Namaste, Vanakkam, Assalam Alaikum, Sat Sri Akal, and Hello!

*** Let me begin with a quick disclaimer: this is my first attempt at blogging and I'm a bit apprehensive. Bear with me please and I promise bountiful rewards. And/or laughs with or at the author.***

I leave for India in 8 days to begin my journey as a World Partners Fellow for American Jewish World Service (AJWS). For those of you not familiar with AJWS, I congratulate you on escaping my numerous excited ramblings on the incredible organization and I urge you to check out their website www.ajws.org . On the website you can find out how AJWS works to foster civil society, sustainable development, and human rights in the developing world through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service programs, advocacy, and education.

During my 10-month fellowship, I will be working for an NGO based in Pune, Maharastra which helps marginalized populations empower themselves. The NGO works in many areas including: capacity building, advocacy campaigns, research, media, and governance. I will develop a comprehensive work plan after arriving in Pune and meeting with my supervisor. However, I have spoken with the director of the NGO and received a tentative work plan which has me researching Adavasi (Tribal) rights and writing policy briefs for the government and media. I am really excited to see where this all goes. In our phone conversation, it was apparent that the NGO and I share a vision and our work together should be an amazing learning opportunity. 

Before arriving in Pune, I will be participating in a 3-week orientation with the 10 other AJWS Fellows in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. We'll be staying in an Ashram that Gandhi stayed in, which should be an interesting experience and very different than my life will be in cosmopolitan Pune. I might not have a lot of access to internet the first few weeks in India, but once I get settled in Pune I will blog, e-mail, and skype regularly. 

8 Days and Counting...