Reflections

Chandreyi Basu (Doel) is the Asia Program Manager for Made By Survivors and is based in her hometown of Kolkata. She works very closely with the girls at the Made By Survivors / Womens Interlink Foundation Jewelry Program at Child Care Home and has had an indelible impact on their development as well as the programs.  Below she shares her thoughts on the past year and what she's learned. 

On the verge of completing my first anniversary with MBS, I can proudly say that I’m a much different person now than what I was back a year back. I’ve grown up as a woman as I’ve become more matured, tolerant, flexible, rational and loving.  And my idols (and not just an idol) are the girls at the shelter home. Their mental strength, endurance, determination have influenced me a lot. I share an undefined and the most treasured relation with them. It’s like a big fat family. Like any other families, they have differences but in times of need they are always united. This is what inspires me the most that even though they didn’t have a proper family life, they all have good family values.

The list doesn’t end here. Of late, I’m at awe with the kind of professionalism that they have shown. With the production in progress, the girls have paced themselves accordingly. They are focused on their production and deadline and barely waste time in chitchats among themselves. The only company they need is the ‘loud Bollywood Hindi songs’. I can already see a change in them; they are now way more confident which gives me a boost to work harder so that they can have a better life tomorrow.  - Doel 

Jewelry Production Supervisor, Soma Seal, shares her thoughts...

Last year I joined MBS in the month of April. This one year is one of the most valuable years of my life. I thank Allison Saracena, Rabia and the entire team of Uddami ( the organization I was involved with before MBS) and of course MBS for giving me the opportunity to exercise my wish to create something new. I'll be ever grateful to MBS.

Apart from work, we have a very personal relation with everyone. Everyone is treated specially here. Last month we celebrated Doel's birthday, we had arranged a surprise birthday for her. Last year I had the best birthday ever. In fact, it was the first time anyone celebrated my birthday. I had tears in my eyes when Paul made me cut my first birthday cake! I was re born that day. I have become confident about myself and with these people around me, who are more like friends than colleagues, I enjoy every bit of my work. Jai Ho! - Soma 

Please share with your family and friends! Thanks!