Carlota Gros

It’s hard to put into words such an intense and special experience. There’s such a stark contrast to our everyday reality that during the first few days in India, it’s difficult to adjust to the heat, the schedules, the explosion of colors, smells, and sounds (they honk constantly)… but it’s absolutely worth it.

Getting to see the Vicente Ferrer Foundation’s projects firsthand, meeting the volunteers, and witnessing the lives that have been changed by these initiatives is a privilege. And being part of the joint Speech Therapy project with GAES Solidaria is a true gift.

The first time we went to the Bukaraya school with our colleague Deepicka, a group of perfectly uniformed children with huge smiles were waiting for us. And it was like that every day. Some already had hearing aids, others were there for their first evaluation—but all of them wore the same smile. The same smile we had when we saw their faces upon hearing their own voices for the first time, or when their eyes lit up hearing ours through the audiometer headphones—it makes everything worth it.

This is a well-established project with long-term continuity. We got to see how children who were fitted with hearing aids by colleagues a year ago and who weren’t speaking at the time have now developed oral language—like Tarum. Or we witnessed first fittings for children with profound hearing loss who had never perceived sound before, like Amrutha or Lashkmi—knowing that the next volunteers will be able to follow their progress.

A thousand thanks to GAES Solidaria for thinking of me. This has been one of the best experiences of my life. And to all of you, my colleagues: if you’re lucky enough to get the call, don’t hesitate—take the leap! You won’t regret it!