September 2023, Oasis Valleys campus was vibrant green after showers through the Monsoon season. Institute was active with camps & buzzing with participants.
Until South Gujarat faced unstoppable heavy rains. Gates of an overflown Sardar Sarovar Dam (largest dam in Gujarat, India) were opened on 16th Sept. morning releasing 45,000 cusecs of water. By next day, Sept. 17th it was 18 lakh cusecs.
Oasis Valleys Flooded!
Oasis Core team (Senior Founder friends & Oasis Young team) called for an urgent meeting. First, the ongoing programs at the institute were shifted to Vadodara city office.
Floods at Oasis Valleys turned into blessings for us as we, the young successors, got the opportunity to take responsibility in the times of such a natural calamity, thanks to our senior mentors.
After providing us with necessary guidance, the experienced Senior team stepped back and shifted to Vadodara, allowing the young team to take complete charge of the situation. By then, flood waters had entered the institute.
Education: 1) Two Thumb Rules were given - Ensure Minimum Damage at Institute AND Fastest Recovery after flood waters recede. 2) How to be ready for handling such situation systematically in future.
Minimum Damage:
1) As per these guidelines, we first emptied the entire Basement floor (Paatal), i.e. minus 4th floor. 2) If the water levels were to reach half the height of basement floor we were prepared to shift all the stuff kept on the next level i.e. minus 3rd floor, (Friendship ) to minus 2nd floor (Sneham). 3) ‘Friendship’ floor has costly equipments including electronics, server room etc. If water levels rose quickly, we had to be ready to do this part, while racing against time.
Steps: How & What we did to achieve the above goals:
1) We visualised the process and did all the planning on paper in 2-3 hours. How systematically we can shift everything, how we will do team work. We then created teams as per strengths. 2) Concluding the camps young team from Vadodara rushed to Chanod to support the friends at Oasis Valleys. They did their planning during this travel time. 3) We checked water levels once every 15 minutes over the entire night as a team and created alternative electricity supply overnight to prevent danger of short circuit and fire.
Thankfully water levels didn’t rise further to enter ‘Friendship’ floor, but we were ready to take that challenge if need be.
Fastest Recovery:
1) After the water levels receded, we divided tasks into 3 priorities: Essential, Normal and Improvements. Essential things included STP (Sewage Treatment Plant), Cleaning, Disinfecting Institute and Clearing heavily mudded Farm-campus-pathways too. 2) We finished this first essential part in 48 hours and regular programs restarted immediately after this.
3) We also planned improvements to deal with such calamities in future.
Photo Glimpses
In just 8 hours, 4.4 feet water entered the basement of our Institute, with water at almost 11 feet in the Campus.
Team of 17+ youths rose to the occasion with a pledge to save the Institute.
Tough! But we did it!
1. I learnt every problem is an opportunity for us - I experienced it & without having 0.01% negativity, we stood tall & celebrated the crisis.
2. I could attempt to empathize with thousands of villagers who face such difficulties almost every year & their spirited attitude they carry for rehabilitation. Hearty salute to them!
3. We also learnt on what can be proactively improved in our institute, to be further prepared, efficient & confident for similar or worse situations in the future.
A big thank you to senior mentors for taking such risk & having faith on us to handle this. Grateful for this great opportunity.
~ Shailesh Agrawal, Young Trustee
Several plants on campus were submerged in water, day & night during the flood . When water levels receded & I went out to observe, I noticed that when the sun rays touched them, the flowers & plants bloomed as usual, birds started chirping, creatures like snakes, insects etc. started coming out. I was very impressed and inspired to see how quickly nature recovered. The blooming of a tiny flower filled me with hope & energy to do restorations in the fastest possible way.
Keeping 2 key values given by mentors in mind, we listened to each other, understood each other, prevented conflicts in trivial matters, and started restoration work speedier than flood’s destruction.
~ Chetan Dharajiya, Associate Trustee
Reflection of Misaal Honourship Explorers
Despite the difficulty, I am grateful such a situation took place. I am working at Oasis valleys since the last 2 years, full time. I always wondered, 'Why I love working at Oasis?' This flood brought all my answers. Even though this land is not mine, I have no blood relationship with the people living here, but still this land, the people and everything here is directly connected with my heart. I realised that this work gives me utmost satisfaction, happiness & love. And I am also becoming a very good human being here.
Thank you so much flood, for becoming such a life changing opportunity for me!
~ Pranav Suryvanshi, Misaal Honourship Explorer
I enjoyed all my roles as a disciplined soldier following instructions. Whether it was clearing the basement before water entered the building or being an electrician for doing wiring work or being a cook for preparing meals for team or checking water levels over night again and again. I did all of this with positivity and a smile on my face.
I am thankful to the flood, which helped me a lot in extending myself mentally as well as physically. We celebrated flood days like a festival!
~ Niful Dudhiya, Misaal Honourship Explorer
Glimpses of Campus: Current Status
Black Spider
Red Python
Bamboo Roof with Tyre Seats
Giraffe
Herbal Tea Cups
Green Tortoise
Artist Behind the Creations
I have always aimed to be an artist. My mentor Sanjiv bhai always encouraged me to move beyond just painting & instead to learn to work with multiple art mediums. Few such successful explorations later, the one with used tyres & bamboos translated into a full project.
But it was not easy! Each creation had to pass through 3 core values along with other sub values:
1. It should be sustainable for years, with almost 'No' or very 'Less' maintenance.
2. Environment friendly and low cost.
3. It should be created out of recycling waste material but feeling of viewers should be "wow".
I had never done something at this scale before. I have no 'formal degree' in Art, neither any experience. It was only the encouragement & trust from mentors which drove me to do these adventures against all odds.
~ Divya Hadiya, Associate Trustee
Rejuvenated Green and Beautiful
Oasis Valleys awaits you...
Editor-In-Chief: Riya Shah
Editorial Team: Aatmaja Soni, Divya Hadiya, Sanjiv Shah, Sheeba Nair
IT Team: Alkesh Raval, Mehul Panchal
Alive Newsletter/ Magazine11 February 2024
Year 17, Issue 6
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