Heidi Weaver

International Experience Country:
India
Cohort Year:
2011
Home Institution:

Waynesburg University

Heinz Programming Area:
Economic Opportunity
International Experience Summary:

Heidi Weaver volunteered through the organization Proworld Service Corps with Mehan Seva Sansthan and Talent Academy School, local NGOs in Udaipur, India for four weeks. For her first week in the city, Heidi spent time teaching children English and about American art and music at the Talent Academy’s summer camps. She was also able to assist the administration in planning their math curriculum for the upcoming school year. For the next three weeks Heidi worked with Mehan Seva Sansthan’s efforts to bring agricultural and economic stability to rural villages in the nearby desert. For two weeks she traveled to ten different villages to interview residents about the efficiency and social impact of lift-irrigation systems installed by MSS. Heidi learned that these systems pumped water from nearby sources to the fields for an affordable rate which enabled the villagers to cultivate more crops, greatly increasing their economic sustainability. Her final week in India was spent compiling a report from her interviews for the organization to use in seeking grants for further projects as well as to check the status of the systems already in place. Heidi was also able to enjoy Indian culture during her trip and took every opportunity to explore and experience new and exciting things. She stayed with two different host families, one in the city and one in the village. During her time in the city she was able to go to cultural shows, restaurants, and enjoy the street food at the many lakes throughout the city in the evenings after work. On the weekends she travelled to the neighboring cities of Jaipur and Mount Abu as well as taking tours of her home city of Udaipur. For Heidi the highlights of the trip were experiencing a wide array of Indian culture, connecting and conversing with her host families, riding a camel, motorcycles, and mopeds, and dining on the food.

Community Engagement Experience Summary:

CEE Title: Mondo Giusto

For her CEE, Heidi helped to create Mondo Giusto, a fair to create a stronger sense of community and responsibility in Waynesburg by showcasing local businesses as well as local and international fair trade organizations. Local artists also provided entertainment for the event participants. The event was concluded with the dedication of a flower garden that the four women worked to bring to their campus, a lasting testament to their hard work and commitment to sustainability.