Witnessing first-hand the plight of women in the Indian city of Thane, Richmond’s Sandra Johnson was compelled to do something about it.
The city of around two million remains a slum town largely controlled by the mafia who ensure the people remain impoverished to guarantee a supply of cheap labour.
“It’s just crazy, we have to do something. I know we have needs here. But when you walk around a town that has literally no water, not a single drop, you have to help,” says Sandra.
Despite a huge water pipe running right past the town, the residents have zero access to water and every day a member from each household dedicates their entire day to sourcing water.
Sandra says the situation is very complex and the battle for water is political, not practical, “you can’t just roll in as westerners and sort this overnight”.
With large loom factories producing the cloth for clothing, the residents of Thane provide the cheap labour, and in doing so drastically reduce their future life span to a mere 12 years.
A long-time advocate with Tearfund, a Christian charity working alongside churches and other locally-based organisations in over 50 countries, Sandra is now raising funds for Indian NGO Saahasee in a bid to aid the women of Thane. Saahasee works for the development of the urban poor to empower them.
On Saturday, August 18, at Richmond’s Headingly Centre from 10-11.30am, a ‘Beyond Breakfast’ event is being held with all funds raised going to the women of Thane.
Sandra says the event is a sort-of Kitchen Chat Show, presenting seven unusual and interesting ideas from the kitchen, including sour-dough bread, overnight cheese and laundry liquid. It’s sure to be a fun presentation with lots of tastings, recipes and the opportunity to purchase items.
Tickets are available for the suggested donation of $20 by contacting Sandra 027 766 0347 or email srj@xtra.co.nz
Pre-purchased tickets go in the draw for a cook book. Door sales are also available.