The Green Tara Project

I have been back in the States for a week now.  My mind is still processing the trip and all I experienced on it.  I am conflicted and uplifted, sad and happy.  Overall, this trip was the hardest thing I have ever done.  It taxed me mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.  My personal belief is that I can not grow without a challenge, and by that measure, I have grown a lot through this trip.  Now, what am I going to do with that?

As I look back over the course of the month and the 150 girls I had the pleasure of meeting, I am validated in the vision that has guided me and the efforts of Green Tara Project to date.  Feedback from staff at the organizations was overwhelmingly positive for the result the training was having.  I heard many comments about how the young women and girls who had been trained, even after just one session, experienced an increase in energy and self confidence.  I’ll never forget showing up to my second class with Save Our Sisters and being told that the ladies were practicing the techniques in the bus all the way home…and would I mind telling them not use the techniques on each other.  LOL!  I remember being 5 minutes late to Shishu Bharti, and Lalita Ji telling me the girls had been panicked that I wasn’t coming.  I got one of the highest compliments from Lalita when she told me that she had never seen the girls happier than during and after my classes – high praise when the girls get lessons in music and dancing.  These and other comments will keep me going.

I have learned a lot about what worked in the sessions and what didn’t.  For instance, in regards to the cognitive skill building part, the concepts can be too complex to communicate through demonstration.  I was lucky to have some translation available to me for some of the classes, but I need to make this a priority for next time as these skills are greatly needed.

Shishu Bharti, Project Crayons, and Save Our Sisters all have asked for ongoing self defense programs, and this is what I turn my attention to now.  I am working on concepts that involve my return to India, as well as the development of online support for these and future organizations.

I thank all of my readers for being a part of my journey here, for your words of encouragement and your financial and morale support.  YOU have made my efforts and the results possible.