Self-Care Comes to the Women’s Self-Help Groups in the Hope Project, Nizamuddin, Delhi… Vitality and Joy Ensue.
In the small and poverty-stricken “urban village” of Nizamuddin Basti, that lies within the midst of the giant Delhi, India metropolis, a very special project has been growing. From a milk distribution project launched in 2000 to The Hope Project of today which offers community educational and medical services, vocational and specialized programs for women, it now serves programs for women, girls and families in Nizamuddin Basti and the outlying Trans Yamuna, another heavily populated, poor area of Delhi.
At the beginning of 2005, Zuleikha brought her self-care work to the Hope Project women, girls and families. In 2006, this work in USA became a non-profit international organization called The Storydancer Project, TSP. At that time TSP formed a number of partnerships, one of which was with The Hope Project, “a partnership with a very large-hearted scope.”
“One of the special Hope Project programs I love is the Self-Help Groups (SHG) for women.
‘From the days when they use to share gossip and family stories, they now are meeting and discussing issues like bankers—prioritizing requests for loans, assessing repayment capacity, following up on repayments and managing accounts, etc. These new experiences and initiatives have empowered them in many ways. Team dynamics in the SHG groups, such as collective wisdom, peer pressure and trust go a long way in boosting the confidence of the members.’ (quote from Hope Project website)
Once I was introduced to the SHG project, I felt it was time to bring The Storydancer Project’s Self-Care into the Self Help Groups (SHG). For these groups of women, the self-care TSP has developed for body, mind, and spirit seemed essential to maintain daily energy for financial responsibilities, as well as the constant caretaking for their families. Within all the programs of The Storydancer Project, we use a practice that I created and developed, called TAKE A MINUTE®, a trademarked program of one-minute exercises that have a proven track-record as a type of “medicine for vitality.” These exercises have now become an integral part of the SHG program that now are around 70 plus groups. with 15-20 women in a group. Today, TSP-trained, Kariman, who is the head of the Hope Project’s SHG, along with assistant, Rubanah, arranges exercises in all the groups.
It is a sight to behold—groups of women in multi-colored clothing and even burqahs, jumping and twisting and turning and laughing. We all laugh a lot. This year I am not leading all the time. And I am filled with wonder. For friends who ask me about my legacy, and what will happen in the future, I can look at someone like Kariman, and have a deep sigh of happiness. She will do this, as will many others.
As I walk around the Basti and see different women who now I know, and hear them saying, “Salaam Aleikhum, Zuleikha, Exercise aje (Greetings, Zuleikha, exercise today)?” I have to have a silent laugh, shed a few tears of joy, and marvel at the way things happen. We just never know the impact of what we do.”
In gratitude for you who reach out to help so many, and the Hope Project and Team TSP. Zuleikha
