My First International Trip to Africa Representing FAT - Vineeta Kumari, Communication Champion

Whenever I and my fellow participants got the opportunity to volunteer and do internships in FAT, we did it with great interest. Every person working and learning in this organisation has got a chance, whether it is to go for training or to build self-confidence. I also got a lot of opportunities but I was always confined inside India.

With the Pravah-ACTIVATE Youth Exchange Program in 2019, came the opportunity to visit Uganda and South Africa at FAT and my name was suggested for it. This was the first time that I was going outside India to an unknown country. After I got selected, I had to convince my family members to let me go. They were concerned about the living conditions, food and travelling in such far land.

There were a total of 5 participants from India in this youth exchange program. We all applied for the visa together. It was a very exciting process and I got to learn a lot about it. It was the end of year in December when there are a lot of holidays. The next day after the new year, we submitted all the documents and were waiting for our Visa. We also got the Yellow Fever Vaccine, which every citizen has to take before they enter Uganda.

Till the night we were supposed to leave for Uganda, we didn't get any update and we all went back home disappointed from the Visa Office. We told our family members as well and our packing was also not complete. Shortly after reaching home, we got a call from Aarti (who was the coordinator from Pravah) to come collect our passports and visas. Hearing this, we ran from wherever we were and went to get the visa. It took a long time to travel and I did not have time for packing. So somehow I reached the airport but this roller coaster did not end for me.

When it came time for immigration, my yellow fever vaccination card was not in my documents folder! Somebody had put it inside the luggage bag while packing and now the airport officials were refusing to let me go. All my friends had gone inside. And it was very crowded outside. I was running alone. I talked to many people during that time, explained to them why I am leaving, then after half an hour they let me in. I also got emotional because I had never done this alone. Finally, I boarded my flight on time.

The Journey and Challenges of Learning in Uganda, Africa

After traveling for several hours in flight from India, we all reached Kampala (Uganda). It was a 5-day camp where orientation was to be held with everyone regarding this program. Youth from about 119 countries had come to this Youth Kampala Camp. Everyone respected their own culture, language and colour. The best part was that everyone was respecting each other. However, during this time it was somewhat difficult for me to interact with people. I have been more comfortable with Hindi language and no one knew Hindi there. But there were many young people like me who only knew their mother tongue and not English. So when I tried to communicate with someone, I used to respond with a smile.

During this entire camp, information related to this program was given and team activities were done. Because we all came from different corners of the world, a cultural program was organized in the evening. Where all the youth had to display their respective culture through clothes, dance, language, folk-song. I also danced to Indian folk songs.

In the same camp, we also met 5 Change Drivers Volunteers who were about to come to Bharat Pravah Sanstha. We all left for Cape Town, South Africa together after this camp. After reaching there, we had an orientation for more than a week in Cape Town. During this time we all met the Change Drivers team. We understood the culture of Africa-India, talked about what kind of things to face during this time, planning, goals etc.

During this, we were able to go on community visits. There was so much fear of Covid, we were able to see this fear in the surrounding environment. In the days to come, all our training and action plans were also cancelled. We started living in the house now, the office was closed. In mid-March it was decided that we would come to India in the next two days. During all this, I was troubled by personal things as well. I had minor accidents like: - Loss of belongings, Injury, self doubt etc. At some places my colleagues also helped and I was able to move forward.

Return to India

Due to Corona, an emergency situation had arisen in the world. We all packed our bags and left for the airport to go back to India. We all had a connecting flight, first from Cape Town to Ethiopia and the second flight from Ethiopia to India. We, 5 people were travelling together on this journey and all of us were sitting on different seats in the flight. This flight was running late by about 20-25 minutes and our next connecting flight was in the next 45 minutes. As soon as I landed, by the time I came down, the bus took the whole ride away.

I was looking for my friends around but I didn't see any so I decided to move on. Another bus came and I reached the Ethiopian airport checking. When I looked around, people were scared of Covid-19. Everyone was keeping their distance from each other. During the security check, we had to remove our shoes, socks, jackets, and watches. I started getting a little nervous during this time because it was taking too long. So as soon as the security check was done, I put my watch in the bag and took my shoes in my hand and ran for boarding.

When I reached there, I asked a person “where is the flight?” When he said "it's already gone" I said “please don't joke.” I asked when the plant took off - he said that it was just a while. I said” how can this happen? Our first flight was late and how can it take so long to check in?” I stood like a statue for 5 minutes and was scared and nervous. I first calmed myself down and after that he suggested that I go to customer care.

At customer care, everyone knew only English. I told them that I am separated from my friends, I want to go to India, I didn't know whether my friends even know that I am here. She said now there will be a ticket for the next day. I panicked, what will I do at such a big airport till then? I told her “I do not have any currency in this country, how will I survive?” And I did all this conversation in English.

They gave me the ticket for the next day and sent me to the counter. When I talked to him, my accommodation, travel and food arrangements were made. It was a relief to hear all this and a bus took us to the hotel. I ate the food and I stayed there the whole night and till the next evening. In the meantime, another challenge came, my charger was not working here. The phone was about to go off, so I sought help from the hotel and informed all my colleagues that I am safe.

In the evening, thanking everyone, I checked out and this time, I agreed to leave the airport 3-4 hours earlier. The bus driver was waiting for more people but after 20 minutes I requested him to move. When I reached the airport, I felt my decision was right. Due to Covid-19, extra checking was being done which took an hour.

I knew which way to go because it was the same place I was a day before. Shortly after checking, the entry of the flight started. When I sat in the flight, I thought if I hadn't sat on time today, I don't know what would have happened. I was very happy when I landed in India and I told myself "Vineeta you have done it."

A few years ago, I would not even travel with a friend to nearby spaces in my community. But today, I have the confidence to travel alone by flight to an unknown international location. Somewhere deep down, I have been able to do this only by joining FAT's activities and working on building my agency. Because FAT encourages and guides young women to participate, co-create, learn and nudges us out of out comfort zones to excel.