Spent the last couple of days getting a clearer picture of the day to day work asha does as well as visiting other slum communities where Asha is working. Learned more about the 3 month computer syllabus which gives the children/youth an excellent start in Word Processing, Excel. Desk Top Publishing, Internet and I'm sure I've forgotten something else.... This is being rolled out in many communities now and is proving very popular as you can imagine.

A syllabus for teaching English has just been written, so that all the children will learn the same course instead of relying on Volunteer's own ideas and abilities whenever they arrive for a week, a month or 3 months. Of course there is opportunity for flexibility within the framework, but I'm sure it will be more helpful for all concerned.

We have met many more lovely, welcoming people.

Tomorrow I am hoping to meet Reena (my pretend Indian daughter!) After the incident at Ektar Vihar this week, we have been unable to visit her home as planned. After 3 attempts, Dick has finally managed to meet up with Mukesh, her husband, at the Asha Polyclinic next door, but Reena and I haven't seen each other at all. I am hopeful that tomorrow will be the day, so armed with the family gifts I shall try again! Poor Reena will be SO frustrated, last time we met in August, we only got a quick 15 minutes.

Tomorrow Dick is giving a seminar on Diabetes for 3 hours with many of the Asha healthworkers as well as the Doctors, not sure what we will be doing yet. The afternoon will be spent visiting a slum colony that was relocated after it was demolished a couple of years back. These people now have land rights and can live without further threats. We will see how the community has become esablished.

At the moment Nigel is out buying a lens for his camera, with Freddy. Sue is concerned about how much he will spend....Dick and I are concerned about our stomachs, Come on Nigel, we're hungry!!!!!!

Am enjoying reading about what the others are getting up to...wondering about Lorraine and tigers, but convinced Pauline will be in her element!