The change in these girls is phenomenal, we wish to send more batches of students and offer this opportunity to all the girls from Pune, but we need more people to help us with the funding,8221; says Firoz Poonawalla.

Although inter-cultural programmes have been conducted before, the difference in this one was the skillful selection of the right candidates. One needs to have outstanding academic records and show real aptitude for hard work to be awarded a fellowship by the foundation anyway. 8220;To choose the top 13 of these meant we were looking for that extra bit. These girls have passion, determination and the will to influence society, not just keep the learning to themselves,8221; says Poonawalla.

Hence the girls who were chosen were the ones who with just a hint of opportunity would squeeze it to the last drop.

Within two months of being back they have been brain-storming regularly to come with effective grass root models to deal with global warming, education and conservation. If just one batch of peace ambassadors can start turning the wheels of society so soon, just imagine what a batch like this every year could do!