Project Report
| May 31, 2017
Mukti Finds A New Home
By Shana Greene | Executive Director, Village Volunteers
![New Mukti factory]()
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]()
Mukti set up
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Feb 28, 2017
Without you, they would have failed
By Shana Greene | Executive Director, Village Volunteers
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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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Nov 28, 2016
UN Women's Project Inspire People's Choice Award!!
By Shana Greene | Executive Director, Village Volunteers
![Award in Singapore at UN Women's Project Inspire]()
Award in Singapore at UN Women's Project Inspire
Dear Donor,
It is our pleasure to announce that the Village Volunteers' Empowering Women Period's sanitary pad project in India, Mukti Women, won the Project Inspire People's Choice through UN Women and the Singapore Committee for UN Women. We also won the Mazars Finanical Inclusion Award for using business to empower women. We will now be able to expand to empower more women to become entrepreneurs.
Education and empowerment can change the destiny of a woman. Statistics show that limited education, career choices and vulnerability are key factors for abuse and forms of slavery. --- Your donations for pads for girls buys the pads from the women and those pads are distributed to the most vulnerable girls. 4
The timing is perfect to start a monthly subscription from November 29th through December your donaton after the fourth month will have a 200% match! For as little as $12 a month, you can equip girls with menstruation protection AND empower women who have escaped lives of abuse in the red light district.
Thank you,
Shana
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