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Amazing Experience with Women Empowerment in India – Interview with Odette

What about experiencing a different culture and having a unique experience with women empowerment? When Odette Crisp from Australia was planning her trip to India, she wanted to participate in a Yoga workshop. But soon she realized, that she didn’t want just to come like a usual tourist from the Western world. She rather wanted to get envolved in social work, a community experience, do do something meaningful with her life. So she found out about the social project Iko Poran is organizing in Jaipur with local partners.

Whem Odette came to India, at first it was a cultural shock for her. She felt like a baby, learning to find her way in a a new world. At first, India seemed to be chaotic, but the country soon revealed it’s beauty, and people were welcoming and supportive. Finally, Odette chose to work with the women empowerment project. The women attentive and loving. Odette started teaching arts to them, but soon discovered, that what the women and girls most wanted to learn, actually was English. She found a way to teach all the women, with quite different levels of skills. Even if some of them still were illiterate, Odette was able to teach them and make them happy.

Interview with Odette Crisp’s Work on Women Empowerment

Why did you choose to come here to Jaipur India?

Odi: Originally I wanted to come to India to do a Yoga course, and I decided if I was gonna come to somewhat which is só different, from Australia to travel like a typical Westener and get involved with something that I’ve never really done before, like doing something meaningful with my life. And like helping people, and being envolved in community … and experiencing something you never had is really important.

Odi, you have been here for two weeks already. How would you describe your experience here in India?

Odi: It is here, at first it was like such a (loughing) a culture shock and I wasn’t very well adjusted about things, like a baby. But it has been like the most amazing life changing experience.

Which project did you choose from Iko Porann?

I chose the women empowerment project.

How was it?

Amazing. Like, the women and girls have been supportive, and attentive, loving and nice…

Here are some of the women… What were you teaching to them?

At first, it was Art, but then, all they wanted to know was English. Yeah.

So, can you please share, what level of English you taought and, overall, what you found out about the background of the women?

Odi: So, I think, the most important thing is to engage and find, what different levels of skills, before you kind of start teaching across – there are some women, who are illiterate – tasks and things and challenges, like to fit to everyone’s level.

Tell me three words that would describe India that you’r experiencing here?

Chaotic, amazing and beautiful.