India Stories: Big News

I’m moving to Delhi!

That’s right, I’m setting off and moving my shiny bald egg-head to the vast metropolis of the capital city of the India. It’s been a long time brewing, but if you’ll allow me 5 minutes of your time, let me explain the what, why, who and when.

Let’s start with when.

5th January late night.

What will I be doing in Delhi?

I will be working for an NGO called the Naz Foundation (Trust) India. They have been in operation since 1994, when Anjali Gopalan set up a non-profit organisation to raise awareness around issues of HIV/AIDS, sexuality and gender. Since then they have set up a children’s home for kids affected by HIV/AIDS (2001), a drop-in centre for LGBTQ+ people seeking counselling and referral, and a programme empowering girls 10-19 in life skills, leadership, sports & economic management. There’s a LOT to unpack in that last sentence, and I suggest you head to their website to learn more. All you need to know is that they are one of India’s biggest NGOs and I’m looking forward to working with them.

At Naz I will be working in the children’s home, teaching music and computer skills. I also hope to help them with their homework as well as other life skills, making myself available for any other jobs that need doing. As well as these hands-on jobs, I will be overseeing the social media presence of the NGO. 

It’s important to note that you won’t see me posting any pictures of the children at Naz, as they are an NGO that works specifically with HIV+ children.

Will I be leaving Bethesda Life Centre, Goa?

No. Let me make that very clear. No. I will continue to do administration, social media and teaching (online) for BLC Goa. I will also be travelling to Goa every two or three months to teach music at BLC face to face, see the kids, see Martin & Beena and my friends again. I will also take the opportunity to go to the beaches, taste chicken xacuti and take in the relaxing atmosphere of Goa once again. There’s really nothing like it. It’s like Vegas, Porto and Marbella rolled up into one and dropped into India.

This little community in Goa has become a very close family for me over the past 4 years. I share a spiritual connection with Martin & Beena as we’re all on similar parts of the journey. And it goes without saying that the kids of BLC are family now. I’ve seen some of them grow up from being naughty 14 year olds to being 18 year old men and women, ready to take on the outside world. Some of them have the most incredible talent.

In wrestling with the decision to move to Delhi, it broke my heart to think I would be leaving them (even though they’re in the MOST excellent hands). Telling Martin & Beena I was wanting to move to Delhi gave me the same heavy feeling I felt when telling my mum I was moving to London… and again later to India. 

If the decision was that hard, then why the change?

Because the heart has a way of secretly leading where the future is calling. Some people name it the “call of God” but I’m not a fan of that wording because it negates our intimate relationship with what God has already put in our hearts.

I’ve been to Delhi a few times since meeting two Delhiites in Goa in April 2019. These two people have since become two of my closest friends and have always looked out for me in India. But being on the streets of a huge metropolitan centre in India, I’ve seen such great need and suffering, persecution on grounds of religion, caste, gender, sexuality, education, etc. I’ve seen young women sleeping alone on the streets. I’ve seen an old couple living by the road because their son got married and kicked them out of the house (now they look after sick street-dogs). 

So in working with more children, I see this as an expansion. It’s an opening up to more. I will be busier and will have more responsibilities, working with two NGO’s, but I’ve seen what a difference music has made in the lives of the kids at BLC, and I’d love to share the love and joy with more children.

Where will I be living?

My friend, Abhinay, and I went searching for places at the beginning of December. We saw many places of varying quality, size and odour. But the one apartment that really stayed with me was a small one-bedroom terrace in Vinobpuri, 15 minutes walk from the NGO. Nothing special, but enough. But the landlord asked us to stay for some Kashmiri tea and a chat to get to know us. When I called him three days later to agree to take the apartment, I told him that his courtesy and kindness are what sealed the deal for me. Plus there are no brokers involved, so no commission to pay!

I’m currently in the middle of getting my belongings to Delhi, which has been madness, but I’ll write more about that when and if I see the boxes on the other end. Fingers and toes crossed.

So that’s it!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to read. I’ll cover the events of the past few months in the next post – it’s quite a story!

Until then, please continue to donate, pray and send your kind thoughts. They’re all making this possible, and kids are coming alive thanks to music, so you’re having a direct effect in lighting up these amazing, wonderful young people.

All my love and peace

Will