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Having lived and worked in Third World countries for several years, we have seen that women usually do most of the unpaid work, toiling in the fields in the hot sun, searching for fuel, walking miles every day to collect water, building homes and caring for their children and older relatives. Most of the women consider the work they do is not excessive, unfair or exploitation, but their duty as women.
The Bal Rashmi Society
After researching various different charities and meeting Alice Garg, an amazing lady, we decided to adopt The Bal Rashmi Society.
This UN accredited NGO works with women and children in need in India. It aims to help women by empowering them to help themselves rather than handing out money or food, or setting up refugee camps. An example of one of their projects is the pond project in the desert state of Rajasthan. Rajasthan covers 10% of the land area of India, has 5% of its population, yet it has only 1% of its water resources.
When there is a scarcity of water in rural areas, women usually suffer the most as they are responsible for the water management for their families, cattle and fields. Often, the village ponds and wells dry up during the long hot dry summers. The women and girls have to walk long distances to and from the nearest water supply, carrying large pots of water on their heads. Often they do not get home until dusk and they expose themselves to abuse, molestation and rape.
When asked, the women said what they wanted most was a nearby, reliable and clean water supply. This involved desilting and deepening of the village ponds.
In the initial project the Bal Rashmi Society took up the challenge to help the women improve the water supply in 60 villages. It employed the women on a work for food basis to improve their own water supplies. The women were so motivated that 97% worked long hours every day in 45 degree Centigrade heat to deepen and repair their ponds and plant trees around them to stop erosion and reduce evaporation. The increased capacity of the ponds means the women and girls no longer need to travel miles and spend hours every day fetching water. The environment of the village has improved due to cooler air, there is more water for their cattle and crops and very importantly the women are immensely proud of what they have achieved. The strong sense of community spirit that has been engendered by working together benefits the villagers in many other ways.
SPRING DIGITAL