This is a true story that illustrates what happens when all members of a population, especially women, are enabled to participate as equals in the socio-economic activities of their community and contribute to its development. In Mona Foundation’s experience, education is central to such individual and social transformation but only if it includes lessons of gender equality, ethics, and service.
Kali was born in a tribal household in the remote village of Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh, India. She contracted polio as a child which left her disabled and needing a staff to walk. Born a girl, poor, and disabled, she had three strikes against her before she was twelve.
In general, India's daughters are unwanted, unsafe, unequal, and unfree. They make up one third of the world's child brides and half of married women report domestic violence. Every year, one million girls are killed in the womb through selective termination. In rural areas, such as Alirajpur, girls traditionally don’t go to school and are considered only suitable for marriage, having children, cleaning house, and caring for their families. In such an environment, there seemed little hope for Kali's future.
In 2013, Kali's life changed dramatically when, as a young woman, she was given a $350 Mona scholarship to enroll in the six-month residential training program at the Barli Institute in Indore, about a 4-hour drive from her village. At first, she was so shy that she could not even say her own name. But within Barli's nurturing walls, Kali found her voice, learned to read and write, and gained the knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive. She learned about organic farming and solar cooking, and about personal and community development, including the importance of gender equality. She also learned how to make patterns and sew clothing, and how to run her own business. She became certified as a tailor.
Upon graduating, Kali returned to her village and opened her own sewing shop. She earned enough money to not only support herself but to also pay for the education of 8 children in her extended family. She also formed a micro-financing group with 12 other women to help them start their own businesses too.
In 2016, a team from Mona Foundation, including Founder and CEO Mahnaz Javid, travelled to Alirajpur to visit Kali and other Barli graduates.
As they walked the village streets, stopping at the women's sewing shops along the way, a group of stern-looking men wearing turbans came towards them. Hesitating somewhat at the sight, Mahnaz stepped forward and greeted the men.
Among the group was Kali's father. He reached out to shake Mahnaz's hand and, breaking into a big smile said:
"Thank you for supporting the education of my daughter. She is now a source of inspiration for all the girls in our village, and all the fathers and mothers want their daughters to be like Kali.” - Kali's father
At this point, Kali's business was growing and she had hired two other women to help in her shop. She had also saved enough money to buy a red scooter and fitted it so that she could get around more easily. Every father in that rural village now wanted his daughter to be like Kali, signaling a significant cultural shift towards recognizing the value of educating and empowering girls.
By 2019, with a larger income, Kali was able to purchase a piece of land, becoming the first female land owner in her village. With the help of a few Mona friends, Kali built a home for herself and her family, and added a second floor so she could teach other specially-abled girls how to sew.
When we visited Kali in March 2023, we were thrilled to see how far she and her village have come. Her business continues to thrive and she now employs five young women. After we visited the Barli graduates' sewing shops, Kali graciously welcomed us to her new home and showed us the upstairs space where she teaches sewing. Outside her home, she had arranged a celebration where she and other Barli graduates welcomed us to an unimaginable degree -- a beautiful tent, live music, refreshments, and dancing all so generously set up in honor of our visit.
Several young women from Alirajpur and surrounding villages spoke about how Kali has helped and inspired them:
Today, Kali is a respected community leader and female role model
who is improving the lives of hundreds, changing hearts and minds, and bringing positive change to her entire village --
a decade-long journey that begun with a $350 Mona scholarship.
After our 2023 visit, several members of Mona’s group shared their reflections, two of which are included here. The following is by David Wood, a member of Mona’s Board of Directors and CEO of Human Touch.
"We all know about Kali, but I had no idea how much of a “rock star” she really is in her community and the admiration from the entire village she engenders. And Kali is not alone. Walking through the busy streets in this remote society, the evidence and impact of Barli and the production of leaders was visible on most every street corner. So many shops driven by Barli graduates employing others in their business and expanding this bounty to others."
"These girls are the real champions. But
what really struck me was how many men – husbands, fathers and friends of these girls were present. While life opportunities are broadly scarce, Barli students are given a path to a life’s journey that so many others, including many men are not. I wondered whether there would be resentment and envy or
love, support and admiration.
I was so touched to see it was broadly the latter and
all were so appreciative and delighted by Mona’s support."
And from long-time Mona supporter Ray Rudolph:
“I walked the market on a non-market day and met the Barli women, more than 10 of them, who had been taught to read and write and sew at Barli, that had their own shops and were making income for them and their families. I was told if you come on market day, there are 80 of them with their shops open!! Can you even imagine 80 women in one tribal village having their own business? I couldn’t.
“When we were invited to the welcoming ceremony, I noticed that a bunch of motor bikes were arriving. I came to find out they were the men in these women’s lives who had come to support them... One man told me proudly that when his wife returned from Barli she taught him how to read and later how to sew. They opened a shop and after a while they bought a motorcycle and then a home. As I talked to him and saw his children there as he spoke with pride of the accomplishments of his wife, I thought "Yes, these are the people that will change this culture forever".
"If you could see the gleam of pride in Kali’s father’s eyes as he greeted each of us and heard us celebrate her accomplishments, you know that the history of India will change and Mona Foundation is a part of that change."
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In the recent years, Kali has begun planting food on her father's farm. They currently have orchards of tropical fruits, peanuts and other native produce. There is also a chicken coop, cows, goats and most impressively, a grinding mill.
Kali's father has also built two classrooms on their farm where she provides an after-school program for the children in her village. She is also sending all the children of her family to best schools in Indore.
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