With only one week left in India, I find myself reflecting on my many experiences here. I have met so many wonderful people and saw so many incredible things. I've also seen so much heartbreak and pain. But for as much pain there is, there is also love and joy. I came to India to learn more about the issues women in India face, to work with Sambhali Trust in tackling those issues, and dare I say, to find myself. I'm not quite sure I've accomplished the latter, only time will tell.
I can say that I have enjoyed my time here, and have met some amazing women and girls here in Jodhpur. I have learned that girls in India are certainly oppressed by their society and have little opportunities offered to them in order to advance their lives. They live to meet their family's expectations of them; which is to get married and serve their husbands and their husband's families. To most people in "developed" countries in the West, that seems very oppressive. On one hand, it is, because it suppresses any other dream a girl may have for her life. But on the other hand, maybe that is their dream, to be a successful housewife, and honestly, what is wrong with that? As long as she is treated with respect by her husband and is happy with her life, who are we to judge? I've spoken with so many girls who were engaged at 12, 15, even 8 years old. I tried to find out how they feel about their upcoming marriage when they turn 18 years old. I never could if they were being truthful when tell me, yes, they are happy about it. I sometimes felt that they were giving me answers they thought I would want to hear. One girl said she felt nothing about her upcoming marriage and one girl smiled shyly and hid behind her hands, like any teenage girl would do when asked by an adult how she feels about, say, her first date or her high school prom. Except, this is her marriage, not just an evening out with a boy.
I've spoken with many women and girls at Sambhali Trust about their dreams and wishes for their futures. Some girls have accepted their fate of getting married at a young age, some even said that their dream is to be successful in caring for their husband's family, and some say that they do not want to get married at all and want to be a "successful and independent woman". When asked what their dreams and wishes were, some girls responded with saying that they want to be a designer, teacher, or even to see the world. I then asked them if they think that it is possible to accomplish that dream. Out of the many girls I've spoken with, only one girl said that it may be possible to make their dream come true. This shows how society has oppressed them and that they do not feel their dreams can become a reality. However, this does not mean they are not happy. It just proves, even more, that there is the need for them to be empowered; to see that they can get whatever they want out of life, and can live to their own expectations of life, instead of someone else's expectations of them; whether they choose to be a wife, mother, teacher, seamstress, singer, dancer, designer, photographer, pilot, or traveller, all that matters in the end is that they are happy in whatever they choose to get out of life.
So, today was my last full day at the center. I was able to finish at the center a few days early because I have several things I would like to finish at Sambhali Trust before I leave, things I couldn't finish while at the center for half of the day. One of those things is choosing and ordering Sambhali products to bring home to sell at craft fairs and flea markets. Sambhali Trust employs women after they have graduated from their sewing and embroidery training, to be 'artisans' for the Sambhali Boutique, creating products that support Sambhali Trust's programs. I will be selling several of these products, along with the bracelets the girls are making at Brothers for Sisters.
For my last day, I gave each girl cotton thread to make their own bracelets out of. I taught them a simple knot, to ensure even the youngest girls could make a bracelet. However, most of the girls knew how to make even more complicated bracelets, and taught me a thing or two. The women and girls at the center are so full of love. It was hard saying goodbye, but I am so happy to have been a small part of their lives, as they were a large part of mine.
Last week, I had a photo shoot with the 7 girls who are making the bracelets I am going to sell back home. The girls really enjoyed having their pictures taken, especially wearing their new pink uniforms. As you can tell from the pictures below, it was great fun :) I wouldn't trade getting to know these 7 girls for the world. They each hold a special place in my heart. I am so happy to be selling products made by them.
xx
Mandy
I can say that I have enjoyed my time here, and have met some amazing women and girls here in Jodhpur. I have learned that girls in India are certainly oppressed by their society and have little opportunities offered to them in order to advance their lives. They live to meet their family's expectations of them; which is to get married and serve their husbands and their husband's families. To most people in "developed" countries in the West, that seems very oppressive. On one hand, it is, because it suppresses any other dream a girl may have for her life. But on the other hand, maybe that is their dream, to be a successful housewife, and honestly, what is wrong with that? As long as she is treated with respect by her husband and is happy with her life, who are we to judge? I've spoken with so many girls who were engaged at 12, 15, even 8 years old. I tried to find out how they feel about their upcoming marriage when they turn 18 years old. I never could if they were being truthful when tell me, yes, they are happy about it. I sometimes felt that they were giving me answers they thought I would want to hear. One girl said she felt nothing about her upcoming marriage and one girl smiled shyly and hid behind her hands, like any teenage girl would do when asked by an adult how she feels about, say, her first date or her high school prom. Except, this is her marriage, not just an evening out with a boy.
I've spoken with many women and girls at Sambhali Trust about their dreams and wishes for their futures. Some girls have accepted their fate of getting married at a young age, some even said that their dream is to be successful in caring for their husband's family, and some say that they do not want to get married at all and want to be a "successful and independent woman". When asked what their dreams and wishes were, some girls responded with saying that they want to be a designer, teacher, or even to see the world. I then asked them if they think that it is possible to accomplish that dream. Out of the many girls I've spoken with, only one girl said that it may be possible to make their dream come true. This shows how society has oppressed them and that they do not feel their dreams can become a reality. However, this does not mean they are not happy. It just proves, even more, that there is the need for them to be empowered; to see that they can get whatever they want out of life, and can live to their own expectations of life, instead of someone else's expectations of them; whether they choose to be a wife, mother, teacher, seamstress, singer, dancer, designer, photographer, pilot, or traveller, all that matters in the end is that they are happy in whatever they choose to get out of life.
So, today was my last full day at the center. I was able to finish at the center a few days early because I have several things I would like to finish at Sambhali Trust before I leave, things I couldn't finish while at the center for half of the day. One of those things is choosing and ordering Sambhali products to bring home to sell at craft fairs and flea markets. Sambhali Trust employs women after they have graduated from their sewing and embroidery training, to be 'artisans' for the Sambhali Boutique, creating products that support Sambhali Trust's programs. I will be selling several of these products, along with the bracelets the girls are making at Brothers for Sisters.
For my last day, I gave each girl cotton thread to make their own bracelets out of. I taught them a simple knot, to ensure even the youngest girls could make a bracelet. However, most of the girls knew how to make even more complicated bracelets, and taught me a thing or two. The women and girls at the center are so full of love. It was hard saying goodbye, but I am so happy to have been a small part of their lives, as they were a large part of mine.
Last week, I had a photo shoot with the 7 girls who are making the bracelets I am going to sell back home. The girls really enjoyed having their pictures taken, especially wearing their new pink uniforms. As you can tell from the pictures below, it was great fun :) I wouldn't trade getting to know these 7 girls for the world. They each hold a special place in my heart. I am so happy to be selling products made by them.
xx
Mandy