Oasis

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Feedback from Interns who had the opportunity to work with Oasis

Julia Pyzhova
(Saint-Petersburg, Russia)

First of all I want to say "Thank you"to my boss, Dr.Puja Sukhija, because she gives me an opportunity to take part in Project Green Ideas: Flora and Fauna of Mumbai that runs by OASIS NGO. This project helps me to develop myself, my knowledge,and will help me in my future career. I learn how to work with a children, communicate with principals and teachers. Also I improve my knowledge about how to do and use power point presentations. Now I became more disciplined because during my internship Dr.Puja taught me how to schedule my time-and it helps me in future dont waste my time. Project helps to improve yourself in different ways- you start to appreciate nature, get to know more about flora and fauna around you and you become more open-minded to people around you.

And I also want to say “Thank you” to Dr.Pujas family,for their attitude to me,because they take care of me all the time and I really appreciate it.
Extra “Thank you” I want to say to Vijay Sukhija, for his sense of humour and kind-hearted to world around him.

***Sorry for my Russian-English with mistakes =)

Agata Ursula Łyżnik
(Warsaw, Poland)

I was working on the project for 6 weeks and every each day of that time span gave me an opportunity to develop. From the very beginning it was clear that this internship would allow me to have a look at India from the side not known to tourists, and as far as my view is concerned, from a much better side. It is always the people who make it worthwhile; consequently working for OASIS was highlighted by the presence of dr Puja and her daughters. At times it was her, who had to push me so that I wasn't stuck with some tasks. Shikha and Samira where also there to ease up the ambience with their self confidence and undisturbed sense of humor. I am glad that I've seen how to make a workplace a warm and friendly, but at the same time inspiring and challenging surrounding.

The project as I came to know it was constantly restructured. Due to some disruptions OASIS had to open up the fixed idea and use its creative power in reorganizing the work so that it met the needs. Before me Lukas was there to approach schools in Mumbai and train their students to become Eco Ambassadors. I participated in one of those Orientation Sessions and was really caught on the heart at the attitude of Indian students. There is no doubt to it, that schooling system, although treating the kids with some rigors develops a sense of joy and respect towards work in them. That is rare in Western countries, nowadays. Speaking of the headmasters and teachers I was not always treated with attention that I would wish for. On the other hand approaching the schools taught me to go beyond my intimidation or low self esteem and concentrate on the task standing before me, and that was to explain the project with precision and enthusiasm it was worth. I've tried to speak the way Shikha did when addressing the Holy Family School. I attended one meeting in which she succeeded in putting through our idea. She spoke explicitly and with a full flow. The lesson for me was to hold personal feelings away from what I was supposed to do and do it without fear.

I went to numerous schools including those in Vasai Road, Bhayander, Mira Road, Borivali and Khar. The process of fixing up the date for an Orientation Session was sometimes very fast and efficient and at times painstaking. Much depended on the area where the school was situated. It stood out that the nearer to the Southern part of the city the more open-minded and willing to help the school crew was. Finally I succeeded in orienting three schools in Khar: Kamla High School, Beacon High and Mumba Devi High School. In every each of them the Session was somewhat different due to the changing conditions as well as castling among my team. Flexibility was a much wanted feature of character while working in India. Presentations in front of sometimes big groups of students helped me overcome the fright of public address. It was a valuable thing to learn that the key point is not to say what must be said and run off the stage, but to actually communicate with the audience. Being a good speaker is finding a balance between dry information and chit-chat. I am lucky to have worked on that skill during my internship in OASIS.

When dr Puja asked me to feed in some underlined sentences from articles about Mumbai I wasn't really excited. Nevertheless I sat to it and after couple of minutes I was caught in it. There it was - the knowledge about a fascinating organism, a city at a hectic pace - lying in front of me. I sank in the problems mentioned, I read about the circumstances of life in Mumbai and I was thrilled to have a chance to express my own thoughts about it. Mumbai Script was born in this kind of atmosphere. I experienced some hardships, I wasn't sure if I could rush with my expertise as I was knew to the city and didn't know where were the vulnerable spots that a foreigner like me shouldn't prod. Once again dr Puja encouraged me to work my way. I was happy to be handed down such a writing task. I daresay that never before have I tried to write a scenario for a presentation and it was my astonishment how one has to come up with fixed characters. I hope my work will help OASIS prepare and exciting Finale event.

