In the rural south east agricultural area of A.Konduru, Andhra Pradesh, India, a group of women came together and decided to change their community. They started simply doing something they already knew they could do well, enlisted the help of a woman with experience starting and running a business, and launched an endeavor called a.ku designs. Their goal? Start a school for their children. One that was in their community, that wouldn’t require sending their children away and would include English language instruction, the business language of India. A school that could help stop the cycle of poverty their community has been steeped in for generations. A school that could offer their sons options instead of being bonded to the brick factories. A school that could step in the gap as a way of preventing the sex trafficking of their daughters into brothels in the cities of India. This school was their dream. Their hope.
With the average income at $2.00 a day, job creation would break the cycle of poverty and provide hope for the future. For these low caste families, many live in a round mud hut with a thatched roof and a dirt floor. The caste system has been banned but people still practice it. This prejudice holds people back from reaching their social and economic potential.
The women created a 5 year business plan for a.ku designs and got to work sewing and selling. Their product made it to the other side of the world and with it their desired goal to the ears and hearts of a few people. And instead of 5 years it took just one. The A. Konduru village school opened on June 10, 2013 for grades 1-3 with 50 students, 30 of which were on full sponsorships.
When a group of determined mothers come together amazing things happen.
Every once in a while I have to awkwardly look at The Leaky Boob and ask “is this really what I want it to be? Am I being responsible with what I’ve been entrusted with? Can I do better?”
More often than not I’m unsettled by the answers to these questions.
It is an incredible honor and a privilege to be a part of any aspect of your life and your journey, even if for just a moment, one article, or one Facebook post. There are times where this is overwhelming and I want to run away and shut it all down. Not only is it time consuming, it can be completely intimidating and at times, exhausting. I have been attacked, mocked, questioned, and have discovered a political side to all this I had never anticipated. I’ve even been accused of distributing child porn (AKA breastfeeding images) and called a pedophile (for breastfeeding my daughter past 12 months). Sometimes I really want to quit. But The Leaky Boob is also deeply satisfying and when I step back from my own insecurities and headache I see something I believe in and love. I even think it’s important. There’s no way I could walk away. No way.
But can I do better? Oh yeah, much better and I am grateful to have wise counsel and good friends that have become a team advising me how to do so. Am I being responsible with it? To an extent, yes but not enough.
I believe The Leaky Boob can make a difference, in fact, I believe that in the 3 years since starting TLB, it has made a difference. Never, in my wildest dreams, would I have imagined the impact the little blog I started would have in encouraging and supporting families starting out or in being a voice to normalize breastfeeding. Now, even I can’t deny that is the case. I have no idea why and I’m an unlikely candidate to be in this position yet here I am. With you.
This isn’t about changes coming to TLB, though there are some on the horizon. This is about something else close to my heart because while I love supporting breastfeeding moms and the people that support them, I’m also very passionate about making a difference in the world as a voice for the voiceless and I want to use the voice I have here to invite you to join me. Outside of The Leaky Boob I work with an organization leading a global movement to bring artists together to speak up for the oppressed. As part of that movement I share these stories and opportunities with you because I know first hand just how much influence a determined group of mothers can have. As a mother I unite myself with these mothers because I know their heart and just as I’m deeply connected with the community of TLB because of breastfeeding, I’m connected to these women as their desires and determination resonate in my mother’s heart.
The mothers of A. Konduru inspire and humble me. When two of my children were sexually assaulted I wanted to run away and hide with my children forever, getting through each day was overwhelming. These women come together, risk it all, and make their world a better place in the face of oppression that would crush me. They are my heroes. They are not cowering, they are changing their world.
What does it look like?
Today with the help of supporting organizations, A. Konduru has a plan to transform their community even beyond the school. This transformation will come from the community itself by intentionally working with government leaders, social workers and pastors in the community. Developing local business opportunities and education opportunities; bringing jobs to the community, lifting many from the oppression and poverty they live under daily. These efforts are enabling families to obtain proper food, receive needed health services and to live farther from the marginalized edge of hunger, sickness, slavery, and prostitution. a.ku designs will put back into the community using their profits for education in Grace School, taking a lead role and model community transformation. Change will also come through community education in vocational, business and wellness training.
I have no doubt they will continue to succeed.
I want to be a part of it.
Do you?
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In January, 2014, The Piano Man, Earth Baby, Sugarbaby, and I are going to see first hand with a group of artists the transformation happening in A. Konduru. With a group of artists we are going to celebrate the school, encourage the faculty, connect with the community, and gather stories to share.
To support these efforts and help raise awareness and funds to support these inspiring mothers on the other side of the world, I’m joining them as I can right now by getting on a bike and riding to raise funds and awareness, as I shared before. Come join me outside of Chicago on October 5, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. with your bike (or stroller and walking shoes) at International Teams, 411 W River Road, Elgin, IL 60123 and ride with me then hang out for lunch after. If you can’t join me you can ride where you are that same day and time, share this post with others, and/or contribute and help me reach my goal of raising $18,000 as part of the Initiative 31.8 Ride for Refuge team. Go HERE to sponsor me in the ride. All funds raised go to support the work of International Teams bringing people together to help the oppressed.
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To help me reach my goal of raising $18,000 with the Initiative 31.8 Ride for Refuge team (and hopefully surpass it), The Leaky Boob is giving away 3 a.ku designs bags. (Please note, items are handmade, each unique and imperfect. The bags pictured in this post are just a representation of the work, the bag each winner receive will be unique.) Use the widget below to be entered and hurry, this giveaway ends the night of Monday, October 8th. Sorry, at this time, entries only available to those within the USA and Canada.
