Visit to Rachina Doddi

Planning for visiting the Rachina Doddi started in September 2010. About 20 women were to attend the workshop. We planned to divide the total women into groups four groups, teach each group one art. The women could cross train themselves. Lakshmi and me met at Chickpet and bought a whole lot of art material to teach and give away.

On Oct 9th at 11:30 am we reached Rachina Doddi. The team consisted of Matilda and Divya from Soroptimist international, Durga, Anitha, Lakshmi, Meera, Bhavana, Sindhu and Vinutha. 

The Group

At the Village

The village Rachina Doddi is about 15 kms from the Kanakpura town. It is not accessible by public transport system, survives mainly on farming, education hasn’t reached the village, only recently Soroptimist International built restrooms, in short the village is pretty laid back. We wanted to teach women folk some art, which they can leverage to get more money.

We had planned to teach them - Thoranas, side hangings, Jute coasters and Diwali hangings. But, we realized that they haven't really even cut papers till date, and it was very important that we do something that will hold their attention and intention till end of the workshop. We then picked up the simplest and the most colorful art, the "Side hangings". We started off with Side hangings and decided to pick other arts based on their interest.

Class in progress

Class in Progress

Class in Progress

We had around 20 women join the class; we divided them into three groups. We taught two groups in the ruined Anganwadi building, and the third group sat on the verandah of localite. The side hangings did catch their attention and interest. The women keenly did the side hangings for about an hour. We then switched to the thorana, quiet a few women struggled to cut the paper and OHP sheets in right shape. The crown of all our achievements was that, Bhavana succeeded in teaching two women macramé coasters.

Side hangings Complete

Side hangings Completed

  

Thorana Completed

Macrame Completed

We tried to create awareness amongst women, about the benefits of pursuing this art. The huge market they could tap with their art and the monetary benefits. About 13 women did come forward and expressed their interest to continue the art and sell it. We told them how they could take the help of the local volunteering group and get the material, and then send the final product to us for marketing.

Hoping that the project will take off in the village, we headed back to Bangalore at 4pm.