As I mentioned before I was not the only intern from abroad working on Green Ideas: Flora & Fauna of Mumbai. Lukas was there before me, already being acknowledged and successful in his role. I came along with Vivian who was a girl from China, moreover a week later there came Julia from Russia and Mohsin from Oman. Each of us coming from a slightly (sometimes more than slightly) different background we had to somehow cooperate. Dr Puja wanted to make the most of us and for that she tried to tailor our responsibilities to our capabilities. Although everybody was concentrated on their work, for the sake of Orientation Sessions we had to form a team. From that experience I learnt a lot about how diverse people are. What leadership actually means is to learn about people and always know a way how to communicate what you intend them to do. Working in an international and moreover intercultural team taught me patience and persistence. I got along very well with Julia, not from the very moment we met, but after I saw her style of working. She was energetic and smart. I liked having her in the team and she helped me a lot. On the other hand there were times when I found cooperation with Mohsin or Vivian rather harrowing. After a while I understood that when your colleague comes across a barrier that he cannot force it might be better for you to let go of your expectations. Everybody needs their own treatment.

I am really fond of the objective of our project. Environmental cause is really close to my heart. I would like to live my life so that I don't leave any trace behind. The state of world's ecosystem is constantly deteriorating. The reason of that lies in human belief that their development is the most important issue, and that they can use all of natural assets to achieve more. The less we think about environment, the more threats we put on ourselves. There is no economic boom when there is an environmental doom upon our civilization. As much as I fell in love with Mumbai I have to point out that the level of contamination is alarming. People are acting outrageously unconscious. The change can only be made with future generations. That's how OASIS operates: "Of the Children, For the Children, By the Children". I am grateful to have learnt so much in such a short notice of time and I'm looking forward to visiting India soon. I would like to thank especially dr Puja, who was a loving but firm Boss. I respect her indescribably. I'm also happy to have met her husband, Mr. Vijay and their daughters, Samira and Shikha. A family like that is a rare treasure in the world.

Mohsin Hamood Al-Mur Al-Ghawi
(Sultanate of Oman)

In my thanks I will start with the OASIS NGO, and I am proud and thankful for such people who think about their own place and try to great such things to improve the area and the atmosphere around it. Also, special thanks for Dr. Puja the manager of the OASIS that help me and support me in many different situation and teach and lead me to do the presentation. Also, teach me how to use the eye contact and body language during presentation. Also Thank for the OASIS team which are with me all the time and learn me how to do my work and for supporting my in different things.

Xunan Wu (Vivian)
(Mainland of China)

I really enjoy the days in India with OASIS, with Dr.Puja and my dear fellows. Thank you all for your tolerance to my broken oral English, for your explanation with patience when I cannot fully understand how to deal with the work, for your help to give me more chances to challenge myself and experience the Indian culture, for your comfort when I miss my mother very much, and for Puja's family who have give me a strong support and warm help in India.

Doing presentations made me more open-minded, segregating newspaper sheets made me know a lot about our work and familiar with my work in a short time, visiting schools to identify them made me more confident in communicating with foreigners in English, and working with my fellows made me learn more about teamwork, especially during the process

cooperating with foreign trainees.

We students, especially university students, always want to do something to help others or make the world better, but little will take action. I think if we can try our best to change the world in every minute and every second, we can realize our dream. OASIS gives me the inspiration to find a effective way to make my dream come true. I will bring all I have learned here to China. I feel so lucky to join in OASIS and meet puja and other fellows, you have taught me a lot and I enjoy the work and life here. I hope to come here again, to continue the work in OASIS, to enjoy the happiness with you all.

