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10 February

7 days in India via my Instagram

Lo   |   Uncategorized   |   No comment

When I travel I typically tell a snapshot of the story through my instagram account and then connect the dots of the full story in a blog post after the trip. Because a lot of my followers aren’t on Instagram, I thought it would be good to dedicate a post to my first 7 days in India. Look out for full write-ups coming in March.

 

I spy, with my big brown eyes, all the things us Americans take for granted. // I will be the first to say how happy I am that travel has become accessible to more people, especially people of color. However, I hope that people seek education from travel vs an opportunity to showcase and stunt on others who aren't as fortunate. The world is here to teach us about life and human kind as a way to unify not separate. @stephenlamiller recently sent me an @ebonymagazine article entitled "Are passport stamps the new paper bag test?" With the author agreeing. Smh. Hopefully I get around to writing a rebuttal because though some use travel as a way to make others feel less than, I, along with a few others hope to inspire and motivate you to #cantstayput and show that if you are intentional about seeing the world, you can and you will! #india #Mumbai #CSPIndia

A photo posted by Can't Stay Put™ (@cantstayput_) on

When I first started #CantStayPut, I remember someone commenting on one of my photos suggesting that I should be giving back when I travel and use my platform for "good", as if inspiring my peers wasn't "good." I didn't address it then but I will now. There is a process to everything I do, very much calculated. My vision for #cantstayput is huge, it sometimes scares me. I knew I needed to build the platform first and then start to incorporate different things. // I spent the day with the Akanksha Foundation, visiting and talking with students. Some of the brightest kids I've ever been around. Even went into their community with the schools social worker to meet and fellowship with their parents. More pics coming. #Mumbai #India #AkankshaFoundation #CSPIndia #Chinchpokli

A photo posted by Can't Stay Put™ (@cantstayput_) on

After I told them what I did and all the countries I had visited the principal asked "Who would like to visit so many countries?" // The Akanksha Foundation has 15 schools and 15 community centers all of which are funded through donations from all over the world. (teacher salaries, utilities,supplies etc) They've partnered with the Indian government in which the gov't provides the infrastructure, typically a vacant run down building in the community that can be converted into a school, but Akanksha has the freedom to create their own curriculum, all of which is taught in English. (100% of the kids passed the gov't issued exams) Because spots are so limited they select students by using the lottery method and all students must live within 1km of the school. #cantstayput #Mumbai #india #CSPIndia

A video posted by Can't Stay Put™ (@cantstayput_) on

Sending y'all love & peace. // It's one thing to give money to a non-profit/foundation. It's another to actually experience and see where that money is going and the affect that it is having. The time I spent with the Akanksha Foundation was truly life changing. Met some of the brightest kids ever. Can't wait to work with their NYC office to raise funds. Bout to be all up in them Galas.

AUTHOR - Lo

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