Devi Women's Collective

The Cause

Please help us raise £2,000 to help feed  families effected by COVID-19 in Goa, India.

Thousands of families in Goa now find themselves without an income due to the government's lockdown.   Their savings  have run out and they can no longer afford to buy food for their families.  Their situation has become desperate.

The 'Devi Women's Collective', was born out of conversations between Jyoti Sharma and myself, Gabrielle Marshall. We wanted to support less privileged women earn a sustainable income. 

We are now able to help these women and their families obtain much needed food.   We can distribute basic food items to families now on the poverty line.   

While I am concentrating my efforts on fundraising in the UK, along with my husband Alex Marshall, Jyoti is organising the food distribution.  She has a list of supplies needed and can direct them to each household.

Background on the Devi Women’s Collective

It all began in the autumn  of 2019 when two women, one from Canada with Indian roots named Jyoti Sharma and a migrant woman from Gujarat named Mina Vagehla, met on a beach in South Goa. Jyoti was soaking up the sun when Mina, a tiny little Indian woman wearing a blue saree and a smile on her face, extended her hand full of necklaces for sale.  Normally Jyoti would say no thanks but on this occasion she chose to listen to Mina's story.  

Mina travels an hour and a half by bus each day to Patnem. She walks up and down the beach in the hot sun all day long.  Sometimes her necklaces sell but mostly she returns home empty handed.  She has five children, can only afford to educate two and owes six months rent.  Mina said her dream was to be able to educate her children and own her home. 

Jyoti discovered that Mina's dream was shared by many of the other beach sellers.  It inspired Jyoti, along with the support and encouragement of Gabrielle Marshall from the UK, to set up the Devi Women’s Collective – an initiative that helps less privileged women from diverse economic backgrounds to work together in raising their income.

For the first time the collective brought together local and migrant women living in Goa,  creating a unique women’s only event called Ladies Sangeet – an Indian musical evening where tourists from other countries could experience Indian traditions such as folk dances, saree wearing and henna tattoos (see the image above). This created an income for the women involved and gave them a sense of pride and dignity.

This all came to an end with the Coronavirus and the government lockdown.  These women who dreamed of owning a home and educating their children currently do not have enough money to feed their families.  They never imagined they would have to rely on charity.

By supporting the Devi Women's Collective,  you are supporting sixty families now living without an income, more if we can exceed our target.   You are helping women like Mina with a weekly supply of basic food items.  Your donation will stop Mina and her children from going hungry.

 Biography

Jyoti Sharma is a women's leadership coach and a former Human Resources professional from Canada.  She grew up in India.  She has inspired clarity and confidence in women from various walks of life.

Most recently, she and her family moved to Patnem, Goa.  Keen to empower women in India,  Jyoti founded the Devi Women's Collective,  a social enterprise that helps the  less privileged raise their income through Indian Arts and culture.

Gabrielle Marshall is a jewelry designer, artist and educator from Lewes in the UK.  She recently spent six months with her family in Patnem, Goa where she supported her friend Jyoti with the Devi Women's Collective.  She is passionate about helping these women and others like them during this current crisis.

Where will your money go?

 Food.  Each family will receive a weekly supply of  lentils, rice, flour, cooking oil, potatoes and onions  in proportion to family size.

Food distribution.   A minimal amount owing to volunteers taking on this role.