Hunger Blog

Hopeful in India

Freedom from Hunger serves the rural poor. The poorest of the poor. This week I came to understand what that means.

I met a mother, Fula Devi, who had lost two children, one to a cold. She was in such deep despair, so full of sadness, that she could not recall for us one example of even a small joy in her life. The closest she came was to say, “When I go to my group, I am happy. We laugh and share the stories of our lives. I can depend on them to help me when I have an emergency. And then I walk home with my sadness.” Fula was describing her experience attending a savings-based self-help group established by one of Reach India’s partner organizations. This newly formed group has only begun to receive the much-needed education to accompany their savings—a combination that has met great success in other regions of India. But as a brand new group, such successes have yet to be seen.

Hopeless or hopeful? Which emotion can I call up, so that I can join my colleagues in their work here? While we are anxious to celebrate our successes, those groups and villages where the women have already come together to experience “Collective Courage” and are now a force of energy and hope for their communities, this is where the hardest work is.

In other villages on this trip, we have seen women excited to share what they have learned. We have heard stories of how they have joined together and taken steps to create better lives for their families. We have watched as they raise their arms together in celebration. We’ve met adolescent girls who have been given something special, the chance to learn together. And believe me, they are off and running with their knowledge. We have seen joy…and hope.

Freedom from Hunger, and Reach India, are not giving up on the poorest of the poor.

While the successes may not be so visible, and certainly will be hard to come by, it’s possible to make a difference. I do believe that this hopeful future is possible for Fula and her group.

Live from India.

Kim Tackett, Freedom from Hunger Communications Team