The last few weeks have left me busy settling into my new life. I am working in an organization in southern India that is all about empowering women and thus their families. Before I describe anything let me just say that it is a very humble place with equally humble people. The main office is on the 2d floor and the portion of the office that I'm in has a thatched roof. I used to think thatched roofs were the greatest but I have had "God's little creatures" as they're referred to around here a little closer to my flesh than I like (big worm like thing crawling on my neck, some big flying grasshopper like thing on the sole of my bare foot, we leave our sandals at the door). These incidents were over within moments but they certainly leave an impact. So I have visions of crawling things landing on the warm flesh of hut tenants in the middle of the night. Not quite the romantic vision I used to have...
The women in the villages have greeted me with beautiful smiles and curiosity and generosity. And their gifts of sweets, drink, fruit, bangles, bindis, flowers in my hair, and once a sari. I tried to refuse the sari...and when she saw how overwhelmed I was she hugged me hugely. This was such a wonderful surprise - she was as swept up with emotion as was I. A great reminder that language is not as critical as we think.
The women this organization works with are members of Self-Help Groups and live in rural villages. In a nutshell, they trust each other and share intimate financial details and save money together. With this money, they make loans to each other. Many start their own businesses, around here called income generating activities. The bottom photo is of me buying a sari from a self help group member. She goes to Pondicherry and buys saris wholesale and then sells them to women in her village for a profit. How could I not support this?! We both laughed when we realized we're the same age.
The top photo is with my new co-workers from the Vandavasi field office. They kindly put me together, including Amudha taking pieces from her own hair for mine to make sure I looked like a traditional Indian woman. We laughed and giggled as the 3 of them dressed me and combed my hair. You would never have guessed that we met only hours before...truly, we are all connected and these are my long lost cousins. They loved that I was participating in their culture as much as I loved that they were helping me.
The middle photo highlights a micro enterprise. They are paid training opportunities but unfortunately these women have been laid off from the Vandavasi Spice Unit and are not learning production and sales. The organization is restarting this in their new location. The old building's electrical system couldn't support the other equipment and things were damaged. But hopefully these ladies will be employed again soon.
This is part of what I'm doing here...trying to help promote their cause and gain financial support. Don't worry, you'll hear more about that later.
Thanksgiving is around the corner and as much as I'll miss family and friends, I feel grateful to be here. I'm learning that a number of things that I considered standard are really creature comforts that make us more comfortable. Like water (no hot) in my room and a bed (uncomfortable as it is).
Holding all of you in my thoughts and appreciating your care and emails.
Namaste,
Tracy
