Purpose and Passion: READ India

I’ve struggled to keep up with this blog. For the past few days I have been digesting so many things about the culture and history of India, meeting new people, and learning about the trust (non-profit) that I am working with, READ India. Every minute there is something new, so taking time to capture the prior moment and share it has been hard!

READ stands for Rural Education and Development and it has an important mission to help women and children in rural areas and villages have more secure lives, both financially and educationally.

READ’s model is to stand-up community centers in rural areas. The community center serves as a home base for key development areas: 1) a library that offers 3000-5000 books in Hindi, English, and local language; 2) educational programs for the community (health, personal development, English language, farming, etc.); 3) computer education (from basic computing to advanced tools such as InDesign); 4) vocational programs (sewing, beauty, handicrafts); and 5) child care for the mothers attending classes. In some locations, there are also very robust pre-schools that prepare boys and girls aged 2-6 for school. The local communities run the centers directly, leveraging the partnership, coaching and curriculums provided by READ.

The most interesting element of READ’s model is that it aims to build up communities that are suffering from lack of work and migration. In India, there are not enough jobs in the rural villages, and farming can be insufficient, so many of the men leave the village to move to cities where there are jobs in manufacturing, offices, etc. This leaves villages depleted and without ways to sustain themselves.

A core component of READ’s education program is around developing vocational skills in women so that they can not only earn money, but also gain confidence and a voice in the family. (Married women live with their husbands, children, and in-laws. For perspective, think about being under the control of your in-laws 24/7.) The vocational programs offered in sewing, beauty, basket-making, weaving, carpets, and even intricate embroidery are determined by the village’s skills. Many villagers have handed down these skills for generations, but can benefit from strengthening their skills, learning modern designs and color schemes (courtesy of student interns from prominent design universities), and learning how to market and sell their craftwork. In some centers, there is a small-scale production arm where beautifully handcrafted wares are sold to the public. This allows the women to earn a living while staying in their villages.

For a glimpse of the impact of a program like this, please take eight minutes to watch this YouTube video about a center that Walmart sponsored. I will visit this center next week, and hearing from the villagers about how it has helped their lives filled my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPE7C4LOliA