Post by Samantha Wilson, Executive Learner: Preparations for the youth

Candice, Sara and I arrived in India on July 6th and began early preparations for the youth when they reach on July 16th. From cleaning house, creating posters, confirming calendars and schedules, arranging buses and hostels, food, water and mosquito repellent, it seems like we've been waiting for this day for a long time.

One poster we made hangs on the entry way door:

Take courage friends.
The way is often hard, the path is never clear,
and the stakes are very high.
Take courage.
For deep down, there is
another truth:
you are not alone.
-Wayne Arnason

One of my biggest lessons in this journey? If you ever want to truly learn about human interconnectedness and interdependence, try to raise $23,000 in six months with no budget. This is the quickest way to fully understand how all of our actions and manifestations of our visions and hopes rely on many hands from our community. It takes a village to fundraise eight trips to India. From mentors and their families giving, youth and their families giving, community members and strangers and students giving, organizations and foundations giving, over 150+ people across Riverside helped us reach our goal.

In India, volunteers have organized housing and day trips and visits to schools, centers and organizations. They have given countless hours of their own time as college students and have committed to being present when youth arrive, for welcoming dinners and programs with CLP-India/TYCL youth and children. They will share family photos, tell stories and take the youth for "Mentor-Led Activities" in their homes with their families here locally.

This is how education should be-- mutually transformative, meaningful and relevant and full of reflection, connectedness, dialogue and action.

We look forward to updating you once they arrive. In the meantime, we'll be decorating their rooms, stocking our fridge and eagerly awaiting!

-Samantha Wilson, Executive Learner