On Thursday, five volunteers visited Setrawa, which is a small desert village 110km outside Jodhpur, where Sambhali has another empowerment centre. The contrasts between the city and this village were stark - life in the village is incredibly simple and basic.
When we arrived at the Jodhpur Empowerment Centre, the women were repaying their loans, but because they cannot write, they had to use a thumbprint instead of a signature. Providing micro-loans to those who lack the initial credit is one of the most common means of grassroots development worldwide. Sambhali gives interest-free loans to women in Setrawa, particularly widows as they are marginalised by society. After their husband dies, they are not allowed to speak for one and a half months, or leave the house for a year. The complex rules and regulations mean that often, to compound the social effects of widowhood, women become incredibly poor. We met some of the women who received loans from Sambhali. One of the women bought a cow so that she could sell the milk to the villagers. Another woman bought a small shop. Another woman buys fabric and using the sewing skills she learned at the empowerment centre, makes clothes and bags to sell. The loans therefore allow women to become both financially independent and socially and economically empowered.
We spent some time with the Butterfly class, which is an after-school programme where children have the opportunity to further their English, Hindi and maths, as well as arts and crafts and workshops. The arts and crafts sessions teach self-sustainability and encourage creativity from a young age, in the hope that when the children grow up they will be able to sell products they have made. This is often done with recycled goods to promote sustainability. The children were adorable, so confident and so proud, running up to us to show us their workbooks. Some of the girls showed us a dance and they sang us some songs - I've never heard ten green bottles sang so passionately. 'And if one green bottle should accidentally fall *dramatic clap* there'll be no green bottles sitting on the wall' - it actually broke my heart when the bottle accidentally fell. So much passion!
I have noticed a difference in our approach to education in the 'west' and here. We take for education for granted, 'oww back to school tomorrow', leaving our homework until the last minute, waiting for the announcement that it's a snow day, and at one point it was even 'cool' to not try hard and underperform. But when an education is not a given, it is valued on a whole new level. These Setrawa children choose to come to Sambhali to supplement their education, and go to 2 schools a day, 6 days a week. The class I teach back in Jodhpur ask me for homework, tell me they want me to teach them much harder topics and love tests because they can show off what they know - they are so proud of the education they have been given because they fought for it and make the most of it. We could all learn from these girls.
When we arrived at the Jodhpur Empowerment Centre, the women were repaying their loans, but because they cannot write, they had to use a thumbprint instead of a signature. Providing micro-loans to those who lack the initial credit is one of the most common means of grassroots development worldwide. Sambhali gives interest-free loans to women in Setrawa, particularly widows as they are marginalised by society. After their husband dies, they are not allowed to speak for one and a half months, or leave the house for a year. The complex rules and regulations mean that often, to compound the social effects of widowhood, women become incredibly poor. We met some of the women who received loans from Sambhali. One of the women bought a cow so that she could sell the milk to the villagers. Another woman bought a small shop. Another woman buys fabric and using the sewing skills she learned at the empowerment centre, makes clothes and bags to sell. The loans therefore allow women to become both financially independent and socially and economically empowered.
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| A proud woman and her shop |
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| Women repaying their loans |
We spent some time with the Butterfly class, which is an after-school programme where children have the opportunity to further their English, Hindi and maths, as well as arts and crafts and workshops. The arts and crafts sessions teach self-sustainability and encourage creativity from a young age, in the hope that when the children grow up they will be able to sell products they have made. This is often done with recycled goods to promote sustainability. The children were adorable, so confident and so proud, running up to us to show us their workbooks. Some of the girls showed us a dance and they sang us some songs - I've never heard ten green bottles sang so passionately. 'And if one green bottle should accidentally fall *dramatic clap* there'll be no green bottles sitting on the wall' - it actually broke my heart when the bottle accidentally fell. So much passion!
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| The Welcome Song |
I have noticed a difference in our approach to education in the 'west' and here. We take for education for granted, 'oww back to school tomorrow', leaving our homework until the last minute, waiting for the announcement that it's a snow day, and at one point it was even 'cool' to not try hard and underperform. But when an education is not a given, it is valued on a whole new level. These Setrawa children choose to come to Sambhali to supplement their education, and go to 2 schools a day, 6 days a week. The class I teach back in Jodhpur ask me for homework, tell me they want me to teach them much harder topics and love tests because they can show off what they know - they are so proud of the education they have been given because they fought for it and make the most of it. We could all learn from these girls.
Good to know that you had a great time teaching n the children loved the teaching experience :)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work Becky .... God bless
Shweta