The rural immersion trip to Mokhamal, Dang was a very useful and fun trip for me, where our 2 classes met (Sagacity and Sapience).This trip started on December 11, where we reached Mokhamal Dang, located in the southwestern region of Gujarat.On December 11, we left Surat for Mokhamal. and reached there at 11 am. We were assigned rooms and had to settle in immediately. Many activities have been planned so that we can be open in this closed environment and the first activity we carry out is on the agricultural fields. In the field of agriculture, we learned about the agricultural process, the types of crops they grow, the type of soil they use to grow a certain crop, and the pesticides and fertilizers they use to grow the crops. (One of the most interesting things I saw in this farmland was the scarecrows made by the villagers, which surprised me because I had only seen them in reality). After visiting the agricultural lands, we went to the huts and houses of the villagers to interact with them, so that we could bond more with them. By interacting with the locals, we learned a lot about the history of this village and their way of life.
On the second day, we visited the local school, immersing ourselves in the environment where the children study and gain insights into the village-level education system. Witnessing how tribal children live independently in the school without their parents, displaying remarkable independence and intelligence at such a young age, was truly eye-opening. During our time at the school, we engaged in playful activities, and the highlight for me was sharing a homemade lunch with all the children – a cherished moment of the day. Throughout different days, various activities unfolded, with one of the most significant and unexpectedly exciting experiences being our visit to the local bazaar in Dang. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a vibrant and grand local market in this rural area.
Similarly, planned activities on other days were geared towards our enjoyment, adding immense joy to my rural immersion trip. These activities facilitated my interaction with the diverse flora and fauna in the forest, honing my observational skills and deepening my appreciation for the environment. The entire rural immersion trip provided me with valuable personal insights, offering numerous learning opportunities. For instance:
LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
- Self-awareness: Visiting Dang, helped me reflect upon my personal strengths and weaknesses through the immersive experience in a rural setting.
- Adaptability: This trip helped me to learn to navigate unfamiliar environments, adapt to new situations in which I was not so much comfortable (for ex:- I was not comfortable in the resort rooms we were living because I was very much adapted to my comfort zone, but later on I adapted to that environment after day by day) , and identify areas for personal development.
- Resilience: This trip also helped me to encounter challenges in the rural area that require perseverance and resilience, fostering personal growth for example going to the trek which
LO5 – Demonstrate skills and benefits of working collaboratively.
- Teamwork: Engaging with the local community and fellow participants to achieve common goals was a very useful skill I developed during this trip by doing different activities like installing structure to lay down trellis in the kitchen garden of tribes where we collaborated to make this happen in a very fruitful manner.
- Communication: Rural immersion trip helped me improve communication skills by interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, including local residents and fellow participants.
- Active Participation: During this trip I actively participated in the planned activities like going to the:- local school, local bazaar, going on the trek, going to the milk mandli and the cashew and many more. I also participated in taking initiatives for helping in the making of the food we all prepared together for the rural school children and likewise in other community projects too where I showcased my willingness to collaborate and contribute to shared goals during the whole trip.
Rural immersion trip served me a bunch of skills to develop:-
- Self-awareness
- Adaptability
- Resilience
- Problem-solving
- Practical skills
- Cultural competence
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Empathy
- Sustainability awareness
- Social justice understanding
- Cross-cultural collaboration
- Outdoor survival skills
- Physical fitness
- Observational skills
- Interdependence
- Collaborative leadership
- Language adaptability
- Trust-building
- Flexibility
- Creativity
- Global awareness
- Community engagement
- Time management
During this experience, I also acquired a wealth of new knowledge and encountered various aspects of the local culture. I learned about unique elements such as “Katwa and Mahi traps,” tribal music and dance, the specific vegetation of the area, and the names of different tribes like “Jhil,” “Kakuni,” and more. Additionally, I familiarized myself with the hierarchical structure of the panchayats, ranging from “Magistrate” to “Jhilla,” “Taluka,” “Gram,” and “Sarpanch.”
One particularly astonishing aspect was the robust government support present throughout the Dang region. Notable examples included the Bal Seva Kendra, the government hospital, and the center providing job opportunities. The efficiency and systematic functioning of the government services, as observed during my personal experience, were provided free of charge to the rural population due to the area’s low economic status. Overall, this six-day trip proved to be not only educational but also an enjoyable and engaging experience for all of us friends, as we spent time together in a common room/place and had a chance to share our laughter’s !!! 🙂
