Freeset part two
Following the first leg of our Freeset tour, we moved on to part two. Literally moved. Down the street. Liz stayed in the original building and Chokla took us. We followed the main periphery road of Sonagachi, heading deeper to the middle of this sub-culture.
Note: most pictures are from the Freeset website or a Google search. Some I took in the Gateway kitchen.
Before moving on I think it is important to note that Freeset, similarly to Loyal, has near 100% retention after 16 years. Some of their original ladies still work daily, the rest who are alive are involved as they can be; a strong testament to the organization.
We entered a building called the Gateway: appropriately named as it is on the main street entering Sonagachi. (Sidebar: it also reminds me of when my school's grade 11 service trips would have pizza at Salvation Army Gateway before the street walk).
This building is four stories high and a flat roof where folks can sit. It has an open area in the middle: so on each floor you walk around the periphery and can always look into a rectangular open middle. This means the main floor can be wet as the entire four story middle is open. They're busy renovating!
What you see when you enter the Gateway.
Straight ahead as you enter.
This building was owned by a rich Indian family (or branches of this family). Each floor was divided into two homes, with an actual concrete wall divider built on one of the floors. This means that on each floor there are two rooms that served as dining areas and at least two bathrooms.
Gateway just celebrated their second anniversary. I believe it was four years ago that the broker/realtor Freeset used in the past approached them saying this building was coming up for sale. At the time they weren't looking for property but after further investigation, decided to pursue this prime location. Through generous donations from around the world, Freeset was able to purchase this large, well-situated building for over 2 million dollars. They are excited at potential this facility provides for growth and expansion! They are hoping to have a larger child care centre for their employees, are moving the entire t-shirt division over to Gageway and it will be the centre for administration. They have two good-sized conference rooms, formerly dining rooms. They have plenty of space now but also have the structural foundation to put on two more stories if necessary.
Jo, a New Zealander, was our guide at this building. We met in the kitchen which has become a canvas of diversified messages.
Jo is the executive assistant and she has been involved with Freeset for a number of years. She spoke to us about many things, including three of their new initiatives. This analogy came from Liz, our first guide, but is too good not to share. Picture a cliff and people in desperation, prostitutes that Freeset works with, jumping off the cliff. Right now Freeset is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff picking up the pieces and treating the ladies after the trauma and various negativities. Freeset wants to shift their work to being a fence at the top that helps prevent the cliff demise. They want to give ladies, girls and their families realistic alternatives so maybe they won't as desperately seek out prostitution. They want to be a fence.
One initiative has already been started. After some research Freeset has determined that many of the girls are trafficked from specific extremely poor rural areas (I don't remember the names of the villages). They have started a sewing project in this area where the girls make shorts. These girls are so new to the trade they had to ask why the piece of material for the back of the shorts are longer than the front. Freeset has also started a similar initiative in another village but here the girls are learning how the entire process of weaving (as explained in my leprosy colony blog) with the end product being scarves. Freeset is excited to be the fence in these villages.
Shameless plug: scarves can be found online. Shorts aren't available yet as they're a new idea. I'm sure they're "coming soon!"
Freeset is also aware of communities that will likely turn even more to prostitution. There is/are (a) community(ies) where entire families roll little cigarettes, even children of 3 or 4. This is the livelihood of the families. With the recent Indian government push on the harmful effects of smoking, there is a strong possibility that these families will have less and less work. Freeset anticipates this and wants to work toward change.
There is so much I could write about them but if you're interested you can check out their website. I will tell you of their initiative that excites me the most.
Their new Gateway building has a room on the front right corner with a garage style door that opens to an intersection. It used to be a pharmacy. As they were cleaning out the room during renovations they were intrigued by a wooden floor mezzanine of sorts. This was interesting because wood is very expensive here so choosing wood for that space was intentional. As they cleaned that mezzanine out they found various abortion tools. Although they aren't certain, the thought is that the pharmacy also served as an abortion centre. Given its location, at the entrance to Sonagachi, it all seems to make sense.
Freeset is excited to transform this space into a tea house of sorts for ladies on the line. This would be a place the ladies can visit before, in between or after jobs to get away from the line and sit in safety for as long as they wish. The frequent visitors would have a cubby of sorts with their own cup. It seems simple but for a prostitute to have a safe space and something that is just hers is likely going to be special and very appreciated. Freeset is excited to be the ambulance in this situation.
There are plenty of YouTube videos and additional information on their website if you're interested. If you or your organization need themed t-shirts or bags, consider this organization.
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