January 17, 2025

Serendipitous Song Lyric

Another early morning for us GCIL students, and we were greeted by a familiar view: our faux party bus that we’ve become so accustomed to. However, today was a little different – a bus filled with tired eyes, late-night partiers, and the immunocompromised few… all headed to Mysore, of course!

As we drive, we pass all walks of life: dogs, motorcyclists’ pit stops for pee breaks, people talking around a stall, a family setting up a farmers market, two friends or siblings selling fruit 3 for 10… seems like a steal to me. My friends are admiring the view, soaking in the sun, or resting those tired eyes. There is a farmer waving, drivers indicating with their hands, whole families crowding around the single computer in their communal area. Even a little old man with two passionate friends who care about birds that visit his home. This diverse array of scenes all share a common thread: community.

Our destination today is the Nature Interpretation Center Kokkare Belluru Bird Sanctuary. Nestled in a village of the same name (named after the painted stork), this sanctuary is run by Mr. Gowda and Mr. Krishna who created this community-conserved sanctuary with help from their friend Manu. Their aim: to protect the birds that this community adores and that are so interwoven with their heritage. These birds have been recorded in this area as far back as 300 years. In this village, the people believe that there is a bond between them and the birds, as well as believing that the birds bring them luck and prosperity.

Mr. Gowda explained to us that his WWF sponsored sanctuary is pivotal to the conservation of spot-billed Pelicans and Painted Storks as just in the last couple of years he has seen a decline in populations of these migrating birds. They use this facility to communicate, educate, and rehabilitate. We spoke with Mr Gowda the most where he told the story of the beginning of this sanctuary, how Manu started this sanctuary back in 1994 because he wanted to protect the birds that are so important to his community, to Mr. G even donating some of his agricultural land for the expansion of his passion project.

Mr G. also communicated that it is a struggle right now, between people and nature. However the people are trying their best to relieve that stressor on the environment by focusing and adapting their community and building to best suit and preserve these birds. Like avoiding high rise buildings, installing nettings under banyan trees to protect the baby birds from sibling rivalry or just rough weather.

Once we talked through the history of the sanctuary we had a walk around to see some of the birds in their nests as well as meet some more of the community members. When walking around, asking Mr. Gowda a million questions I couldn’t help noting his enthusiasm. His passion for all birds, not just a select few, and his childhood memories of nursing injured wildlife back to health, resonate deeply. It’s a stark reminder of how passion, when nurtured within a supportive community, can lead to meaningful change.

This experience brings to mind all the NGOs we’ve encountered so far – each born from a spark of passion and sustained by a community of like-minded individuals. It’s a pattern that repeats itself across various fields and interests, reminding us of the power of finding one’s tribe.

Okay a short anecdote if you will:
So if I am going to be completely honest with you, I had no idea what I was going to write, a little freaked out whilst driving to the hotel. But my Spotify discover weekly made all of todays events, and everything we’ve done so far, come into place for a perfect blog post. The song I was listening too whilst having this epiphany you might be wondering is “Find Your People” by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors… have I listened to them before? No. Did I like the song? Yes!

One of the songs lyrics is:
You got to find your people
The ones that make you feel alright
That tell you the truth and wish you well
You got to find your people then you’ll find yourself

I think so far, we have met wonderful people who have found their calling in life and have truly found their community, their people. And thus, they ooze this confidence in their passion and themselves. I’m in awe of how passionate each and every person we’ve interacted with is about their community, no matter how big or small the impact may be. This GCIL program has brought together a group of individuals united by their passion for making a difference, and in just two short weeks, we’ve formed a community that supports, challenges, and inspires each other.

So here I am, writing to you all about how grateful I am that, in a sense, I feel like I have found my people. Individuals who are all passionate enough to pick up and move their life for 10 weeks, to enable others whether that be fellow GCIL students or our organizations. I know it’s only been a short two weeks, but I genuinely feel that each and every one of you makes me feel alright in situations where sometimes it doesn’t, and I feel like we can absolutely tell the truth, learn, make mistakes, but always wish each other well. Looking ahead, I’m filled with gratitude and anticipation. This journey is not just about the work we’ll do or the places we’ll see – it’s about the people we’ll meet and the personal growth we’ll experience. As we continue to engage with passionate individuals and tight-knit communities across India, we’re not just observing – we’re finding our own people and, in turn, finding ourselves. I look forward to continuing to find myself and grow while here in India, navigating this journey with open hearts and minds, ready to learn, make mistakes, and support each other every step of the way.

By,
Hope 🙂