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Over the past years, there seems to be a growing trend for Indian and South Asian
youth abroad to want to come to India for various reasons. Some want to give back
to their ‘motherland’. Others want to connect with their roots and understand what
it means to be ‘Indian’ or ‘South Asian’. There are those that want to explore
spirituality, and those that want to tour the land and travel. Whatever the reason,
many young South Asians abroad are drawn to the Indian subcontinent.
But where is that avenue to explore the culture and land
of my ancestors?
In the past, NRI South Asian youth who possessed a desire to explore and serve in India had few resources at their
disposal to help guide them in planning their abroad programs. Recently however, in parallel with an increasing interest among youth to return to India, programs such as InSPIRE have begun to offer structured, safe and welcoming environments
to explore India.
How can the ground reality of India be experienced and
felt?
Often, non-resident South Asians’ understanding of India is shaped by what’s in the
news and the perspectives of their families rather than first-hand experience.
What is the importance of knowing about the ‘before’ and
‘after’ of consumption? Who pays these real costs?
We are often unaware of what goes into producing the goods and services that we
consume, and are shielded from the consequences of our actions. For example, often
we do not know where our food has been grown, what chemicals are in them, and who
has put in the effort to bring the food to our table. All we know is what happens
at the point of consumption, not aware of the before or after.
How can I discover what I’m passionate about? What are the
options for my future?
College students are at the period of life when they are deciding what their next
step will be – career, graduate school, social work, etc. Many times they feel that
their options are limited. Also, many students never take the time to step away
from the ‘rat-race’ and look at the bigger picture. They may never give themselves
the chance to explore what they are really passionate about. Instead of finding a
path that they truly believe in, often they settle for the path that is less rocky
and already set out for them.
I want to make a difference, but what direction should
this difference be in, and how can I go about making this difference?
There are many that want to create change, but without an understanding of which
direction this change should lead towards and how to bring it about, then are the
actions really productive?
How can I have rich experiences that will help me shape
my world-view and complement my formal education?
Today’s education system has imparted much information to students; students have
learned to think creatively and problem-solve. However, while we are ‘information-
rich’ and are able to think systematically, we are becoming ‘experience-poor’. An
economics major can talk about alleviating poverty in ‘third world’ countries, but
has he/she ever experienced the ground reality of this poverty? Does he/she
understand all that this entails?
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"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." ~Jawaharal Nehru |  |
