Originating from Lisboa, Portugal, Rita worked in international relations at the Ministers Council of the Prime Minister’s office of Portugal, where she was developing bilateral and international relations through the coordination of meetings, conferences, and negotiations. 

Rita interned for Maximising Employment to Serve the Handicapped (MESH), an NGO based in New Delhi, India. MESH acts as a coordinating agency for the production and marketing of goods produced by handicapped artisanal groups throughout India, giving them a sustainable income that replaces their need to beg. Rita worked with women in producer groups in order to develop a gender policy, used to ensure that they meet appropriate standards of gender equity, quality, and worldwide Fair Trade requirements. Through conducting MESH workshops with women suffering from leprosy, Rita was able to develop a closeness whereby she could not only understand the issues that the women were facing but to share in their difficulties. Now, she says, she can no longer look at India as just a country; instead, she sees the local women, their colorful saris, their smiles, and flowers in their hair, facing and overcoming issues of poverty and the difficulties of daily life.

The internship with MESH has opened Rita’s eyes to the issues facing women in rural areas of India and to the NGO field in developing countries. 

People with disabilities face multiple challenges on a daily basis. Due to social stigma around the world, many of these people are kept isolated; when they are integrated, we see their abilities shine through. Developing their capacity, positive thinking, and hope for a brighter future is key. The women of MESH weave their dreams; they become designers of their own futures. Their ability to then generate a sustainable income empowers them to dream even bigger.

 

 

BACK TO ALL STORIES