“As a child, I never went to school. Being a poor woman, I was shy and scared to go out of my house. I did not know anything about the outside world. I thought that people might laugh at me or tease me if I go out. I did not know my rights, nor my role in the society. This was my life.”These words come from Sita Lakshmi. She grew up in the village of Guggila in South-East India. In Guggila, women have little possibilities for personal growth and achievements.
Would you believe Sitha Lakshmi got elected in January 2019 as village mayor?
Here is her story:
15 years ago, Sita Lakshmi joined SOPAR’s Women Program. She recalls:
“I started to attend monthly group meetings and to do small savings. I participated in all the planned activities and skills trainings. With SOPAR’s adult literacy summer classes, I even learned how to read and write. Slowly but surely, I started to feel the change within me. I became brave. I started opening to others. I felt the desire to share my opinions on different subjects. I wanted to improve our living conditions”.
“Some years ago, women members motivated me to become the leader of our women’s group. I accepted the challenge. Then, they encouraged me to run for village council member. To my surprise, I got elected. This experience gave me good knowledge about the village council. And so, I stood for our mayor elections in January 2019 with the encouragement of my family and friends. During the campaign, many people in the village talked negatively about me. How can I even think I could win this election- they laughed and asked? They tried to make me feel as I was worthless. In those moments, I remembered SOPAR’s teachings. To think positively and to know my rights. That women can achieve many great things in life and give service to others in need. I stood strong. I tried not to be influenced by the negative words and… I got elected.”
At SOPAR, we aim to empower rural poor, illiterate and marginalized women like Sita Lakshmi. This requires bringing changes not only in women’s minds and hearts. It also requires changes at the root of unjust systems. It is a very ambitious goal by no means, but we have been pursuing it for more than 40 years now.
Empowering women takes time and commitment, but it works! A total of 147 members of our women program got elected in the 2019 election either as village leader, village leader assistant or council member. These women will continue transforming their village and the Indian society.
Our work is made possible because of the continued and generous support of many donors including the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada. Together, we make this world a better place for all. On behalf of Sitha Lakshmi, thank you Sisters!
