Day 5 and 6

Day 5 (Wednesday, June 24, 2015)

On Wednesday, we revisited Christel House for the second time so that we could create our digital mind map based on the original poster mind map. Before we began working on the digital mind map, we had a small tour of the water table recharge pits that collected rainwater to be used for the school.  We were really surprised by how seriously the students and school staff work so that water stays a readily available resource. After that, we collaborated with the Christel House kids during the project in their computer lab by using software that allowed us to create a digital mind map. During this process, we collaborated with the kids and used teamwork to efficiently make the best digital mind map we could. Our interaction with the students really helped us bond with and help us learn about the issues faced by the less privileged students. After we finished working on the digital version we shared our work with everyone. After that, our Christel House experience came to a sad and memorable end. We then came back to IBC to relax for a little before we had our panel discussion at the Jivox headquarters. Later, we listened and took notes while Meera K spoke about water issues in Bangalore and while Diaz Nesamoney spoke about AIF and its mission and objectives. Meera opened our eyes to the sad state of Bangalore’s lakes, inspiring us to take action in order to find a feasible solution while Diaz helped us understand how being a global citizen can help us find better, more efficient solutions to solve important issues around the world. Once the panel was over, we had pizza delivered to Jivox and we ate dinner there. We got home late that night and went right to bed.

Day 6 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)

On Thursday, we visited the BWSSB rainwater conservation park in downtown Bangalore. We divided into two groups and were given a tour of the two acre park made up of different rainwater harvesting methods and filters. We were shown all the methods of collection and filtration of the rainwater and a fun fountain that was clap activated. After the tour was over, we went inside to see multiple displays alerting us of the different ways water is used and wasted and how we can conserve water by using rainwater as a renewable source. Next we watched a documentary that made us change the way we think about water and its sources and taught us to be more conservative with water. We then left the park, and went to the Forum mall to eat lunch. When we finished, we went back to the hotel to relax before we went out into downtown Bangalore to catch the 6:30 showing of a Hindi dance movie called ABCD 2. It was an interesting experience because almost the entire film was in Hindi so we had to have the other kids translate for us. It was a very long movie (3 hours to be exact) so after it ended at 9 we went straight back to the hotel and went to bed since it had gotten late and we had things to do the next morning.

The AYAP has really changed our opinions regarding water and its sanitation and we look forward to learning more. Thanks to the AIF for this wonderful opportunity! J

Josh, Lucas, Brandon and Dhruv