Monday January 7th

We began our second week of classes by visiting the Center for Women's Development and Research - an organization dedicated to women’s rights .  After learning about the organization we went to visit a group of women who were a part of this program.  We were told the women lived in a slum but when we arrived their living conditions were far better than I had expected.  We all squeezed into a small space and the women told us about how their lives had changed.  Their children are going to school and domestic violence has dropped because the women defend each other.  The leader of the group told us “I may not have had education but I can change the world. “  Once again we found ourselves humbled by the strength and determination of the women of India.

A Traditional Indian Dance 

Later in the day we visited a microfinance organization – this is a government program that offers women the chance to learn sewing for a few hours a day over the course of a couple months.  They then loan them the money to buy a sewing machine.  Many of the women work from home sewing while their children are young but some have gotten together to form small businesses.   In addition to being excellent at sewing, the women here also sing and dance and they put on a brief show for us - shown here.