Throughout my journey in India, I encountered many instances in which my values and way of thinking were challenged. Odanadi, an organization dedicated to women and children who are victims of human trafficking was founded by Mr. Stanley and Mr. Parashuram about twenty years ago. The two men worked as journalist for a small publishing company, but during an interview with locals from a neighborhood in India, these men found themselves face to face with a woman who would change the course of their work. The woman was known by the locals as a prostitute; the two men approached the woman to do a story coverage on her life and the hardships she endured, but Mr. Stanley and Mr. Parashuram realized that the woman’s life would not change with a publication, instead there was a call for action.
As I walked into Odanadi safe house, I became overwhelmed with emotion. I was walking into the product of twenty years of hard work, I was witnessing what true compassion and humanity was. Mr. Stanley and Mr. Parashuram began this organization with limited to no knowledge on human trafficking and the complex trauma that the victims face, but after educating themselves on the reality that affects individuals not only in India, but worldwide, these two men were able to change the lives of many women and children. In the safe house women and children have access to a variety of extracurricular activities, psychological and medical services, and proper nutrition/hygiene practices. The inhabitants are not given a maximum length of stay; the founders of Odanadi understand that every case is different and that coping mechanisms differ among each individual. The women and children are taught skills that will serve them in social context once they are ready to leave, there is an opportunity for everyone there to grow. Interacting with these individuals taught me that with time, compassion, and patience, one can overcome difficult situations. Mr. Stanley and Mr. Parashuram have dedicated their lives creating an organization that has given victims hope, despite the difficulties that they have faced when dealing with leaders from human trafficking networks and social stigma.
Since a young age, I have been taught that changes can only be made by people in power and by people that have monetary means. Odanadi and many organizations in India, such as Public Health Research Institute of India, have changed my way of thinking. I learned that although one cannot change the world from one day to the next, one can impact people in nearby premises; eventually the changes may expand and further change the lives or circumstances of others farther away from the original premises. As a global citizen, my impact can be as simple as educating those around me about the topics that need awareness and to support these organizations so that they may continue to function. As an aspiring physician, once I obtain my medical degree, offering medical services for no cost to individuals in rural communities is a plan. It is very easy to get lost in the trance of life, to get lost in the obligations of the everyday routine, but living in India for one month and working with PHRII, an organization that has offered hundreds of women access to healthcare, I find it impossible to go about life consumed in my routine. There are health and social concerns worldwide, some locations share similarities in concerns and others are different, but regardless of the location, change starts with small efforts.