A day in Chennai – a day in modern India

It’s May and the temperatures and humidity is high. It’s low tourist season. After months I’m back to South India. Heading to my rural people, where life looks different, challenging, but close to earth.  There is one day left before going to Palakkad area.  A day in the city of Chennai.  Good for visiting one…

A “close to earth” function in a tribal village in India

It is always amazing to learn about different cultures, how people behave and how they stay together and celebrate in special events. I had several times a chance to take part and to enjoy ceremonies and local functions during my travels in India.  Sometimes I wonder how these people would think and feel about village…

Digital knowledge for kindergarten teachers in rural India 

It was an amazing 2 days learning experience to all of us when the kindergarten teachers from the rural area in Kerala and Tamil Nadu (South India/ATTAPPADI) started the devices, learned how to handle it, how to write emails and got access to Internet for the first time in their life. Probably one of those…

Understanding realities – bringing business and social world together 

I lead a disruptive leadership experience for international Corporate business managers in rural India this week. That’s what they say: Today, we visited two tribal hospitals (1 primary care and 1 specialty care). Amazing how agile they are to treat so many patients always with the same kindness. One of the major remaining problem for…

When a cow is grown by sisters …

The story has been published yesterday on a local newspaper and the sisters proudly show me the article when I visit them.  “The story started two years back when I went for a meeting to a priest’s house who besides being a priest is taking care  of some cows, too. I really like cows and…

India – Discover colours and textiles

Coimbatore is one of the famous  textile cities and hubs in India. Besides the textile industries where the production of yarns and clothing takes place and is exported to all over India and the world, there are many huge shops in the city center. Do you want to buy a sarie, scarfs, blouses, or the…

Using a game: income generation and more for selfhelp group women

“It was in 1977 that we have started to put a lot of energy into social work and to set up Self help groups and skill trainings for poor women from urban, rural and tribal areas around Karamadai,” Rev. sister Anila from the Good Shephard convent in Karamadai, Tamil Nadu tells me. She is really…