2023 Expedition

After a hiatus of 2 years, the fifteenth Hands on India’s 2-week mission to Siliguri returned in February 2023. Whilst we were unable to travel to India during the lockdowns, the charity was still able to maintain the funding for its many projects during this period because of generous donations from anonymous individuals.

The 2023 Hands on India team consisted of 19 chiropractors and 6 assistants. We were very fortunate to have 4 board members from Hands on India join the trip. The team met in Delhi on Saturday the 18th of February ready to fly to Bagdogera-Siliguri the next day to settle into our accommodation with our in-country NGO, Seva Kendra.

On Monday we divided into 4 groups, loaded the 4 wheel drives with our tables and accessories and travelled far and wide to the villages of the tea-picking and rock-breaker communities.

We would set up in a village hall to check the community that flowed into our clinics throughout the day.

This we repeated for 8 days, checking, and adjusting over 3200 people. Our main target group was the tea pickers and rock breakers whose bodies are subjected to hard work of a repetitive nature. These incredibly strong and resilient people appreciated and benefited from the chiropractic care we were able to administer during our brief time with them. Some of these people have had chiropractic care for many years, something very rare in India. This trip was my 3rd trip in 7 years, and I was welcomed back by people whom I have cared for on each of those trips. In some cases, watching them grow from youth to adults. A very satisfying experience.

The main mission of Hands on India is the funding of education for the children of the tea-picker and rock-breaker communities, so that they may break the poverty cycle and gain access to higher education in government schools. Currently, we have over 900 children in education. We fully fund 4 schools and partially fund 2 other schools. It is such a joy to be welcomed by the children who were so enthusiastic and excited to greet us. We also love connecting with past students, some of whom now are at university. Sharing their dreams and possibilities is priceless.

During the pandemic, all the government schools were shut but our schools were able to maintain the children's education by offering home-schooling and the school buildings became centres for the distribution of food and medical supplies which was greatly needed in the communities.

Another critical area of support is the funding of the Women’s Empowerment Program. This Program supports over 3000 women to become more independent and resourceful whilst establishing a network of cooperation. Our charity supports this program by funding the facilitators who help organise the work and by offering grants and loans to the women to embark upon individual or collective enterprises. During an afternoon whilst we were there a group of 400 women came loaded in the back of trucks to meet us. Each of these women was a representative of about 10 other women in their collective. We had an opportunity to meet and get their personal experiences as to what the program means to them. We heard stories of domestic violence, people trafficking and child marriage that they were finding ways to overcome. This was a very powerful and moving experience seeing the confidence and power of these women. The afternoon was finished with a huge group circle of dance and song made up of hundreds of people that lasted for quite some time.

A new initiative that started during the pandemic was the establishment of 24 health clinics which made a huge positive impact on the communities during the pandemic.

Each volunteer-run centre cares for 4 local villages, each targeting 25 high-needs families per village. Each of the 24 community health centres directly supports 500 people but also benefits the health and hygiene of the whole community. The centres provide basic health checks, health and hygiene education and facilitate access to medical support in larger towns and monitor their health outcomes. Our target families now receive health cards to access medical care, disability and age pensions, school attendance support for teenage girls, delayed marriage dowries, indigenous cards, government repair of village drains and clean water supply. Amazingly, access to government funds via the health centres has created 100 new houses, with another 70 approved for the homeless and single mothers.

This year's team of chiropractors and assistants was a cohesive group that bonded quickly and shared the wonderful experience of giving. New friends became close friends over the 2 weeks as each supported the other in the field and in recreation. India can be a challenge to the senses for many, from the constant noise, the heavy pollution, and the volume of people. Having a shared experience with others in the team allowed everyone to gain confidence in experiencing their new environment. Learning new approaches to care by sharing our knowledge was a highlight for me, as each of us brought a different perspective and approach to our care. Our amazing chiropractic assistants kept the wheels of industry smoothly turning so that the chiropractors had only one thing to do in the clinics and that was to care for the individual in their presence. The assistants managed a sea of people each day calmly and efficiently so everyone was able to be seen by the chiropractors.

At the end of each day, we would return to our base at Seva Kendra, refresh and then travel into town for dinner or explore the local markets for a sari or kurta shopping.

Hands on India is a charity that is making a huge impact in the lives of not only the people in India but also those of us who are fortunate to experience such a wonderful journey. 98% of all money raised in donations makes it to the people in our programmes which is a phenomenal achievement. The 2 weeks each year is the icing on the cake for everyone, whilst the main purpose is the funding of the schools, women's empowerment groups and health centres. Each delegate who volunteers to go to India pays for all their expenses so that our raised money gets to those who need it.

It has been an honour to work with the team at Seva Kendra which has been led by the resourceful Fr Felix Pinto. The team at Seva Kendra welcomes all regardless of their religion, aiding those in need.

I have been privileged to lead such a great group of people who worked as a wonderful team, and I am sure many new friendships and fond memories have been forged in the Hands on India experience.

Very Sincerely Yours

Andrew Paul (Team Leader)

2023 Team Chiropractors

·      Ruby Bell

·      Rebecca Bowring

·      Grace Cummings

·      Ian Curnow

·      Susan Ferguson (Board Member)

·      Matthew Hodgson

·      Andrea Huddleston

·      Andrew Iggo

·      Louise Kingsford (Board Member)

·      Darren Little

·      Carina Mehta

·      Andrew Moulton (Board Member)

·      Naomi Neale

·      Andrew Paul

·      Danielle Simonet

·      Jayme-lee Smith

·      Mitchel Whitham

·      Carly Witt

2023 Team Assistants

·      Jennifer Curnow

·      Auden Hodgson

·      Tiffany Lam

·      Quincy Little

·      Saffron Little

·      Deborah Paul (Board Member)