Months ago, when we were searching for an organization to visit in India, we came across Rose Kanda and knew right away that it would be the perfect choice for our volunteer homestay.
Now, over two months have passed and we are lucky to call R.O.S.E. our Indian home.
From Jeevan Verma’s inspiring and one of a kind projects, to his welcoming family, to the people of this community, we have only been met with kindness and the utmost hospitality.
One aspect of this community that I have noticed is the many layers that it is made up of. Not noticeable at a first glance, spending time in Kanda opened my eyes to the realities that certain community members are faced with on a daily basis.
I was most touched by the 15 children who attend R.O.S.E. public school. By spending time with them, they helped me realize that Kanda was diverse as perhaps any other place, but that most strikingly, not all the kids were offered access to a quality education. This was and is something Jeevan Verma is trying to change, by opening his public and free school and by continuously striving to improve the services that he offers.
By getting to know these children, problems that face the poorest of the community have become more apparent.
We were most struck by the lack of a complete and nutritional diet for some children, or lack of food in general. It was thus our decision to start and fund a lunchtime meal plan for the children at R.O.S.E.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Kanda and would suggest it to any volunteer looking for a placement in India. By visiting this community, one can learn so much and I can surely say that I will always be thinking of the people at R.O.S.E. and of Kanda.
-Sara Gold (travelled with Marcelo Argueta)
Side note: The host, Jeevan Verma, has a complete organized list of fundraising projects on his website. Take the initiative and support one!
If anyone has any questions, feel free to e-mail me at sarag1993@hotmail.com
R.O.S.E. Kanda 