I wrote this as one of our weekly journal entries that we send to Nico and Emily. I was looking through them and decided I’d share some. While untimely, it’s worth showing the evolution of the trip. This one was written on February 24th and in response to our time working with the women’s collaborative.
Kalpana Dhange is a fiery woman who doesn’t seem to know her own strength just yet – but she’s learning. When we first encountered Kalpana in a larger group, she came across as confident and outspoken; however, upon translation, we found out that she said her voice was shaking. She was surprised to be speaking in front of so many new and confusing people who had come to learn about the power of these women’s groups. Later, in a smaller setting, we learned just how much the women’s confidence had improved with their involvement in the support groups. For many, the group’s activities were their first opportunity to venture outside their homes. As they’ve grown closer over time, their confidence in telling their own stories has made leaps and bounds. The almost month-long retreat that some attended gave them a chance to hear their own powerful voice, both individually and collectively.
The strength of that group fabric was evident as one woman, Sushama Chaudhary, shared that the challenge of her eyesight often makes her feel weak. This moment of faltering confidence was met with the gentle but firm support of her peers, who saw the challenge of her eyesight as something that only made her stronger and more capable. With the help of her group, Sushama has battled through these difficulties to become a Village Volunteer, one of the group’s leaders. Village Volunteers, part of the Bajaj Foundation’s community network, oversee multiple support groups, relay concerns and needs to the Bajaj Foundation and make sure everything is running smoothly.
Kalpana is also one of the group’s leaders. In fact, the group was so important to her that instead of running in local elections, she opted instead to take on a leadership role. 31 years old and running a small general store in her village, Kalpana is taking advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. Kalpana’s business strategy for her shop draws from the training she received during the retreat where they taught the women about merging the social and economic ends of business. In an ingenious interpretation of that training, Kalpana offered free water to villagers so that they would come by with their children. The children were good for business: Kalpana had put Pepsi for sale next to the water.
The strength and innovation of these support groups is an untapped resource. Sushama’s perseverance and Kalpana’s fueled ambitions are testimony to the notion that true power comes from within. Sometimes you just need a few friends to help you remember that empowering idea.