We had an amazing outing this year with 20 women of which 12 were our beneficiaries for an outing to Jawhar in Palghar District over three days and two nights. Some couldn't make it. One of them had a practical exam for her police training exams. Another had another set of exams and a few were out of station.
Initially the plan was to stay in a tent house but due to the cold and need for some basic facilities all moved to rooms.
These women have been women who have struggled for years in situations of brokenness, pain and hopelessness. Today they have left all that and are on a journey to healing, hope and wholeness.
We enjoyed skits, dance, sharing stories and a campfire on the first day. In the camp fire all beneficiaries were encouraged to share their challenges so we can understand their present struggles and help them to move on. It was such an encouraging session where all the beneficiaries shared their stories and encouraged each other. The ex beneficiaries were such an encouragement to the present beneficiaries who are doing their training, encouraging them not to give up on their training and to submit to Purnata’s training plans. It was encouraging to the Purnata team as well to see how our ex beneficiaries are encouraging our trainees to move on with their life and live a life of dignity and hope. At the end of the campfire we all danced together, enjoying the moment and each other's company.
Four resource persons, mature women leaders, spoke and interacted with the women on issues of identity, addictions, integrity, hope and other issues that helped them find purpose and transformation. The women all shared how the sessions were of great help, helping them face everyday challenges.
We also had a warli painting session which they enjoyed a lot. They were taken to a waterfall where they enjoyed the natural beauty and played in the water like little children. We saw some historical places in the palace where the Bhool bhulaiya movie shooting was shot. All beneficiaries had a good break and enjoyed the trip. Many of them gave feedback that they never enjoyed so much in their lives before and that it was a good and needed break from their everyday routine tensions. The break gave them a lot of positive energy and new inspiration to face challenges.