The last few days have been spent traveling in India with my daughter, Erin. We started out in New Delhi where the main goal was for Erin to teach an art class in the slums. Why would a mother encourage her daughter, and then accompany on such a journey?!
The story goes back many years, and after my daughter read the book "Half The Sky", and passed on for me to read.
One section of the book in particular dealt with a certain group of Indian girls/women, who are so marginalized that they are often swept into prostitution. A group of people -- nomadic tribes referred to as "Gypsies", who once thrived in India during better times, are now misplaced in slums. In this area of Delhi, women are subject to being married off at a very young age, and then after the birth of their first child are trafficked-- prostituted as a means of survival, their husbands are their pimps.
The book not only speaks of the dilemma of marginalized girls and women, individual stories are told in horrific, graphic detail. After one story is the name of an organization called "Apne Aap", note this excerpt from its web site:
So for many years after reading the book, Erin thought about going to India, where she would look up Apne Aap and teach even for just a day. My daughter is an Interior Designer/Engineer , "not a pillow fluffer" she would say to those who need educating. Erin spent 5 years studying-- one year in Art College and then 4 years at Ryerson University for her degree in Interior Design.
At first we were invited to the Apne Aap school, which I felt was "safe". A school for just "high risk" girls. In India however, we learned that students were writing exams and that we would have to teach after school -- we were invited to the slums where the youth, girls and boys alike would be gathered. I didn't like the idea, and I went only because my daughter was determined and I wouldn't have her going without me. I can say now that is was one of the most rewarding experiences ever.
Although the slum itself was dirty, poverty stricken and chaotic, when we walked through the gates of the small outdoor compound-- the square, we were greeted with the warm laughter of excited children. The 2 Apne Aap representatives that accompanied us had complete control over the squirming children, who sat when told and then listened to their every word. With class in session Erin began her course-- she provided each child with a small mirror, pencil, eraser and large sheet of paper, and she demonstrated how to make a self portrait, after which the children were instructed to begin doing their own.
I decided to chum around with the mothers standing near by. One young woman held a new born infant and I asked "how old", and after conferring with the other women standing nearby , she responded with "22 days". At that point I knew that the inner twin world had organized this event. I have stated often enough in previous posts that 22 is a particular inner twin trade mark signature.
After making sure that it was okay, I began taking photo's of the children as they sketched. Some were very shy and didn't know how to even begin, so I started using the camera as a tool. I selected the more outgoing children who had completed their task and took pictures of them holding their portraits up. I encouraged the shy ones to complete their sketches so they too could have their photo taken... and it worked like a charm. It's incredibly joyful to witness the elation on their faces as each child completed their own portrait... and to watch as the children who completed their portraits then turn as though second nature , to helping the other's with words of encouragement. It was rewarding for me to watch my daughter as she helped each of the children. And then there was my personal reward of having the children rush toward me with portrait in hand and big smiles of pride ... posing for the promised photo.
As I was casually taking the photo's, one little boys shirt caught my eye (see above)-- the number 22 on the back of his shoulder.
At the end of the session my daughter distributed the remainder of her sketch pads, the children swarming around anxious to be sure to get a sheet or two ... what we take for granted they treasure.
This next excerpt is taken from Apne Aap's web site:
The story goes back many years, and after my daughter read the book "Half The Sky", and passed on for me to read.
One section of the book in particular dealt with a certain group of Indian girls/women, who are so marginalized that they are often swept into prostitution. A group of people -- nomadic tribes referred to as "Gypsies", who once thrived in India during better times, are now misplaced in slums. In this area of Delhi, women are subject to being married off at a very young age, and then after the birth of their first child are trafficked-- prostituted as a means of survival, their husbands are their pimps.
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The book not only speaks of the dilemma of marginalized girls and women, individual stories are told in horrific, graphic detail. After one story is the name of an organization called "Apne Aap", note this excerpt from its web site:
The Story of Apne Aap:
Apne Aap was founded by twenty-two women from Mumbai’s red light district, with a vision of a world where no woman could be bought or sold.Do note the "twenty-two"... I read this just now after our return from India and as I research and "wright" this post. The primary reason for my deciding on this post has to do with this next photo as well as another incident:
So for many years after reading the book, Erin thought about going to India, where she would look up Apne Aap and teach even for just a day. My daughter is an Interior Designer/Engineer , "not a pillow fluffer" she would say to those who need educating. Erin spent 5 years studying-- one year in Art College and then 4 years at Ryerson University for her degree in Interior Design.
At first we were invited to the Apne Aap school, which I felt was "safe". A school for just "high risk" girls. In India however, we learned that students were writing exams and that we would have to teach after school -- we were invited to the slums where the youth, girls and boys alike would be gathered. I didn't like the idea, and I went only because my daughter was determined and I wouldn't have her going without me. I can say now that is was one of the most rewarding experiences ever.
Although the slum itself was dirty, poverty stricken and chaotic, when we walked through the gates of the small outdoor compound-- the square, we were greeted with the warm laughter of excited children. The 2 Apne Aap representatives that accompanied us had complete control over the squirming children, who sat when told and then listened to their every word. With class in session Erin began her course-- she provided each child with a small mirror, pencil, eraser and large sheet of paper, and she demonstrated how to make a self portrait, after which the children were instructed to begin doing their own.
I decided to chum around with the mothers standing near by. One young woman held a new born infant and I asked "how old", and after conferring with the other women standing nearby , she responded with "22 days". At that point I knew that the inner twin world had organized this event. I have stated often enough in previous posts that 22 is a particular inner twin trade mark signature.
After making sure that it was okay, I began taking photo's of the children as they sketched. Some were very shy and didn't know how to even begin, so I started using the camera as a tool. I selected the more outgoing children who had completed their task and took pictures of them holding their portraits up. I encouraged the shy ones to complete their sketches so they too could have their photo taken... and it worked like a charm. It's incredibly joyful to witness the elation on their faces as each child completed their own portrait... and to watch as the children who completed their portraits then turn as though second nature , to helping the other's with words of encouragement. It was rewarding for me to watch my daughter as she helped each of the children. And then there was my personal reward of having the children rush toward me with portrait in hand and big smiles of pride ... posing for the promised photo.
As I was casually taking the photo's, one little boys shirt caught my eye (see above)-- the number 22 on the back of his shoulder.
At the end of the session my daughter distributed the remainder of her sketch pads, the children swarming around anxious to be sure to get a sheet or two ... what we take for granted they treasure.
This next excerpt is taken from Apne Aap's web site:
Though all of the twenty-two founding women have since passed away from hunger, suicide, and AIDS-related complications, Apne Aap’s work continues.
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