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!
