the middle: part 2
Weeks 5 & 6: Many of the most important things in life cannot be measured.
As my time here in India is coming to a close, I have already started to reflect upon the lessons and experiences that I will cherish long after I leave. Sandhyamma, her family, and the girls from Aarti Home have accomplished amazing things in their lives and yet, remain extremely humble. Many older girls at Aarti realize the magnitude of injustices that they were victims of and have dedicated their lives to effecting change. Sandhyamma always says that no one could learn how to do what her girls to at a university or in a book. Their passion cannot be taught; their personal experience trumps formal education. Women from villages relate to their stories, trust them, and allow them to help.
In my last week, I was fortunate enough to travel to a rural village with some of the young women and attend a village meeting. These women are part of Mana Bidda, an EU funded project under the umbrella of Aarti, which works to eliminate female feticide and infanticide in the Kadapa district. The women go out into rural villages in India and talk to people face-to-face to share their mission. They tirelessly work with community leaders, local authorities, and villagers. One of the most important forms of outreach they have is village meetings, where they inform women about their rights and the law. When I attended a village meeting, it was amazing to witness how successful these women have been at changing the mindsets of rural, traditional men and women. At this particular meeting, they were throwing the women a baby shower, joyously celebrating girl children, unlike the rest of the village. In a country that is saturated with gender discrimination and devaluation of the girl child, these Aarti women, who were victims of such a flawed system and come from tragic backgrounds, are making an impact and are the truest embodiments of feminism. I will always remember this whenever I feel discouraged that my actions alone are not enough to make a difference.
So often in America, people start things to add to their resume, with the grand notion that they are going to change the world. While I am not discrediting people who want to change the world, I am emphasizing the merit of starting small but with passion and purpose, rather than starting large and not understanding the why. By starting with why and working outward, significant change can be effected.
