Working with foster children in India is awesome adventure for Kincardine teen

Delage Mowle has wanted to travel to India since she was in Grade 2.

Last fall, the Kincardine teen got her wish.

Oct. 13, 2016, she travelled by plane for 13 hours to Abu Dhabi, and from there, took a four-hour flight to Hyderabad in the south of India, where she lived and worked for three months, helping with special needs children at Sarah's Covenant Homes.

Delage learned about the opportunity through Andrea Mohr, a friend of her sister, Siobhan Farrell. Four years ago, Mohr spent almost four months there.

The foster home accepts special needs children from the Indian government and provides them with food, medical care and education, said Delage. “The adults and volunteers provide the basic care in a family setting.”

In Hyderabad, there are six floors of foster families in the four homes there, while in Ongole, there are two homes. Some children are adopted out, with the organization doing a lot of international adoptions. And for those who age-out of adoption, they can remain at the homes for the rest of their lives.

“I worked at Jubilee Home with older girls, aged 12-27, with more severe disabilities and developmental delays,” said Delage. “Most of the children have parents but they can't, or don't want to, take care of them because they have special needs.”

The day usually included circle time and activities, such as puzzles and chalk-drawing, followed by a walk to the park.
Delage also worked at Anchor Home which housed younger children, providing one-on-one care for those with severe genetic conditions, delayed learning and sensory issues.

“Working with the children and watching them reach various milestones, was definitely the highlight of my time there,” said Delage. “It was wonderful to see a youngster with physical disabilities learn to walk, and to watch other children grow and learn. That was awesome. That's what Sarah's Covenant Homes is all about, making a difference.”

However, she admitted that working at Jubilee Home, when 36 girls got upset or excited, could be overwhelming. “It's a challenge but you get used to it.”

She said it also took some time adjusting to a different culture. And three weeks after she arrived, she had no access to cash due to monetary issues in the country. “That was a huge mess for everybody.” The problem lasted for almost a month. Even when she left in January, people were still having difficulty getting cash from automatic teller machines.

Delage lived in a fairly wealthy part of the city, occupying a rooftop apartment with her roommates in an office building, but two doors down, people were living in tents.

Hyderabad is an enormous city with 10-million people, she said. It's not a tourist destination but a regular city, with people everywhere. The two Sarah's Covenant Homes were nearby in the neighbourhood.

“We would go to the grocery store a lot or go to a shop at the end of the street for ice cream,” said Delage. “Or we went to the mall. We walked a half-hour to church every week and we went to little cafes. We played kickball with the guards at our house; we had security guards for protection.”

She said going sari-shopping was overwhelming because of all the different styles and colours. “I looked at 40 different saris before picking the one I liked.”

The volunteers worked at the Homes from Monday to Saturday, six hours per day, and in their spare time, enjoyed watching movies, usually in 3D.

Delage said she could hardly believe her three months was up and it was time to return to Canada. After a week-long stop in Wales, she returned to Kincardine Jan. 19.

“What a difference in temperature,” she said. “it was 35 degrees Celsius in Mumbai, then minus-four degree Celsius in Wales, and really cold when I got home.”

She said there were other notable differences between India and Kincardine, such as the food which is spicier in India, and consists of a lot of rice.

“Their driving is hilarious,” she said. “They don't signal, and they use their horns a lot. It was very entertaining.” People drive “tuk-tuks” which are motorcycles with closed-in seats. “I saw one with 10 people on it!”

After she returned home, Delage said what she missed most were “her” kids, particularly three little girls at Jubilee Home. “You're not supposed to have favourites, but you do! I'm keeping track of them on-line, and I'm thrilled at their achievements.”

Delage said the trip was an awesome adventure and will definitely impact her future plans.

“I loved it there,” she said, “and I certainly want to go back and see the children at Sarah's Covenant Homes, and to travel more of India.”

She strongly recommended the trip to others, especially if they want to learn a new culture.

For now, Delage, 18, is concentrating on the completion of her fifth-year studies at Kincardine District Secondary School. She plans to study nursing at university in the fall, with the goal of becoming a Registered Nurse.

Besides working and coaching gymnastics, she is also the Kincardine Fall Fair ambassador.

For more information about Sarah's Covenant Homes, check on-line at: www.schindia.com/