Hardik K Barot
(Father Conceicao Rodrigues college of engineering Bandra)

It was quite a unique experience working with NGO and giving my support by my first ever move to make this world a better place to live in. I was determined to do something better for my surrounding (environment) but never got an opportunity to do so. working with oasis was my first step towards it. I really enjoyed while collecting information on the various festivals..our instructor for our research task was really helpful. she really worked hard to get whatever she exactly wanted for making this project a " hit" like her previous awareness campaign .our research team was really good and hardworking with Rupa leading our group and giving us best help and input from her side.. Even after celebrating these festivals for so many years there were many things which I wasn't aware of before. in all it was great fun Its a good step towards protecting environment but I don't think this as the "best" step towards protecting environment...instead we can do much better by introducing such things in school syllabus..because i think the best age of grabbing or learning something is during childhood. E.v.s subject should not be subjected to only 9th and 10th std..it should be made compulsory in each school from std 4th or 5th onwards.

Karthik Omveer Singh
(Father Conceicao Rodrigues college of engineering Bandra)

The picture project initiated by OASIS under the supervision of the NSS committee of our college was indeed a very refreshing and an enriching experience. It was through this project, that I was acquainted with the origin of various festivals, the way these festivals were celebrated in the past, and the way they are celebrated today. I was acquainted by the diversity followed by different states in celebrating the same festivals and the impact that these festivals have on our environment and social life. As a member of NSS unit, I have tried highlighting all the possible aspects of the assigned project and in the process have attained immense satisfaction by doing my part.

NCRD's Sterling Institute of Management

Working with a NGO like 0.4 SIS was very helpful to us as we came to know about the current ecological and climatic problems the world is facing. Mrs. Puja Sukhija is an amazing person to work with as she has the perfect expertise on environment protection and thus carries out the activities at the NCO in the best possible manner. OA SIS 's co-operationfor our event wasfullest with all the required impressive material. Due to Miss Puja 's and our ideas and through OA SIS 's co-operation our event was a success. OASIS as an NGO is fully equipped in terms of knowledge and the awareness that needs to be spread in order to make the world a better place to live. Through OASIS we learnt that any change to be madeﬁrst starts from within. It helped us in understanding our participation to save the earth. By these. we mean that what should be done at the minimum level. Since we got the exact knowledge on the subject and how an event should function we were able to deliver effectively the message of the ENV IRONMENT PROTECTION to the students. This further motivated us and helped us realize how important it is to create an understanding of ENVIRONMEN T PROTECTION at the grass root level.
Working thmugh and with OA SIS helped us realize our potential of working for a Social cause.

Thus working with OA SIS was a matter of pride and a feeling of belongingness towards the societv. OA SIS is doing an amazing piece of work by spreading awareness of saving the earth. Finally. we would like to say that its impact on us was such that it definitely changed us in realizing our responsibilities towards our planet earth and spreading of awareness about the things that we learnt here. It was indeed a pleasure working with OASIS and Miss. Puja and a delightful journey of I5 days. W e look forward with great willingness to work with OASIS in future.

Prathamesh N. Padwal
(ITM Business School, Khargar)

Working at OASIS has definitely impacted me both personally as well as professionally. Personally, I understood the various hazards & environmental issues / problems occurring around us today. I also understood the various methods which we can implement to curb these issues. Professionally too the experience at OASIS was fruitful. We got the opportunities to interact with the real world. We got the option to interact with the schools with respect to participation; we also interacted with Malls & shops with respect to permissions & sponsorships. We also interacted with the corporates for generating sponsorships for the various events being organized at OASIS.

Tejas Prabhu
(ITM Business School, Khargar)

Oasis champions the issues pertaining to Environment like spreading awareness about the Plastic hazards, Awareness of Acute Water Problem, Awareness on the Ozone depletion, Awareness about the Ecological changes which the entire world is facing etc. Oasis is spreading awareness through the children in the society as rightly said by them they are the future of this Earth . Persistence of Dr. Puja Sukhija to spread awareness about the environmental issues. Being an NGO a non-profit organization, to work for it is itself an appreciating thing.

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