This
morning we went to production unit of Talikulam Vikas Trust, which is a public
Trust that promotes the overall social development of Talikulam Grama
Panchayat.
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| At the production unit of the Trust |
Among
all the production lines they have, we visited the production line of jeans jacket,
the production line of underwear.
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| Production unit for jacket |
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| Order and production recording board |
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| Finished product of under garmet |
After
we have seen a little bit of production process of those production lines, we
were given the presentation about what is Talikulam Vikas Trust and how it is
operating right now. I feel like this trust has done an excellent job in
improving the wellbeing of the Talikulam Village. It basically covers every
aspect of the villagers’ lives; specifically, it provides employment for all,
houses for all, education for all, health for all, and social security for all.
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| The presentation of Talikulam Vikas Trust |
We
were told that staffs of the trust would go door to door in the village and ask
people really detailed questions about their life and then determine what they
could do help villagers to live much more better lives. For example, for those
female workers we have seen working in the production line, they were done
surveys and then they were provided with training and employment opportunities
based on their previous skill level. They are also picked up from their houses
and go to work at a really safe working environment. Those female workers are
also provided lunch and something even more.
A
lady from COSTFORD also gave a presentation on COSTFORD’s activities out of
construction. The activity we learnt about was a bunch of self-help groups and
joint leverage groups coordinated by COSTFORD that focus on women empowerment
and poverty alleviation. They have done great jobs especially in the area of
providing funding to woman by link them to banks and get fundings.
After
the lecture, we went to a daycare center for elders where left-alone old people
are taken care of and spend time with other elders and daycare workers. When we
came in, they were singing and dancing, leaded by two daycare workers. Later,
one of the old ladies started singing and dancing happily in front of all of us,
like the focus of a party. We all surprised to know that when this lady first
came, she would not talk to anybody and now she is having great time at the
daycare and even bringing happiness to other elders who may have suffered
loneness before just like her. We also spent time having lunch with those
elders at the daycare center. The old gentleman who was sitting next to me and
EE is already 89 years old and he looks perfectly healthy and happy.
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| At the daycare for elders |
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| A old gentleman singing a song |
In
the after, we also visited several of micro-enterprise units, which contain one
unit that making sandals with palm tree leaves and another unit that produces
and sells spices.
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| Mirco-unit of making sandals from palm tree leaves |
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| Women working for the spice production unit |
Today
we were also taken to a big circle, which I guess it’s like the downtown area
of the city of Thrissur and we shopped for two and half hours. When we came
back to our van, our nice drivers pointed to us there was a place where a bunch
of guys were raising elephants so we went to visit and took lots of pictures
with some of the giant but super cute elephants
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| Buddies and the elephant |
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| Gloria and the cutie! |
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| What's so funny? |
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| Gloria is doing mind-chatting with the cutie！ |
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| EE and the cutie！ |
After
the elephant visiting, we headed back to the hotel we are staying at. I was
also really lucky that we found an American comedy on TV called “Bridesmaids”
with Kehla. The movie was so hilarious and touching so we really had a great
roomie time together.
I
think I had a really meaningful and fun day and I am satisfied.
