Bridging the gap

Sunita Kardure,Shobha Surwase and Rathod were shortlisted from more than 100 villages in Latur,Osamanabad and Solapur for a visit to Luxembourg organised by Aide a I’ Enfance de I’ Imde (AEI) and Terre Des Homes (TDH).

While Rathod and Surwase,both from Latur,have remained members of Nari Prabhodhan Manch and Kishori Gat,Kardure is from Osamanabad and has attended Rachnatmak Sangarsha Samiti and RSS’s programmes in her village. The group along with Ingrid Mendonca,deputy regional coordinator,TDH,were in Luxembourg from June 14 to 26.

The women were tested on their analytical skills,through written tests and gave an orientation visit to Mumbai as a part of the preparations. Visiting several schools,hospitals,farms and presentations they also held meetings with women’s groups and politicians in Luxembourg. Observing the differences in the society,Rathod says,”We admired the gender equality in Luxembourg. In one of the schools children were selling handmade drawings and paintings and sending the money to NGOs,this is inspiring. We learnt the cow dung manure system and will replicate the same in the village. There are also women who were deserted after an early marriage but they were brave enough to decide their future.”

Returning back,they are travelling across the state to share the experience. In the city recently the trio interacted with girls from Kanyashala,Palakniti magazine and Strimukti Sanghatan. “We have learnt a lot and will now apply it with increased commitment in our and surrounding villages and work towards equality and women’s rights. We will visit schools and talk to children,parents and the teachers on the education methodology that we observed there. We also plan to inform our women groups and girls groups on empowerment and equality,” says 21-year-old Surwase.