The time is flying by here in Kerala, as this week marked the halfway point of CraftHER 2025. We spent the week in Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, working with SEWA, the Self Employed Women’s Association. SEWA is the largest women’s trade union in India, and the work it does is truly inspiring. By organising self-employed women into cooperatives, SEWA ensures fair wages and informs women of their rights as workers.
On Monday, we were introduced to the leaders of SEWA Kerala and spent the day discussing the organisation’s history and how it has evolved over time. That evening, we were lucky enough to head into central Trivandrum and visit the temple there. This proved to be an incredible experience, and I learnt a lot about Hinduism that evening. The next day, we spent a beautiful day with the weaving cooperative. We were taught how to weave (which I admit I wasn’t the best at!) and even cooked a meal at the house of one of the weavers. I felt truly welcomed into the community, and it was an insightful experience into everyday life here.
Throughout the rest of the week, we met more cooperatives, learning about their crafts and how SEWA has changed their lives. The women all spoke extremely highly of SEWA and cannot imagine their lives without it; the empowerment, confidence and skills it has given them have been truly life-transforming. We spent Thursday preparing our presentation, working together as a CraftHER team to discuss ways SEWA can maximise its impact. We delivered this presentation the next day to Nalini Nayak, the inspirational founder of SEWA Kerala. As she told us her story, we were all captivated. An activist since she was twenty, Nalini has made a difference to many communities, and we were honoured to hear her journey.
Alongside all this excitement, I have been working away at my personal project. I am putting together an informative pamphlet for women on their human rights, employment rights and a basic overview of the Indian legal system. By doing so, I hope to help improve legal awareness in local communities.
With each week, I learn so much and see the world in different ways. For anyone considering CraftHER as their Leadership in Action project, I couldn’t recommend it enough. At the halfway point, I can already say it has been a truly wonderful experience.