Entry 01
Assumptions I carried
I thought understanding a problem intellectually was enough. Experiencing its complexity on the ground was something very different.
Entry 02
Challenges
Substance abuse was deeply rooted in everyday life, and engaging elders who were already caught in it was difficult.
Entry 03
Relationships
The Sachiv, Sarpanch Mr. Chandravanshi, teachers and villagers each offered a different perspective on the same community.
Entry 04
Surprises
I heard variations of the same concern from every stakeholder, each seeing it through their own experience.
Entry 05
Limitations
I may not have transformed Raka in these few weeks. Four weeks is too short to measure lasting outcomes.
Entry 06
What I learned
Development is not always about arriving with solutions. Sometimes it begins with asking better questions, listening without judgment, and recognising the potential that already exists within people.
Entry 07
How I changed
I leave with a greater appreciation for humility, patience and uncertainty. Raka has changed the way I think about change itself.