about time i talked to you all about
I - INDIA
(non government organisation).
if you would like to look at web site, i will give you the AUSTRALIAN SITE.
www.i-indiaproject.org.au
i first picked up a brochure for I-INDIA (jaipur) on my first trip to india, in 2008.
i read it, and thought it was great.
so i stored this information in my heart, and also in my file cabinet.
i hoped there would come a time, when i could give back to india.
i found it so much easier to go through the SYDNEY OFFICE, and speak to RENARTA if needed.
i needed to get a POLICE CHECK.
as i would have expected.
LADLI is a vocational training centre for abused, orphaned & destitute boys & girls.
they are taught many crafts, and then the goods are sold in their centre.
they have fun & their self esteem soars.
here is a QUOTE from the brochure i have with me.
ANITA , 15 YEARS.
BEFORE LADLI I FELT REALLY SAD. MY PARENTS WANTED TO SELL ME FOR PROSTITUTION. I RAN AWAY AND CAME TO LADLI. NOW I FEEL VERY GOOD AND HAPPY.
another
TAUBA, 13 YEARS.
I AM NOT SURE ABOUT SURVIVAL OF MY PARENTS. LONG BACK, THEY SOLD ME TO WORK AS DOMESTIC SERVANT. THEY DID NOT FEED ME, PROPERLY. EVERY DAY I WAS BEATEN AND TORTURED. NOW, WITH LADLI, I FEEL SAFE. GOING TO SCHOOL AND LEARNING JEWELLERY MAKING.
i initially thought i would be volunteering @ JHAG VILLAGE.
this is the centre SPONSORED BY THE AUSTRALIAN OFFICE.
BUT....
you know how it is, not all goes according to plan in our lives.
to cut a long story short, i travelled to JHAG VILLAGE in an AMBULANCE.
it was so far out of JAIPUR.
by the time we got there, it was 11.00 am. had 1 hour before lunch. that also was 1 hour break. then 2 hours of work, before the AMBULANCE needed to return to JAIPUR.
SO MUCH TRAVELLING.
SO LITTLE TIME FOR WORK.
after talks, decided i would go to the centre in JAIPUR. this centre is sponsored by FRIENDS IN SINGAPORE.
this was much better. i could get a tuk tuk. took about 30mns and then i could return home each night.
i went out to the BOYS 2 or 3 days per week.
introduce you all to RISHIRAS.
he is the young man that was assigned to help me.
he is married & has a baby daughter.
he is very knowledgeable in construction.
he is working on a TRAVELLING BAG.
ideal for passports, boarding passes, keys etc.
this is part of the upstairs sewing room.
there is 10 INDUSTRIAL SEWING MACHINES & 1 INDUSTRIAL OVER LOCKER.
the lighting is not so good.
only wall fluorescent lights.
no windows, just the door.
taking a BREAK.
as they know best. on their mobiles.
looking @ movies, downloading songs.
never really talking to anyone.
these photos of some of the boys in the workroom.
this young man, each week he had another haircut.
some traditional. others were OUT THERE.
what to say?
this young man, was a really good sewer, as well as he made CHAI @ 11.00am & 2.00pm for us all.
i bought him a grater & kept
him in constant supply of fresh ginger.
this was a new flavour, in their chai.
ALL HAPPY BOYS.
most liked having their photos taken.
this young boy, he had ATTITUDE.
he knew all the latest DANCE MOVES.
he knew that the latest fashion, was to have your jeans hanging below his hips.
he knew to put his collar up.
he knew to put his leg out.
another lovely boy.
here is RISHIRAS again, with the man who is the MASTER DRAFTS MAN.
he would be able to look at a dress and make a paper pattern.
he worked between JAIPUR & JHAG VILLAGE.
this man did not live here.
i always saw him as THE QUIET ACHIEVER.
he does smile.
some of the articles that were made.
this stitched side, is what they see as the WRONG SIDE OF THE ARTICLE.
the reverse fabric was so bright, that i saw beauty in this quieter side. it also highlighted the great stitching of the local ladies.
this is the TRAVELLING BAG.
nearly completed. needed straps and metal attachments.
which, i was still going into the bazaars in jaipur to source.
NOTHING HAPPENS QUICKLY.
i included this photo to show you the bright, reverse side of the fabric.
it took constant vigilance on my part, that RISHIRAS, didn't automatically use this side and not the stitched side.
he simply could not understand why i didn't like the floral side.
wanted to get some colour combinations suitable for MEN.
this orange & navy blue stitching.
also did grey & navy blue.
these samples came in @ the end of my time, so they are waiting for next time.
i don't know what will happen when i return to them this time.
it all depends on what they have been able to do with sales of the work.
it is no good, if the work is sitting in the corner somewhere.
THE ORGANISATION NEEDS, SOMEONE TO COME AND SET UP A WEBB SHOP AND SHOW SOMEONE HOW TO USE IT.
IS THAT PERSON YOU.????
the time i spent with these boys, was the MOST FULFILLING time of my life.
apart from the time i was a wife, & still a mother.
JUST PERSONALLY, they gave me so much , more , than i could ever give to them.
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