Beginnings

In 2004, an Australian ex-Buddhist monk, Chittapala, was on pilgrimage in North India at a place called Bodhgaya, site of the famous Bodhi Tree under which Buddha is said to have realised Enlightenment. Whilst there, he met a seven year old girl begging outside the main temple. This child came from an extremely poor family and had never been to school. Chittapala was deeply moved by her plight and wanted to offer her an education. After discussions with her family, he was able to enrol her as a boarding student in a small local school.

When Chittapala returned to Bodhgaya in 2005, the little girl had settled into her new environment and was doing well in her studies. Western friends of Chittapala were inspired by this story and many of them have similarly begun sponsoring children from poor families in Bodhgaya. None of this would have been possible without the help of Chittapala’s friend, Shahab, who facilitates enrolments and takes care of the sponsored children’s daily needs. Shahab is a school teacher who is committed to helping poor families in the Bodhgaya area. He is very well respected by his local community.

Becoming More Involved

Bodhgaya is in the state of Bihar, which is said to be one of the most impoverished and undeveloped states in India. It is poorly governed and infrastructure is deficient in all ways – for example, the literacy rate is just forty seven percent. It is hard for children from poor families to obtain an education. In Bihar, child marriage is practised amongst the lower castes and many poor lower caste girls remain illiterate and enter marriage as young as thirteen. Sometimes, by the age of eighteen, they will have three children. If they do obtain employment, it will be menial work and they will not be paid the same rate as men.

It was for these reasons that Chittapala and Shahab both had a strong wish to establish a free vocational centre in Bodhgaya, especially for girls and women. Such a centre would give women a means of independent livelihood and help alleviate conditions of poverty within their families. Shahab suggested that subjects such as sewing, typing, handicrafts, herb cultivation and beauty treatment could be taught. In 2007, Chittapala wrote to friends mentioning this idea of a vocational centre. Several responded that they would like to be involved in such a project. It was then possible to cost a sewing centre to be opened on a minimal basis. In order to facilitate this and other future projects in Bodhgaya, Shahab established an association called Elsa Charitable Trust Bodhgaya India.

Kusala Sewing Centre

On 1st January 2008 Kusala Sewing Centre Bodhgaya began its first six month course in rented premises with one teacher and three sewing machines. Seventy women and girls applied for this first course, but only thirty could be accepted. Support for the sewing centre quickly grew, and by March it was possible to hire another teacher and purchase three additional sewing machines. Now in early 2009, a third course is in progress. An embroidery course has been introduced and two embroidery machines have been purchased.

Until July 2008, the supporters of Kusala Sewing Centre had been a loosely knit group of like-minded people. However, as the scope of our activities was quickly growing, we came together at a meeting in Townsville, Queensland, July 2008, to resolve to incorporate as an association. The name of our incorporated association is Kusala Projects Inc. As of November 2008, we have become registered as a charity in Australia. Funding for Kusala Sewing Centre has come from friends and associates in Australia, England, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore.