Sunday 15 February 2015

Belgaum: Nipani!

Today began with a scooter ride on the back of Manju's (our driver's) scooter to the shopping area to visit the luggage store where Manju works.  Sue, Lorna and Irwin followed in a motorized rickshaw.  We also visited Raju's (Rotarian) jewelry store but the prices there defied any major purchases by the group.  Scooter ride home for Lorna, lunch and into the van to head north to Nipani.




What a different experience from the distribution in Athani.  Talk about organized. Tons of Rotary, Inner Wheel (women's equivalent to Rotary) and Rotractors (college age men) buzzing around the place getting things done.  I mean actually getting things done!.  We handed out 500 kits in about 3 hours, phenomenally faster than yesterday.



Sue conducted interviews today and one mother told her she works at a factory where she makes 60-80 Rupees /day rolling up to 1000 cigarette like things.  That's $1.60 / day when her production is at its best.  So many people struggling in this country as there are no social nets whatsoever,




Early start tomorrow for what will certainly be a long day as we have 2 distributions.




Namaste!

Team Belgaum 2015