Classes at Abhalashram

My first visit to Ashram was on 19 March, and I started the first class on April 1st. Classes began with one girl and soon there were five girls and many of them expressed their interest. Enthusisam of the girls and the staff was electrifying. Started teaching them to make the kundan door decor and kundan rangoli. The initial

results were impressive, although needed refinement to make it to the market.

Girls from Abhala Ashram learning

Kundan Rangoli by the girls

@ Abhalashram

I met with Sesha Uncle, head of Abhalashram on March 19 2010. He and Srikanth were pretty impressed with the samples and my intention. They felt the girls at ashram can use it in their lives, and it will give them lot of opportunity later. They would use their store to sell the final products. Sesha uncle finally asked "When do we start." I was elated. He wanted me to start with the Kundan work classes as they will sell more.  

Toddler steps...

I started thinking as to how to present my idea. I realized I need to have some samples to show. The people who see those samples should be convinced that those could sell and it is worthwhile investing in it. So I started on making few samples.

Some of my samples

Genesis of Living Raaga

For years, it kept running in my mind to do something, something philanthropic, and something that will add value to others and me. It ranged from building an orphanage to a temple. Finally, it struck me that I could teach art and crafts to women who can't make a decent living. They can use this skill to earn few extra rupees and also it can be their hobby.

The NGO will be a group of like minded people who will go and teach these arts and crafts to women. Then market their products under our brand name. The profit that gets generated can be re-used by the women to buy more raw materials.

We started this project at Abhala ashram.