Reality Check

After meeting with Acumen on Monday and hearing about their projects, challenges and successes, it gave a great frame of reference for our following two meetings with international, American-based organizations. On Tuesday, we flew from Mumbai to Delhi and, during dinner that night, met with Nandita Chopra, a representative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), living and working in Delhi on the NIH's India portfolio. It was really interesting to speak with her about her role and what the NIH is doing to promote health in India. She has an extensive history in HIV/AIDS research and it was amazing to hear about the work the NIH is doing, particularly for me, in the way of HIV/AIDS prevention in India.

The following day, we met with PSI – a HUGE international NGO with thousands of projects across the globe – I was definitely interested in PSI prior to the meeting, and was pleasantly surprised at the level of depth we were afforded to experience. I figured we would meet with them in a similar fashion as with Acumen or UnLtd - they would discuss their projects, provide some interesting examples and allow us to ask questions. They did that, and so much more. The PSI staff really engaged us. After a presentation of their current local women's health projects – working to increase access to low-cost intrauterine devices (IUDs) and medical abortion – they requested that each of us provide criticism of the project.

Obviously each of us would come away with thoughts about the program – the model, the implementation, the evaluation methods - but it was so refreshing to be asked, point-blank, about a real, functioning program (and then have the opportunity to go out and see it; to meet the people who take the theory and models about which we learn in class and turn them into something tangible). Amidst the craziness and uncertainty which India can breed within you, our time with PSI was the professional reality check I needed and really solidified much of my India experience thus far. Though our meetings and interactions with other organizations have been enlightening and engaging on a number of levels, I am still figuring out what social entrepreneurship means to me, and what role I can play within that sphere. Regardless of how India or social entrepreneurship strikes me, today reminded me that soon, I will be done with my degree, and will be doing work like this; work which will have the potential to make a real impact on people's lives.