From the Field: Raj’s Progress (and Frustrations) in India

This photo is from our completed project at Jnana Bodhini School in Pavagada. Photos from Raj are coming!

Today I’m going to give you a little glimpse behind the scenes of Vort Port International. Here at Vort Port, we’re constantly communicating with each other via text, instant messaging, e-mail, and weekly conference calls. Sometimes we even give each other updates during our day jobs (don’t tell anyone).

While these updates and communications aren’t always regarding the most entertaining of subjects like accounting or IT problems, we do get updates from our man in the field, Raj Vable, every so often. And I’d like to share such an update today!

Raj is currently in India until September 10th, overseeing the construction of one of our solar-powered computer labs and gave us a progress report on Monday:

“I’ll be in india til next friday, the 10th -I’m  headed to the village today.  The [solar] panels are in India (hooray!) and getting cleared at customs (boooo).  that should take a week, but I am very dubious, because everything here related to Gov’t drags on way longer than people say, and way longer than seems necessary.

While in the village, we’re going to decide on the computer replacements options and figure out how to get internet access.  Also, a dude from SELCO (Harish Hande’s company) is supposed to come to the village to check out the school.

Also, I’m reading The Kite Runner.  It’s so good.”

Two days later, Raj sends another update, this time with a slight hiccup in the plans:

“Hi all,

Disappointing news: the solar panels aren’t actually in India.  I just found out that apparently the container that was supposed to hold the solar panels reached Chennai, but the panels weren’t in it – they weren’t loaded from Singapore.  So the panels are in Singapore, Chennai ETA Sept 12th, two days after I leave.  Great.

Monday, I’m going with all the members of the trust to a company to discuss comptuer replacements.  Also, the Trust says it will be very easy to get the school hooked up with internet acesss.  All in all, a good day.”

What does this mean? Well, Raj won’t get to see the computer lab up and running before he leaves next week. Fortunately, he’s already laid the path and put in plenty of work to allow the locals and other people helping with the project to finish things up.

Regardless, Raj is definitely the linchpin in this project, and we’re very proud of the work he’s done! As our Executive Director Merry Walker told him, Raj has “paved the ground and others can walk on it towards a better life!!”

Raj has been taking plenty of photos, so hopefully we’ll get them up on the blog soon.

Fundraiser at Eden Lounge

We just had a fundraiser at Eden (www.edendc.com) this last Friday. It was great to see our friends come and support the India Project get off the ground. The venue was very cool–rooftop area with plenty of lounging space, great music/DJ, a small dance floor, and fun lighting. The bartenders were generous and the bouncer, Andrew, was kind enough to strike a pose with our poster. Generally, the event was a success! We look forward to working with Eden in the future!  Check out pictures on our facebook page.