5. mit Nirmal

Whats your Name?

Nirmal Jayapaul

How old are you?

43

Where do you come from?

Born and brought up in Bangalore. I live in Kodaikanal. Till I am old I will be here. I travel, but this is my home now.

What is your family like?

2 sisters and a brother, each of them has one child. I don´t have children. I am single. I love my freedom. I have 2 dogs.

I am the jungest one. I always got the attention. I was like a toy for my siblings. My eldest sister always says “behave like the jungest one” - But I don´t. (laughing) I love my family, I do everything for my family.

What is your profession?

I´ve been very good in school, so I did a master in English. Than I worked as a English teacher in Japan.

But in a young age I retired.

Now I run a campsite. (A lodge in the mountains – in a sanctuary, where indian tourists come for hiking and enjoying a cold climate.)

And I am a farmer. (The area is big, so they agriculture fruits and vegetables).

Why you changed your life that entirely and how you feel with it?

First my mum became very sick. Than she did not want me to be alone abroad, but asked me to come back and take care of them. So I promised to be with them. I came back. I quit everything for my family.

After 20 days I lost my mother and after 1 ½ years I lost my dad too (tears in her eyes).

My mums dream was to have a campsite, to invite people to this place. Now I am still here to carry on her dream.

That was a hard decision, when you are single with all your freedom this was a big change. But I prayed a lot about the decision. Now I live a community live with other family members. We hold close together. I am happy.

Where did Lukas meet Nirmal?

I visited Nirmal in her Lodge near Kodaikanal, because my Organisation gave a workshop on Disaster Rescue Management there.

4. mit Aishish

Whats your Name?

Ashish Gosh

How old are you?

48

Where do you come from?

Kolkotta

What is your family like?

Wife, daughter, my mother, 2 older brothers

What is your profession?:

I am the national coordinator of Terres des Homes Suisses.

My qualification is a master in management. I am in charge for the indian head office in Kolkotta. I represent TdH in India and analyst policy.

My mayor task is the coordination between TdH and local NGOs. So I am in close contact to head office in Switzerland and visit, monitor and evaluate every project 2 or 3 times in a year.

How do you dot this job?

Management does not mean that you need to commerce.

A good Manager is a good achiever.

I also have a social backround – bachelor in history. Because history is also history where injustice come from.

After working 9 years in a company I was fed up with the profit sector. It is a rat trace. You always work for your advantage.

Here you don´t work only for your self. Your also work for others. This gives satisfaction which can not be given by money.

Where did Lukas meet Aishish?

He visited my Project in Rameswaram. We stayed for 2 days and had some program to get an impretion of what work was done in the last half year. He also gave new aims to the team and analised the level of project development.

3. Mit Mr. Chokulingam

Whats your Name?

Mr. Perumal Chokulingam

How old are you?

48

Where do you come from?

I come from Thiruchapalli (Trichi) and I live in Rameswaram.

What is your family like?

I have a woman (Selvi) and a son 15 years old, who studies in Trichi in 10 Standard.

What is your profession?:

My profession is socialworker. I am the project-coordinator of Rameswaram (Außenstelle von PAD). I join meetings of Livelihood Groups ( Mikro-Finanzgruppen), to assist Field Coordinators (Sozialarbeiter von PAD). 

Why do you like your work?

I started socialwork in 1993. I worked for 2 years as teacher in School with my woman. We researched about eye problems of Fishermen. They did not go to hospital. So we arranged Eye-camps to help them.

Than we joined other NGO in Sawagasi against child-labor, We worked for 15 years.

Dr. Rajen worked with me. He founded PAD in 2002. 2007 we joined PAD ( Peoples Actoin for Development - more infroamtion about the NGO: padgom.org)

I like PAD because we work with people, we join government Programs and help the poor people.

I see development. Between 2008 and 2011 we found 130 LG-Groups (men 63 and woman 62) in 35 villages. And 72 adolescent groups Lifeskill-Groups. (30 man, 42 female, age 13 -18) We train the leaders and accompany the groups.

Where did Lukas meet Mr. Chokulingam?

Now I live in Rameswaram. Mr Chokulingam is the coordinator of my office.I work with him during the meetings every working day.

2. Mit Haruka Osaki

Whats your Name?

Haruka Osaki

How old are you?

22

Where do you come from?

Nagoya city, Japan

What is your family like?

Father, Mother, Two little sisters, one little brother

What is your profession?:

Student for education (subject: japanese)

Why did you come to India?

First I want to have my experience about children, because I want to be a teacher. Secondly I want to know how to enjoy my life and third I want to eat Mango ( In Japan way to expensive and not that tasty!!!)

I am not sure if I stay 2 or 3 month. First I wanted to stay 2 month, but Depa, Indian girl told me, I can stay one more month in my teaching project. I don´t diced yet.

Where did Lukas meet Haruka?

I met Haruka at FSL orientation week. I interviewed her because of her nationality. Furthermore she has a very open-minded and funny personality.

1, Mit Danni

Whats your Name?

Danni

How old are you?

36

What is your family like?

single, mother, father, brother with wife and two children

Where do you come from?

Slovakia, Bratislava, house of my parents

What is your profession?:

I am IT-specialist.

Why did you come to India?

I did not want to work anymore as IT specialist. I want to switch my hemisphere form first to second inside my head!

One beautiful day i woke up and said to my self, I go to India. So now I am here. Hopefully this will help me to fulfill my target

Where did Lukas meet Danni?

After flying to Bangaluru all BMZ Members went to Fsl (my hosting Organization) Orientation for Long Term Volunteers in Kundapura, We spend one week with 45 international Volunteers who work for at least 1 month. Danni was one of them. His spirit and his age made me choice him for this interview. 

ps: Danni did not want any photo from him published in the web. Anyway he is a blond guy with white skin. He has atleast 40 kilo overweight, wears a shirt with caros and glasses.