Project Report
| Aug 23, 2017
Innovation is the Mother of Invention
By Shana Greene | Executive Director, Village Volunteers
Mukti woman
Dear Donors,
When your vision is to reach the summit keep looking only at where the next step is going to be. Looking up to the top will only make you dizzy. After having taken a thousand baby steps we are closer to the summit by one more today.
Yesterday Mukti, our tiny facility in Kolkata in one of the most brutal red light districts, welcomed an amazing team of scientists from the Indian Jute Industries' Research Association. The Director and Deputy Director was impressed with our factory and has decided to work with Mukti to champion another sustainable eco-friendly and completely bio degradable material to make sanitary pads.
The women of the Mukti Sanitary Pads are ready and excited to scale the summit. Our project just got more meaning and is taking a step forward to serve more women and girls with sanitary pads and employ more women with dignity and freedom. The sky is the limit for these ambition women.
We ask that you continue to support Mukti by purchasing sanitary pads from the women for the most vulnerable who cannot even pay the small amount. Our ask is that you do a monthly $12 subscription or more, that will help the most vulnerable.
Thank your for your kindness and generosity,
Shana
May 31, 2017
Mukti Finds A New Home
By Shana Greene | Executive Director, Village Volunteers
New Mukti factory
Dear friends,
We never thought this was going to be easy so we continue to forge ahead regardless of the challenges. Operating in a red light district with women who have been seriously marginalized has proven to be more difficult than the obvious challenges in opening up a manufacturing site. The last site was wonderful but the landlord wasn't and so Urmi Basu, Execitove Director of New Light, India was tasked to find a more permanent spot where the landlord was sympathetic and compassionate.
We are happy to announce that we are now moved in to a new better location and it looks wonderful. The beautiful painted red trim is cheerful and bright. The equipment is in place ready for Jaydeep to come and start it all up again. We are so proud of the woman who will continue to make pads for vulnerable girls funded by our donors.
Thank you for hanging in there with us. Defeat has never been an option especially when you speak with the women who see Mukti as their liberation.
Shana
Mukti set up
Feb 28, 2017
Without you, they would have failed
By Shana Greene | Executive Director, Village Volunteers
Dear Donor,
When setting up a social enterprise operated by newly trained women entrepreneurs in the red light district of Kolkata, we knew to raise enought money to counter the unimaginable challenges they face day to day.
Circumstantially, all of the women have experienced physical and emotional abuse and consider it normal. Setting up Mukti a social enterprise manufacturing sanitary pads was quite an awakening of possibilities. The women named their company Mukti which means liberated in Sanskrit. This women-run business has generated self worth and camraderie umong the women and it can only get better as they create thriving business. The program was based on the need for vulnerable girls to be given sanitary pads continue to attend school during their time of the month.
After a very difficult landlord relationship in this last location for the small manufacturing plant, Urmi Basu of New Light found an even better location that is drier and still a few minutes walk to the red light district. We are signing a lease on March 1st and will be moving in right away.
We are now hoping to raise money to buy pads for vulnerable girls from the Mukti women. With providing income for a woman and support girls education is generosity amplifed. We are asking for subscriptions of $12 per month or even a one time donation. We promise to make it go a long way for girls and women.
Thank you supporting a powerful sustainable tool to uplift women and girls.
Sincerely,
Shana Greene
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