A Tale of Two Continents
A tale of two continents
Stories of life in a Mogul Court, captured the imagination of a young girl, and India stole her heart!
In awe of the elegance of it’s craft traditions and moved by the struggle of it’s poorest people, it guided her passions and career.
Years later, I was proud to sit cross legged on a dusty floor in Jodhpur, with the fort towering over the city, surrounded by dignified resilient women, chatting about what would best support their education and economic independence.
I had come to India the year before, looking for community groups as fair trade partners.
When I met Tamanna Bhati, founder of Hamara Saahas, she had more than 30 students, just 5 borrowed sewing machines and a long waiting list of prospective students…
I promised to help and at home, a request for donations of unwanted sewing machines, began an unforeseen adventure. ‘The tale of two continents’
For 3 months generous donors delivered machines and several of us drove around East Anglia collecting.
We got over 80 – enough to supply a second school and give the women a machine to take home to work and earn when they were trained!
But Legalities prevented their journey to Mumbai, so ‘Tools with a Mission’ shipped the machines to rural Africa and I took the money we raised for transport, to Rajasthan to ask the ladies what would help most?
It wasn’t lots of local treadle machines as I expected. They were happy with a few and to continue to share, if they could use the money for rent on a larger property where more could learn and sell their work.
We had raised enough money to secure the future of a new NGO for a year.
So ‘Stand’ was able to offer economic choices to women on two continents!
We are proud to continue to work in partnership with ‘Hamara Saahas’, supporting empowerment for marginalised women and their children. You will soon see their work here.
After 3 trips, I had established true friendships and contacts with whom I could trade fairly, meeting the Artisans who will sew fashion items as we grow.
I also came home with the rare hand-beaded bridal wear, the Kani weaving throw, created on ancient wooden hand looms and hand embroidered Kashmiri pashminas – with the artisan’s signature in the corner – so elaborate they can take several winters to complete, which you will see on our Heirloom tab.
These are first steps.
We have aspirations to create many bright futures, with our charity ‘Make a STAND’
