We spent our third week in Kerala staying at the residential quarters of *SEWA Kerala and working with them. *SEWA= Self Employed Women’s Association (founded in Gujrat by Ela Bhatt in 1972)
The residential quarters designed by Laurie Baker are incredibly beautiful and airy. There is greenery all over the place and so many interesting creatures (including a couple of stray giant spiders in my room). I loved the calmness and space of our week long home; frogs and bugs constantly asserting themselves through songs and croaks created a soothing white noise in the background wherever we went.
We spent the week exploring SEWA and various branches within the cooperative. After a day of learning about SEWA’s history and present management, we went to a bamboo weaving cluster, and visited some SEWA restaurants and cafes. After observing these places and asking lots of questions, we compiled our recommendations into social media, digital tools and operations improvements. This weeks presentation went much better, we did more rehearsals and refined the PowerPoint much more. It is really nice to see the improvements across the two weeks so far and I am sure next week will be even better.
^a sample of some of the delicious foods we ate at SEWA this week
A big struggle I had this week was drive. In the first half I felt really tired during the day and I feel that it limited my ability to interact well. I also felt quite homesick and overwhelmed by the various things I needed to get done in the week. Whenever I felt that way, I was always supported by the group who have an infectious positivity and enthusiasm. I kept focusing on my gratitude for being in India and my desire to make the most of my engagements and opportunities.
A highlight of the week: my favourite part of the week was meeting Nalini Nayak. She shared her story that led to her creating SEWA Kerala: it all started with a bishop and an impoverished fishing village in Kerala. At the fishing village, her and a group of other young people, incensed by the exploitation of the fishers, organised them in protest to ensure that more of their profit would go towards them. Later she was taken down the path of female empowerment similarly against the exploitation of their labour. I found her to be a very engaging and erudite speaker, many issues she spoke about resonated deeply with me. I am still thinking about the various topics she brought up and am excited to learn more.
A lesson of the week: I found Nalini’s reflections on her contribution to the fishing village particularly poignant. It reminded me that we must learn before we help.
“I had nothing to offer, only to learn…I had nothing to offer except my solidarity”
Nalini Nayak (18/07/2025) speaking on living with a low-caste fishing village in 1967. She had just finished a university degree but was confronted by a lack of practical skills, it taught her solidarity is the most powerful tool when you have nothing else.