The Challenge of Believing in Yourself

I am really happy when....... Something that my friends like about me is..... I am very proud of.....

These were some of the prompts from the worksheet that I gave the women artisans from MarketPlace Handwork of India to fill out in preparation for the Believe in Yourself workshop. The questions look easy on the surface but when I tried to answer them myself, I realized how much thought and introspection was involved.

According to World Vision and the United Nations, empowering women is central to the health and social advancement of families, communities, and countries. However, society, including women themselves, have had a difficult time acknowledging their own value and contribution to society's welfare. Thus, I was thrilled to facilitate a workshop to help the women artisans that make up MarketPlace believe in themselves and their own dignity and self-worth. For MarketPlace, empowering women is not just a catchphrase; it is integrated into all their activities aimed at creating equal opportunities for women and nurturing their talents.

I have been privileged to work with the women artisans for over three decades, during my yearly visits to India. There is a shared learning in our interactions and their creativity, enthusiasm, and willingness to embrace new ideas has nurtured my own artistic spirit. It was exciting to plan the Believe in Yourself workshop and create a space where the MP women could find inspiration in their own journeys and see the strength, they carry within themselves.

Our first session consisted of warm up discussions focused on self-worth and self-esteem. Eager yet apprehensive, the women began to share their thoughts about their positive attributes delving deep and drawing inspiration from their personal narratives. I feel happy when I use the money that I earned, I feel proud of myself when other people appreciate my helpful nature were some of their answers. As each woman expressed themselves, the conversation gathered momentum stimulating a back and forth of insights and ideas rooted in self-reflection and storytelling.

A week later, as the women gathered for the second session the excitement was palpable. They knew that this session involved art making. Recycled CDs collected from friends and neighbors in Evanston were the primary art material. First, they penned down their positive attributes on one side of the CDs- qualities they'd talked about earlier. Then came the fun part. They had each brought a collection of recycled stuff- seedpods, beads, broken bangles and bits of fabric. It was heartwarming to see their total concentration and engagement as they created fabulous patterns on the other side of the CDs, telling their stories visually.

The CDs were assembled in the form of a Toran, an entryway hanging that is part of the Indian female folk art tradition. The toran welcomes friends and deities into the sacred space that is the home. The fifteen MP woman participants belonged to various groups, and they were tasked to lead similar workshops in their groups and create torans that now hang in the various MarketPlace workshop spaces as a reminder to the women of their distinct capabilities and self-worth.

This Believe in Yourself workshop became a catalyst for personal growth and empowerment. By amplifying the voices and stories of these artisans, the workshop not only empowered them individually but also contributed to a larger movement advocating for believing in oneself and ones worth.

During our end of workshop reflection one woman echoed what many of the other women felt that she is so busy throughout the day withal numerous family chores and sowing work that there is no time to think about herself. She remarked that the workshop had compelled her to realize her worth and the worth of her colleagues and to see the strength they each carry within themselves.

Indira Johnson, a sculptor, community artist, and nonviolence educator in the Chicagoland area, has a varied portfolio ranging from large-scale public sculptures to community-driven projects. Originally from India, she was instrumental in founding MarketPlace. Her numerous awards, public art installations, and collaborations highlight her significant contributions. Notably, three of her drawings are housed in the esteemed Library of Congress collection.