Sinbu's Future is Bright? Maybe... Hope so!

from Dan

Sinbu is a young teenage girl that we met last winter when we first arrived in Kalavai. A couple of the women on that team befriended Sinbu and anytime we were in the village Sinbu was there. It was several days before we realized that Sinbu actually did not live in the Irla village but from a neighboring village but she is what I call an early adopter (willing to engage early on when a new opportunity or adventure is presented). Sinbu has a lot of natural leadership instincts and quietly questions (and sometimes not so quietly) the position and status of women and girls in the Indian culture.

When we hired several of the villagers to help build the community center Sinbu was one of the first in line to work an 8 to 10 hour day for the $1.40 (great wage for Indian's in this area) plus lunch and dinner. Each night she takes her daily income and food home to her family. On Friday when the amount of work was limited Sinbu hung around played and cared for the younger village children and did whatever any of the villagers asked her to do. I'm not sure how old she is but my guess she is between 11 and 13 years of age.

The Irla people are one of the lowest caste people in all of India. And because Sinbu is from another village many of the women tend to treat Sinbu a little more harshly and critical but it seems to bounce off of her and she just keeps coming back.

Last January Sinbu acted and played like a litte girl. This trip I can see her becoming a young women. Will Indian culture drive the independence, leadership and free will from Sinbu or will the KC3 community center allow her to break free from the bonds that supress most women in India? Will the Irla women drive her away because of their human nature to attempt to be better than an "outsider?" Or, will KC3 open the hearts and minds (and skills) of the Irla villagers where they realize scarcity is not part of the Kingdom of God? I sure hope so! Will keep you posted,