A Day in Thrissur

Per usual, the activities that were in our itinerary did not happen as planned.  That will happen when in India.  I’ve developed a list of relative terms in India:  time, clean, and plans.  There will be more by the end of my trip, I’m sure.  Anyway, we began at COSTFORD’s original headquarters in Thrissur.  (fun fact: Thrissur is the cultural capitol of India).  

COSTFORD's original headquarters

Art

COSTFORD's original headquarters 

We were only at the headquarters for maybe 20 minutes before we left to tour the Talukulam Vikas Trust headquarters.  COSTFORD helped set up the Trust, which provides funding for programs that improve education, housing, health, social security, and employment for low-income women in the local community in Thrissur.  We toured some sewing centers that were leased out.  These centers are what we would consider to be a “sweat shop.” 

Courtyard

This unit is making bras

This unit is making jean jackets for a company

As you can see, our perception of what a “sweat shop” is is much different than what it is.  Working conditions are decent: the rooms are cool, sanitary, and they are not harassed, etc.  They are provided training, meals, and decent wages.  The wages depend on what they are doing/making, but I heard one of 600 rupees a day.

Tea/Snack time!! --This occurs twice daily, by the way.

A tasty snack we had called "unni-appam"  Super fatty and awesome.

After the tours, we had a presentation about what the Trust was doing.  At one point, the panchayat (lowest form of local government) president stopped in and shook the hands of some people for the camera and then left.  It was bizarre.
Next, we visited a geriatric daycare center.  The elderly only come there during the day when their family is at work or school and go home in the evening.  When we walked in they were singing songs.  Some of our group even sang a song for them.  It was awesome to see how active the elderly were here.  No one was in a wheelchair and everyone was engaging in activities and with other people.  The center tries to keep them engaged and up to date on the news.  Which does not always happen in elderly centers in the U.S.  We talked with some ladies and Katie asked them what their favorite part of the center was and they said it was spending time with their friends that they have made there.  Such sweet ladies. 

After that we went to two small businesses that are part of the Joint Liability Group that a small group of women run.  The first one we visited, they made shoes, plates, bowls, etc. out of dried banana leaves.  The second one was a packaging unit for ground spices. 

The dried banana leaves

Shaped into a bowl - it's even reusable - probably not dishwasher safe.

Flip-flops

Spice packaging unit:

 

Before we went to our hotel to rest, we stopped at a shopping center and wandered around for a couple hours.  We just so happened to see a parade for Vivekananda's (temple we went to in Kanyakumari was dedicated to him) 150th birthday.  So, that was a cool surprise.  An even better surprise: in the middle of the shopping center was a Hindu temple where elephants live.  Obviously we had to go see the elephants and I touched him! So exciting.

Parade

Parade

Blurry.  But I think the excitement is still clear. 

Flowers of the day: