Day Four: And the Meet Goes On

We all woke up before dawn to the squawking of the ridiculously loud birds that live at Sangam. But, getting up early had its advantages since, this morning, a Sangam volunteer came to give a yoga lesson to refresh and energize us. The second day of our meeting commenced with a reflection and team building activity.

We did a lot of business today--slow-moving at times, but important to ensure smooth operation of the centre. One highlight was a tour of the Sangam property. There have been a lot of changes since we were here last April. Our vegetable garden is thriving--many of Sangam's meals include ingredients right from our backyard! And the landscaping overall looks great (as above). The entrances were each dressed up with a new gate of purple, Sangam's official color (below). The campsite continues to get nicer, and funds are being raised for the replacement of tent platforms. Overall, the site keeps looking nicer and nicer.

In the evening, we had a celebration with several of the Sangam community partners: people who teach Hindi, embroidery, warli art, cooking, etc. to program participants, as well as prominent figures in the local scout and guide organization. I got to see some of the people I met as a Community Volunteer in 2008--it was really great to catch up. Seeing all of these people in one place reminded me of how much Sangam is an integral part of the local community, and how there are so many people who care deeply about this world centre.