Finding purpose

Yesterday at the the women’s workshop Katie and I came early for a full day’s work. At 2pm when the workshop officially opens the first woman to knock on the door was ‘Haja,’ Malika’s mother in law. Haja has been weaving her whole life and recently set up her loom in the workshop to weave in the company of the other women.

While Katie worked on the sewing machine and I on the computer, we enjoyed Haja’s quiet company. She takes off her shoes in a ritual of weaving and sits comfortably on top of a boucherouite rag rug. Haja was the first to arrive and the last to leave. She wove for 5 hours straight and would occasionally look up to smile.

This morning Katie and I realized that what we do is not just about economic empowerment. It’s about women of all generations finding purpose.

Thanks Haja, you inspire us.