YearOutIndia

Francesca Doctolero

May/1/2017

Location: Kozhimala, Kerala, India

In collaboration with ASB Ryerson

One of our students, Francesca Doctolero, travelled to India this May 2017 with 16 other students from different faculties of Ryerson University. She dedicated her time fundraising through ASB Ryerson-- an entirely student-run and locally operated group in Ryerson who believes that respecting and understanding other cultures can foster positive change both in our own community and abroad. Throughout the school year of 2016-2017, her team thoroughly discussed the ethical strategies to approach projects in-country.

More specifically, she was involved with YearOutIndia's sanitary project in Kozhimala, Kerala where she experienced local construction first hand. In a small south Indian tribe (Mannan Tribe), they finished 10 latrines in one month where Francesca assisted the local masons from beginning to end. She did a variety of work from digging a pit to foundation work, plumbing, concrete block layering, and plastering walls. In addition, she learned the value of budgeting projects including low-cost passive design strategies. Most importantly, she made a small difference in the lives of the community, and a big change on herself.

Francesca quoted, "My decision to travel to India for a volunteer project has been the greatest decision of my life. This place has touched my heart in unimaginable proportions.