A group of 11 Griffith University students from disciplines ranging from health to business, ecology to maths and physics went to Maharashtra, India recently to help urban slum communities. The project’s goal was to lift participation rates in social programs, and make a difference at the intersection where health meets microfinance. The three week course began with visits to slum communities in urban and rural areas, micro-finance companies, nursing homes and primary health clinics where students researched health and finance related issues. Students first developed an understanding of the different models and workings of microfinance organisations and the difference between rural and urban financial issues. This provided them with a context for their research. They found that 80% of illnesses in both urban and rural slum areas develop from water-borne diseases, mainly related to lack of awareness and education.
The students worked with one urban slum area of Mankhurd, where they designed an awareness campaign in an effort to help that community find sustainable ways of accessing clean drinking water which, in turn, would improve their health and positively impact their livelihood. They hosted an information event on Republic Day (26 January also Australia Day) in the Mankhurd slums to raise awareness around the importance of water quality. The event, which was co-sponsored by Hindusthan Microfinance, celebrated the convergence of cultures. It also coincided with the Government of India’s Swaccha Bharat (Clean India) initiative, as students provided information about better hygiene practices to people who attended. The event provided useful information for households about hygiene, water sanitation and general health practices through the use of interactive props designed by the students. There were water filtration companies at the event providing information on buying water filters. Hindustan Microfinance members were given an option to include any filter purchase costs to their loans.
Upon their return to Australia, students continue to keep in touch with Beyond Borders to see how their project is proceeding. They are also encouraged to raise funds to send back to the communities they’ve worked with. Beyond Borders has assisted with this process, by setting up a Facebook page to facilitate donations to the cause the students decide on. From there, the money will be distributed to the communities in India in a transparent process so the students are able to see exactly how their contributions change lives.
Article by Dr Dhara Shah. Dr Shah is a Lecturer in the Department of International Business and Asian Studies and the Griffith Asia Institute in Griffith’s Business School. She led and managed the pilot run of this first of its kind internship in India.
