December 2012
Julia DesBrosses
Position
Overall Rating:
I helped in the birthing stage of AAA, was such an inspiring process!
Did you feel like you made a difference?:
Yes, even though I/we had limited resources we managed to get started
Organization and communication:
India is a difficult place to work in! Aranya's team are professional, their work is deep and empowering, women are the key communicators
Accommodation:
I got used to low to no privacy... that s India, village life is busy and you gotta love it. Water is a premium...
Safety:
My host family did everything to make me feel safe, and i was... I would go back again, with pleasure
I had a deeply moving time with the Aranya team, headed by Narsanna and Padma, it was an unforgettable period of my life! I felt like family, still do... Even though they/we had limited resources, we managed to build and hold workshops, to get women together, doing what women do well, care for seeds, care for the earth and keep each other motivated to do what matters, despite the odds often being against tribal caste, landless farmers etc.

I still reflect on this process of collective Dreaming and Doing, since birthing the Aranya AA venture was a collective task and I am glad to have been there to help.

Thanks to you all, Narsanna, Padma, Sneha, and Harin, (plus numerous cousins and aunties and uncles) ... for giving me faith that we can change the world :)