Thirty-one students from 14 Universities in Japan, from International Volunteers of University Student Association IVUSA, worked alongside 12 of Amrita University’s Masters of Social Work (MSW) students and faculty members to deploy clean drinking water filters in 31 flood-hit communities in the Kerala State districts of Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta, in February 2019.
The effort was part of the Jivamritam clean water initiative {news} for rural India.
Traveling all the way from Japan to Kerala, the students expressed much joy and happiness for the opportunity to perform selfless service. Some students shared their thoughts.
“I want to join this program next year too. I would like to say many thanks to Amma for this opportunity. And I hope the Jivamritam program will spread around the world.” – Kurumi Kusano – Otsuma Women’s University – Japan
“I’ve heard that Amma works hard to help many people, so I also want to be someone who helps other people with love like her. The days I have spent in India have become unforgettable memories.” – Miu Suzuki – first year student at Toyo University – Japan
“It was a great experience for me to participate in this project. I didn’t know how serious the water problem was in India. I learned many things by seeing how people live here, by working with MSW students, and through communicating with people in the villages.” – Yuya Kitano, second year student of Faculty Law at Chuo University – Japan
“I never imagined that I would have such a wonderful experience!” – Yuya Morimot – second year student at Kwansei University – Japan
“The Jivamrita Project has become a turning point in my life.” – Nagisa Ueda, First Year student at Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts – Japan
-Dass
