Greetings from back in the US!

During our last week in Dindigul, we received great news: MEERA had received the funds raised by Rice’s Nourish chapter throughout the school year. The funds ($3,500) will be used to create a nutrition project to aid community TB patients. The funds we had raised for MEERA, which didn’t seem like a large amount of aid to us, had a real effect on Mr. Mohamed’s nutrition plan. This impact was rewarding to see first hand and also impressed upon us the importance future fundraising efforts. Talking with Mr. Mohamed about the details of his plan—from nutrition-packet distribution to the type of grain patients will receive—really imparted upon us the positive impact that results from organizations working together.

Saying goodbye to Mr. Mohamed, Annakkodi, Lakshmi, and the rest of the MEERA community was very bittersweet. We were sad to leave the people and the community we had come to care for so much, but we were happy that the friendships we had formed are only the start of a relationship between Rice students and MEERA that we are excited to develop next semester. We hope to continue our fundraising efforts for the MEERA Foundation throughout the next school year and assemble a new team of Rice students to intern with MEERA next summer.

The MEERA Foundation and the people we met and learned from throughout our internship inspire us with their dedication and passion for their work in the Dindigul community. We are so grateful for the opportunity to intern with such an amazing organization and we would also like to extend our gratitude to all the people who made this internship possible along the way. We look forward to exciting developments with Rice’s Nourish chapter next semester!