iVolunteer Blog - everything about volunteeringSWAR Fellow at Mount Valley Development Association, Uttarakhand.
Completing my Master’s degree was far from a linear journey. It unfolded through uncertainty, difficult decisions, and, most unexpectedly, deeply meaningful human connections. When I was selected for the SWAR Fellowship and preparing to leave for the induction in Pune, I encountered a practical dilemma. I had to fill out my Master’s examination form, yet […]
Just about few days are left to complete my Swar Fellowship in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. As I sit and reflect on this journey, I realize it has been a mix of both beautiful and difficult moments. It was beautiful because I met so many kind and warm people who made me feel at […]
For the last nine to ten months, I have been living in a remote hilly region of Uttarakhand. When I first arrived here, many things surprised me. The people here are incredibly simple and welcoming. Life moves at a slower, calmer pace. There are no flashy markets, no crowded malls, and no constant rush like […]
A few months ago, during the Panchayati Raj elections in Uttarakhand, I witnessed something that stayed with me long after the celebrations ended. Watching the election process closely was both interesting and deeply thought-provoking. On paper, it appeared to be a positive sign for gender representation. Many women were contesting for the position of Pradhan […]
When I first started visiting the project villages for surveys, I did not expect the experience to change my perspective so deeply. I went there to collect data and understand ground realities. What I found was far more powerful than numbers on a sheet. In the mountain regions, almost every woman is engaged in farming. […]
Here’s a small story from the hills of Uttarakhand. For the past few months at my workplace in Uttarakhand, we had been facing recurring water shortages. Almost every month, the water supply would stop for four to five days. Our only reliable source was the pipeline connection. There is also a dhara (a natural spring), […]
Sometimes, the most meaningful conversations happen with people we have never met before. There is something unexpectedly beautiful about speaking to someone who knows nothing about your background, your achievements, or your struggles. In that brief moment, you are simply two human beings sharing space and words. I remember a random conversation while returning home […]
I still remember my very first solo travel. The nervous excitement, the heavy bag on my shoulders, and the endless stream of thoughts in my mind. It felt like stepping into the unknown, where every small decision carried a weight I had never experienced before. Finding the right bus, asking strangers for directions, figuring out […]
Today, while thinking about which everyday Uttarakhand product I could write about, my eyes stopped at a simple Bhimal basket kept in my room. I use it daily without thinking about where it came from or who made it. That small moment made me curious. I wanted to understand the journey of the tree behind […]
तुम रुकती क्यों नहीं हो…?🌊 क्या कभी थकान तुम्हें भी छू जाती है, या फिर तुमने थकना सीखा ही नहीं? तुम्हारी हर लहर मानो अपनी ही कोई कहानी लेकर उठती है, कभी शोर मचाकर, कभी बिल्कुल खामोश रहकर; पर हर बार कुछ न कुछ अपने साथ बहा ही ले जाती है, टूटे सपने, अधूरी बातें,और […]
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