Week One of CraftHER 2025 began with arrivals from across the world—Laidlaw Scholars stepping off planes into Kochi’s warm air, lush monsoon greens, and the unmistakable rhythm of Kerala. What began as strangers quickly started becoming a cohort.

Each morning began quietly—sunrise yoga, breathwork, and silence. Not as a routine, but as a practice of leadership. Before stepping into communities, before listening to stories or offering ideas, scholars learned to root themselves: in their bodies, in the present, and in each other. 

Throughout the week, scholars met grassroots women entrepreneurs, community organizers, and craft leaders whose lives and work shape Kerala’s social impact landscape. They heard stories of resistance and reinvention—and began to understand the systems, histories, and lived realities of the women they would soon collaborate with.

There were shared meals, orientation sessions, and the first sparks of creative inquiry. Slowly, the program shifted from “What will we do?” to “Who must we become to do this well?”

Week One wasn’t just preparation—it was initiation. A reminder that leadership can be slow, relational, and deeply human.

And this was only the beginning.

✨ Applications for CraftHER 2026 are open.

Kerala awaits. 🌿