A REFUGE FROM THE STREETS

The sun is getting ready to draw the curtains on yet another day by slowly sinking behind the hills. Its effect is felt by the entire sky bathed in crimson glow. The vast expanse of the backwaters is shimmering in the soft evening light and the world around is bracing up for the dark hours that will follow. A transcendental peace descends on Honnemardu and it seems like the end of the day. 

Well, may be not for everyone. Two miles away from the mainland is Korigudda, one of the many islands dotting the Sharavathy backwaters, not far from the jog falls in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. While most of the world gets ready to rest, this island is still bustling with life. A group of 12 youngsters are exhilarated mood, reviling in the liberated feeling of the vast open spaces. They are in the middle of their adventure programme a the Honnemardu adventure base of the Indian Institute For Adventure Applications. 

While it is not unusual for youngsters to have their adrenaline pumped up at this adventure base, there was something different about this set of youngsters. They were not well-bred city kids frolicking in nature. They were street kids taking refuge from the harshness of street life. Kids who wanted to stop inhaling substances, for example. And they had turned to Adventure to soothe their souls. The Adventurers had used the adventure therapy in several instances before. Successful therapy programs had been organized for people with disabilities and problem kids. But when Dr. Shashi Rao from Ananya Trust approached them to run a 10-day de-addiction camp for these street children, something new clicked. “We were enthused that we would be reaching out to this kind of a group” says Lisa Garfinkle, one of the facilitators at the program, who is also the International Coordinator of the organization. 

For ten days the children stayed in the wilderness, camping in tents, eating, sleeping, and surviving outdoors. They trekked up and down the hills, swam and unleashed their energies. They paddled different kinds of boats including the kayaks, canoes, coracles, and rafts. They submitted to Nature, discovering things of value, beauty and utility. 

In an informal way, adventure and Nature therapy has been a part of cultures all over the world. In North America, Red Indian Youth take off into the wilderness for long stretches of time on soul-searching endeavors. Numerous examples in our own culture illustrate how we have turned to the wilderness seeing answers, enlightment, and peace. Even to this day the tribal groups in Arunachal Pradesh mete out solo survival as a form of punishment to offenders in the community. People who have wronged are sent off to the wilderness so that nature and solitude work as a remedial measures. 

In spite of the background, Adventure therapy has not caught on in this country. The West is increasingly using outdoor activities for therapeutic reasons. Children and adolescents who are serving sentences for break-in-robberies, and attempted murders, sexual abuse and so on are introduced to these kind of activities. Sentences are toned down, jail terms are determined based on the offenders performances in the outdoor programmes. Further such programmes are used to bring out an attitudinal change in such individuals and provide a new outlook in their lives. 

Precisely the reason why Dr. Shashi Rao undertook this venture. It was care and respect that these kids needed. Each one had a gruesome tale to share. Broken families, humiliating treatment and abuse Ananya Trust home. Drunken father and domestic violence. Too many responsibilities at a tender age. The reasons are many. The striking aspect in these kids is that they chose to be on their own instead of being victimized all their lives. The ugly-fall out of this was that they were left to fend for themselves on the streets. One thing leads to another. Rag picking for a living. Sniffing solutions to overcome there fear of sleeping out in the streets. Homosexuality, a direct result of huddling together on cold nights. Living together as a gang to create their own support systems. Their survival instincts are incredible, chakra points out, one of the camp organizers, adding, it is this daredevil attitude and spirit to seek the unknown in them that we try to channelize on outdoor programmes. 

As Dr. Shashi Rao puts it for the first time they regard rules as not a means of control but as a system for safety and well-being. During their stay in the wild they had no opportunity to smoke cigarettes and beedis and inhale solutions. 

Dr. Sheshadri a psychologist, spent time with the children counseling them in a de-addiction workshop. Bheema Shankar a physical education teacher who spent 10 days with the children in this different environment, felt a new sense of affinity towards them. There were moments when a few of them wanted to leave, but the activity was so exciting that they also wanted to stay. Their cognitive skills sharpened. They excelled in all spheres and surprised themselves. 

Most important of all, the serenity and the healthy distraction was a shot-in-the-arm for their self-esteem. They began to consider themselves worthy of doing tasks and accomplishing what they set out to. Javeed and Tanveer decided that it was the kind of life they wanted to live. Can we stay here longer, auntie? They pleaded with the camp organizers. They were inspired to become outdoor guides. For sadiq it was important that everyone could stay there longer so that they get themselves away from drugs. He shrugs, idhar kuch nahi milta tho sub kuch bandh.”(You cannot get the stuff here so that means full stop for everything. Naseer who was pertified of water was happily swimming Ananya Trust the end of the camp. Nagesh who never understood why rules were made, began to accept and respect them. Sashi had a very happy smile stuck to his face all through the camp. Narayan was most keen to be part of all the activities. Amjad found the challenges he always craved for. Naseer Chotta enjoyed the campfire session thoroughly. Little Ishrad found it hard to keep away from his solution and became very withdrawn and quiet. There were learning moments for all. Other NGOs contributed significantly for the success of this novel experiment. Student volunteers from the National Law School of India, Association for Promotion for Social Action (APSA) and the NMKRV institutions stood by Ananya, all through. The positive flavor of the whole experience took away at lease for a while the kids cynicism and skepticism towards life as a whole. The hands that groped for beedis were feeling the paddles. Eyes that reflected despair were rejoicing at the sight of birds. Caring words replaced jarring rebukes. Their hearts sang the rhythm of nature. They are back in the city back to the shelter and care of Ananya Trust, but they have been swayed by the nature. For now they have been weaned away from the habit and the dose of adventure could be the turning point for these once battered, still blossoming souls. 

Also visit : http://www.changemakers.net/journal/99august/raghavendra2.cfm