Shyam Desai '15 is a Starr Fellow living in Gujarat, India working for Let's Be Well RED. 

As I walk along the puddle-ridden city streets through ubiquitous monsoon showers to catch a school bus at six in the morning, pessimism spreads through my mind like a cancer. I begin to ask myself questions along the lines of ‘Why am I even here?’ and ‘Is my work today actually going to make any difference?’ I count the days I have left until my flight back to the sound and stable, comfortable America, hoping that the number somehow feels vastly smaller than it did yesterday.

Fast-forward three hours and I am riding in a school van, approaching my house in Surat and my brain is working a mile a minute. I’m brainstorming innovative ways to expand Let’s Be Well Red’s efforts to combat anemia and mulling over the ways in which I can ensure a sustainable model for spreading awareness before I leave. Reminded of my rapidly approaching date of departure, I pull out my i-calendar and try to figure out how to best manage my time and meetings with the little time I have left in India, a country where change seems to be the only constant.

What happened in the minutes between my 6 am bus ride and 9 am van trip? The answer is simple - a training session with a group of local Health Scout volunteers from a school here in Surat (Gujarat, India). The minute I stepped off the school bus, I was greeted with several voices in unison saying “Good morning Shyam Sir!” (Despite my several requests to remove the “Sir”, they haven’t shed the habit). This group of 8 kids is willing to wake up and come to school early in order to learn how to lead, present, and teach with confidence, all while listening to me speak on end about iron and hemoglobin and red blood cells.  They are continuously thinking of new ways and places to spread awareness about anemia and improve nutrition throughout India and most importantly, they are genuinely excited to help others.

Throughout my stay in India I have come to realize how incredibly difficult it is to actually make a lasting difference in people’s lives and to create widespread impact. Social entrepreneurship can basically be considered a synonym for the phrase ‘easier said than done’. It is important to keep in mind, however, that with any venture, one knows from the start it will not be easy and, as I learned today from my students, only with a rechargeable eagerness to help others can progress continue to be made.