Field Education in India

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Field Education in India

• School of Social Work and Social Policy
• University of South Australia
• and
• Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs (RUHSA)

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Vanekkom - the god in me greets the god in
you...
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What is RUHSA?

• Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs
• Located in Tamil Nadu, South India, 130kms from
  Chennai (Madras)
• A Primary Health Care Project covering a
  population of around 130,000 and 100 villages/
  outcaste colonies

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What does RUHSA do?

• has a 70 bed rural hospital
• has mobile health clinics that visit villages
• has health education programs, such as maternal
  care, nutrition, family planning, education
  against infanticide, adolescent girls programs,
  HIV/AIDS
• has community development projects, such as
  village womens self help groups
• provides training and support to other government
  and non government organisations in India

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RUHSA Aims to -

• Promote awareness and literacy
• develop vocational training
• empower the very poor
• promote womens development
• develop community organisations
• implement sustainable programs

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Field Education the structure

• Orientation to RUHSA, its staff and communities
• Registration with local police
• Negotiation of project area for student placement
• Implementation of project under supervision
• Writing of Report for RUHSA
• Study tours to other organisations and States
• Cultural activities and programs

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Some past student placements ...

• Assessing awareness of pension eligibility

• Assessing the needs of the elderly

• Income generation programs for womens self help
  groups

• HIV/AIDS awareness programs

• Assessing the Mobile Health Clinics

• Education and awareness workshops for adolescent
  girls

• Working with village Family Care Volunteers

• The role of men in developing nuclear families

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Costs

• Airfare Adelaide-Chennai-Adelaide (approximately
  1,500)
• Immunisations (approximately 500)
• Travel Insurance (automatic cover by UniSA
  insurance for up to 120 days)
• Food during placement (approximately 50c per
  meal)
• Accommodation (free of charge)
• Extra spending
• For costs in other cities consult the Lonely
  Planet India book

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Financial assistance

• The University of South Australia has a
  scholarship system for its students who undertake
  international study. Students doing placement at
  RUHSA are eligible to apply for a scholarship.
• The lead time is quite long. Contact Sophie
  Diamandi in the School of Social Work and Social
  Policy for details.
• Amounts given in the past range from 500 to 1500

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Medical Protection

• RUHSA is in a malaria-free area
• Malaria prevention
• Consult your GP about required/recommended
  immunizations
• Access to local medical assistance

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Your commitment...

• Preparedness to contribute to a developing
  country as an integral part of your learning
• Readiness to work harder and longer than in
  Adelaide placements
• Commitment to teamwork with your fellow students
• Willingness to attend preparation meetings prior
  to leaving for India
• Use the support of SORA

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The demands

• Professional learning will be accentuated
• Emotions will be felt to the fullest, including
  frustration, bewilderment, loss...
• Responding appropriately to difference and
  strangeness
• confronting your values, others values in a
  critical and reflective way

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• India is a paradox, constant images of
  contradictions. Hardly anything makes sense if
  one goes by logic, and yet at another level, all
  seems to fall into place. Hence, if one has lived
  in India for a week, one can easily write a book
  if one has lived here for a month, he or she can
  manage to write an article but if one makes a
  year-long stay or more in this country, one can
  barely write a paragraph - thats how enormously
  complex India is India cannot be described in
  any categorical terms, because India is not just
  a country - India is a mystery
• Osho India My Love

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For further information

• Read the Information Package

• Visit http//cmch-vellore.edu

• Contact SORA and connect with past students by
  emailing Gail Holmes on gailh_at_adam.com.au or
  Marion Croser on marionc_at_hotkey.net.au
• Talk more with Frank Tesoriero Frank.Tesoriero_at_un
  isa.edu.auphone 83024515

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Next steps...

• If you are interested in pursuing field
  education in India,
• ...complete the application form and forward
  asap to Frank Tesoriero

you will be invited to an information meeting
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RUHSA...

• The most difficult and most rewarding semester
  of my program

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• We, India, are waiting to share with you...

our generosity, our community, our wisdom
...and our wealth

• Va!
• Come!