April 9 Rotary Kate Molter Shares India Trip

Kate Molter shared her discovery and humanitarian trip to the Blue Mango Trust in the Theni District of Tamil Nadu, India.  Blue Mango’s objective is to run a sustainable business by and for marginalized women who are disabled, deserted, widowed or living with AIDS. The difference in culture from the United States to India is significant. Kate shared that the women involved in this project are shunned by their culture because their fate is blamed on them.  Once a women is divorced she cannot remarry and those with disabilities, AIDS, or deserted must fend for themselves.  Blue Mango’s goal is to develop self esteem and offer training and business opportunities to allow the women to be successful.  Women are first accepted to the program and then trained.  Products are then produced on their skills which is somewhat different from our tradition of selecting someone that can do a certain job.  Blue Mango produces various personal attire items, jewelry, toys, and other marketable items.  They are marketed in 10,000 villages in India and worldwide with Fair Trade Organizations.  Mrs. Molter stated that all sewing machines are treadle models because the surge in use of air conditioning causes the electricity to be shut off during the day to Blue Mango.  Child care is provided at Blue Mango for all of the children of those women working there.  The women are not allowed to wear shoes while in the building at work.  The Blue Mango workers have now begun to share their income with less fortunate by participating in the Rice and Sambar Project.  Kate shared pictures of local women making the bricks to construct their building, Hindu Temples, and a Ghandi exhibit.  Mrs. Molter was the guest of Doug Morgan.