ASHA-MIT VISIT REPORT

Self Help Association for Rural Education and Employment
33-A Christine Mathews Memorial Complex
T.B. Sanatorium PO
Vellore, Tamilnadu 632 011
India
Tel:  91-416-24018/23524
Fax:  91-416-32490
Contacts:  Mr. Murugesan (Project Coordinator); Mrs. Rani (President); Mrs.
Vasuki (Vice President)

Visit by Amanda Bickel:  July 22, 1996-July 27, 1996

I had the opportunity to spend six days with SHARE while I was conducting
research for my masters thesis on South Indian NGOs and cooperatives. 
During this period I spent many hours interviewing SHARE staff and
executive board members, visiting village production sites (six of them) to
interview craftwomen, attending SHARE staff meetings and craft training
classes, and visiting one of the organization’s evening classes for
children.  At night, my translator and I stayed in a modest bamboo hut
constructed by SHARE to display its products.  As explained further below,
I was very impressed by the organization.

SHARE is a large basketweaving organization with features of both a
cooperative an NGO.  It was started in the 1970s as part of an outreach
project of Christian Medical College, Vellore.  In 1980 it became a
government cooperative.  Because of excessive government interference
(South Indian cooperatives have to contend with government-appointed
"special officers" who exert enormous control over their organizations),
SHARE members conducted a public protest and eventually persuaded the
government to allow them to launch an NGO in the early 1990s.  While a part
of the organization is still registered as a coop, the remainder is now an
independent NGO with over 800 craftwomen members.  

The organization is interesting because its aim is much broader than simply
raising income levels for the women members. It is genuinely focused on
"empowerment" of women and changing their social position.  Perhaps the
clearest evidence of this is the way the organization has gradually and
effectively transferred control over the organization from trained
professional social workers (who started it) to women leaders from the
community.  While professionals still have a role, the organization’s
executive board manages inventory, creates new design, organizes domestic
sales campaigns and manages the organizations network of over 30 training
and production centers.  (Leaders have gained such respect in the community
that nine were elected to local panchayat raj positions in Fall 1996
elections).  Anyone who has spent time in an Indian NGO will be aware that
this kind of control by members—and particularly by women members—is very
unusual.  I was also impressed by the broad range of caste and religious
backgrounds of the membership.  The current president of the organization
is SC and another influential executive board member is a Muslim woman.

In keeping with the organizations goal of being "more than a job," it has
launched a variety of community service programs.  As the recent annual
report shows, this includes everything from student scholarships to
donations to the disabled.   The organization is particularly proud of the
evening tutorial programs it has started in several villages.  I spent an
evening at one of these.   There were roughly 30 children who ranged in age
from about 5 to about 12.  They met in the courtyard of a modest home in
the village, which belonged to the woman who taught them.  Since I was
visiting, most of the time was spent in exchanging questions and answers
with the children:  names, ages, grades, life goals.  They sang songs
individually and collectively, mostly on various personal and
village-improvement themes.  I was particularly intrigued by how many of
them (girls too) had goals of becoming teachers and doctors.  Although I
imagine the tutorial looks a little different when there aren’t guests, I
had the sense that the students had an affectionate relationship with the
woman who was running the tutorial and that they were genuinely interested
in the songs, stories, and other activities.

In sum, I was impressed both by this organization’s overall goals,
leadership, and organizational competence and by its evening tutorial
program.  As a result, after my visit I encouraged SHARE to apply to
ASHA-MIT for funds.

Further questions about the organization may be directed to me at the
address below or to Mr. Murugesan, the organization’s project coordinator
(who is fluent in English), at the address above .  A copy of the
organization’s annual report and some pictures are attached.  

Amanda Bickel
72 Dimick #1
Somerville, MA 02143
U.S.A.
tel:  (617) 623-5013
email:  76322.2334@compuserve.com or abickel@mit.edu