While most celebs headed
to felicitation events, seminars or posted their views on Twitter on
International Woman's Day, there was one who went through dust and grind.
Actress and fashion philanthropist Evelyn Sharma joined some prominent women
leaders from different fields in an initiative to build homes for
underprivileged women.
The Yeh Jawaani Hai
Deewani actress who was last seen speaking at Donald Trump's National Prayer
Breakfast in Washington, drove down to the little city of Karjat adjoining the
Sahyadri Western Ghats near the banks of the River Ulhas in Maharashtra, to
participate in a house building activity arranged under the campaign ‘WOMEN
BUILD India’ by the Habitat for Humanity organization. Evelyn is the youth
ambassador for their 'Young Leaders BUILD' movement.
In Karjat, Evelyn
volunteered to build a home for Changuna Sarai who lives in Sarai Wadi with her
family. Changuna and her husband Suresh Sarai are agricultural labourers. With
their meager daily wages, they try to make ends meet. To add to their
difficulties is a lack of proper sanitation facilities for her three daughters
who are growing up.
Overjoyed with the
development, Changuna said, "My husband, my daughters and myself; we live
with our extended family. We are ten members in all and have been living in an
extremely small house. Our condition has affected the education of my
daughters. The new house is a dream come true for our family. Now we won't have
to worry about a roof over our daughters heads."
'WOMEN BUILD India' is a
part of Habitat for Humanity's strategy that aims to achieve holistic community
development with shelter and sanitation at its core. Its objective is to make
‘Housing for All’ and ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ a reality by 2020.
"It is encouraging
to see how the Government of India is addressing these needs through various
campaigns. As women leaders from different fields, we must play a part. This
was one of the best days of my life," quipped Evelyn who is also the
founder and managing director of Seams For Dreams Charity Foundation. Attagirl!
