In 2022, Sonia, Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE) student in West Bengal, shared her dreams with Yoga Gives Back (YGB) of helping women in her village sell their artisan crafts online through e-commerce platforms. It was a revolutionary idea for most. Sonia is one of many SHE students who want to use their education to help the women in their community.
YGB’s Seva Trip afforded the opportunity to witness firsthand these artisan, hard-working women in their element, creating one-of-a-kind traditional Kantha stitch crafts. With your support, YGB has been supporting these women through our micro-loan program since 2010.
SONIA’S DREAM CAME TRUE
On March 8th, International Women’s Day, Manvee Creation, an online e-commerce site for these women’s artisan crafts launched. “Manvee” means a person with compassion, humanity. “Manvee Creation embodies the very soul of a divine dance, gracefully intertwining the threads of creativity and sustainability.”
JOIN OUR GRATITUDE CIRCLE COMMUNITY WITH EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT
When you donate at least $10 a month to YGB, you’ll become a member of our Gratitude Circle. YGB’s Gratotude Circle is a library exclusive to our donors that offers unlimited access to over 200 asana, mindfulness, and kirtan classes, as well as free access to recordings of our webinar events throughout the year. This month, YGB hosted empowering panels and interviews including “The Yoga Sutras with Women’s Perspectives,” “Can Yoga Inspire Inclusion?” “Bhagavad Gita with Women’s Perspectives,” and “How to Live Authentically” (Japanese).
SPECIAL EVENTS AND DONATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Thank you, Ambassadors Anouk Prop (the Netherlands), Haider (Japan), Hindy Meredith (Florida), Kay Epple (Michigan), Michelle El Khoury (Pennsylvania), Pete Guinosso (California) with Meaghan McElroen, Stella Han (California) and new supporter Nicky Gavin (Spain), as well as Kendy Viazie (Seva Trip Participant) for raising donations, hosting events, and fundraisers. Lastly, thank you Edward Chow (Hong Kong) for a very generous donation from a portion of his Teacher Training Program with Angel Kwok.
India ranks 127th among 135 countries for the gender gap index. In our 17th year, we are now empowering almost 3000 underserved women and children with our micro-loan and education programs. Your commitment to our mission is truly changing lives.
GRATEFUL FOR THE YGB EVENT PARTICIPANTS WHO HELPED US
CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH INSPIRING DIALOGUES
The Yoga Sutra from Women’s Perspectives with Nischala Joi Devi & Tara Mitra |
Can Yoga Inspire Inclusion? & Sound Healing for Beginners with Joseph Armstrong, Michelle El Khoury, Nadine McNeil, Pranidhi Varshney, Tamika Caston-Miler and Harmony Slater |
How to Live Authentically? (Japanese only) with Michiko Minegishi, Kiyomi Takahashi, Chie Omori, Mayumi Fujita, Heeki Park, and Masumi Chakrama |
Seva: Bhagavad Gita from Women’s Perspectives with Deepa Chemery, Devorah Sacksm, Gopi Ona Ludig, and Jeanne Heileman |