Empowering rural women in remote Rajasthan

/-India Australia's support for the 1Gudri Project' taps into a much-loved art form to eradicate poverty

IBY USHA \_ RAMANUJAM ' ARVIND

When Abha and Prabhakar Goswami were commissioned b y

UNICEF co do a study on stteet children in remote Rajasthan, chey were moved by what they saw - abject poverty, destitution, vulnerability, unsafe work practices and severe malnutrition. Coming from severely disadvantaged backgrounds themselves, the duo set up the I - India Project co give rescued street kids a fresh start.

Since its humble beginnings, the project has found additional benefaccors arom1d the world who have facilitated many new programmes to make d1ese children not just well- nurtured, but sel f- sufficient as well

The Jhag children's home, Annapurna canteen, structured curriculum based learning ac Prem Padrnshala, Ladli g irl's home, rudimencary healthcare facilities and Franklyn Scholar vocational training centre have been some of cbe positive outcomes along mis arduous, but fulfilling journey.

Mose of chese facilities were made available through the unstinting efforcs of I -India's Australian offshoot, which since 2007 has time and time again rallied their resources to sustain d1e expanding project.

I - India Project Australia (I -IAP) has teamed up with Singaporebased Street Children's Project m raise fonds and brainstorm for fresh new directions.

1-India Australia founders Celia and Renate Barnerr are now lending their support to another exciting venrure - the Gudri project

Sec up in 2010, the project is the brainchild of Abba and Prabhakar's daughter- in -law Darshana Goswami, and aims co empower .local women by providing chem a steady and sustainable means of selfemp loyment. The project provides illiterate women from the poorest slums both traiuing and resources co hand-stitch guiles, Aoor covers and homewares. 'Gudri' is an ancient Rajaschani tradition, where block -printed cotton fabrics are layered and sewn in straight lines co form an appligue work. The Street Child P roject is working closely with the Indian team to des ign products chat appeal to the western marketplace. The products made from this venture have been sold all round the world. Besides roo ls and supplies, women participating in the programme are provided rations,

INDIAN LINK solar lights and b lankets, as well as a share of the profits. By reaching out to women, tl1e Gudri project aims to improve these women's quality of life which extends to tl1eir families as wel.l, thus eradicating tl1e root causes of poverty in d1eir respective communities. The Gudri ,vomen have since formed cooperatives, taking ownership of the project and have worked tireless ly on their beautiful craft. " Darshna Goswami is working tirelessly to extend the project as far as possibl e co benefit as many women as possible on a limited budget. We were able co see the work for ourselves for the first time in November lase yea r," Renate told Tnditm l.i11k.

"After driving soud1 from Jaipur, we .left the highway and trundled across the desert, d1rougb a few villages and then ouc into the middle of nowhere. AU you can see as far as the horizon is sand, and small shrubs. EvenmaJJy we pulled off d1e road into a small area of land, where a number of shacks had been set up out of corrugated iron," she explained.

"As we pulled up we could see women gathered in the rough shade of the lean -to shelters They were a1J hard at work, quickly sewing long lines into gatl1ered laye rs of fabric. They smiled at us as we arrived, and then went back to their work, quickl y tugging tl1e du:ead tlu:ough tl1e fabric," she added.

"What we were seeing was cbe first oppormnity these women had had co gain employment, and to help to support their families For the first time in their lives, tl1ey had been given a vocation and a mean s of he lping tl1emselves o m of poverty Tbe project not only empowers women, and assists families financially, but also changes attitudes of entire villages in relation co d1e rights and roles of women," she stated.

The Gudri Project was one of nine finalises in UNIFEM's 'P rojectlnspire 2012'. The winuing project wiJJ receive a gram of US$25,000

A digital and social media-driven initiative targeted at empowering marginalised women and disadvantaged d1ildren in the Asia Pacific, Middle Ease and Africa region through entrepreneurship, Project Inspire is in its second year. Founded on the ti.mdamental belief that empowering women fuels tl1rivi ng economies spurring prodL1cti vicy and growtl1, the project hopes co give the right support tlu:ough access co funding and skills development.

The scheme was launched for centenary celebrations of International \'>Yomen's Day in conjunction with :Master Card.

Targeting youngsters in d1e 1835 age brackets, the project also hopes to inspire young changemakers co create a better world of oppornmities. Gudri Project ream members included Darshana Goswami, Pippa Reid and Edwina Ong.

Call for pitd1es, which included 5 -minme videos, written proposals and live presentation opened on March 8. Gudri Project was shorilisced from over 350 other proposals worldwide.

Two other lndia -based projects - E -learn.ing for change and Women's private personal marketplace, also made the final CUL