Moving on with the Host organization…

Action has been the keyword…each day…everyday…since the time I arrived in DC! The action has become as instinctive as the blinking of my eyelids. From working to attending meetings, cooking food, laughing, chilling out with fellows and other friends…everything has been full of energy and action. I am happy that I still have been able to make a clear and healthy distinction between my work and play, labour and leisure, mind and body and information and recreation.

My first day at the host organization (Free the Slaves) was exciting. I did my first assignment on the first day itself. I saw the documentary ‘The Price of Sugar’ and did a story on Father Christopher Hartley who gave birth, leadership and presence to a mission/movement, which fought for the rights of the Haitians (trafficked from Haiti to Dominican Republic to work as slaves in the sugar plantations), and broadly a mission/movement that has been working towards eradicating slavery. I also participated in the OAS (Organization of American States) Youth Symposium and Dialogues with Young people on ‘Empowering the future Leaders of the Americas’. I along with the other fellow Gargi Saha joined the working group session focusing on ‘Underserved young people and youth at risk’. We introduced ourselves as Atlas Corps fellows and gave an overview of Atlas Corps as an organization and our host organizations. The group had views from a variety of participants like the experts on the issue, development sector professionals from various organizations, academicians and University students. The exchange of perspectives was very exciting and we too contributed with global as well regional perspectives on the work of development and working with the youth. I also took the membership of The Emancipation Network (T.E.N.) as an Atlas Corps fellow and talked about the Atlas Corps program. T.E.N. is a network of young professionals and students, inspired to make a difference in the lives of human trafficking victims the world over. The network is involved in partnership, outreach, events and fundraising, research, information and promoting positive policy legislation. I would encourage other co – fellows to join the group and be a part of the activities, which would help us link with the larger networks working on various human rights issues and give more visibility to the Atlas Corps fellowship program.

Kimi took me out for a FREE and exciting soccer match(which sadly no other fellow voted to go to). It was wonderful to see accurate and inaccurate passing of ball…missing it most of the times but at the end managing a goal! I managed to see 2 goals in 1 hour…isn’t that awesome. Fellow girls, you missed watching some really cute looking guys running in the field!

I also made a weekend visit to Miami and had a great time there! Finally Yunus, the much awaited fellow from India has arrived in DC and I am very excited to share my experiences of first few days in DC with him.

Excitement seems to be getting just bigger and better with lots of fun in coming weeks. To know more about it, keep following my weekly blogs.

Cheers!