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(Photo courtesy of Friends of Basha)

Reflections from my experience visiting a Brothel in Bangladesh

As impossible as it is for me to believe now, earlier in 2020 I flew around the world. The primary objective was to visit Bangladesh and see, in person, the life-changing work in which dignify has had the privilege to participate over these past 8 years.

A friend recently asked on Facebook for “the most challenging and enlightening resource you have read/watched about the problem of racism in America”. This question received numerous responses within the day: half a dozen films, dozens of books, podcasts, courses, and other hubs of information resources (as well as the astute reply, “Conversation”, which is, of course, the most relational and human of “resources”).

I think that this experience was shared by most people in early June (as protests & concerns over racial injustice had reached a critical volume): so many resources, so much to learn.

But now, 2 months later… what have we done with the magnitude of worthy, fascinating, perspective-altering information & insights that have been brought to our attention? 

And this it only in the area racial injustice. In other interests & concerns: How much do we know? How much have we learned & read & listened to already?

Approximately 25 years ago (in March 2020), we did a customer/reader survey. I asked what you like to read on the blog & one of the respondents suggested a post on "living generously". What a fabulous idea and perfect for this time in history!

[The title of this post implies some kind of authority or expertise — ha! Nope, no experts here... just some thoughts on generosity from a fellow human, trying to make my way!]

A few weeks ago, I bumped into another grade 1 parent at the park, an acquaintance I knew from school events. As we chatted about our strange time since mid-March (working from home; restless but resilient kids; he hadn’t stepped foot in a store for 3 months...), he made an interesting remark:

We’ve looked at our bank account at the end of each month and thought, “what were we spending all that money on?!”

A few stories, as I parse through the complexities of privilege & justice…

Growing Up Together

When I was in Bangladesh, we visited a village outside of Jashore (a city in which Basha has a production centre, where I visited a brothel) to call on some homes of women who sew blankets for Basha. 

We spent time visiting in Dhomina’s relatively large home. The space had been expanded to include a separate cooking space — built upon because of the income she earned making kantha for Basha, for us. Amazing!

I've shared my favourite reads in the past, and today I'm sharing some faves to cook.

This is not a cooking blog (obviously) and I haven't styled any plates or hired any food photographers. I am no expert, but I do cook great food. This assertion is not self-congratulatory! I have little (no) inherent skill and I attribute all of my good cooking to 1) other people's excellent recipes, 2) access to fresh, reliable, & varied food, and 3) time (ie. the time I currently have currently to cook AND the many years of practice).

What is happening with dignify?

How are the women in Bangladesh doing?

What impact has the coronavirus pandemic had on what you're doing?

These are all questions I have received over the last two months, so here are some updates.

It's too early to know, or comment on, the economic fallout from COVID-19.

Part of what I have personally found overwhelming is the cacophony of varied economic experiences:

Many people are jobless, have had income interrupted, or lost big in the market; others are flush with cash that they would have otherwise spent on restaurants, gym memberships, commuting, and travel. Some businesses and restaurants are shuttered or declaring bankruptcy; while trampolines, puzzles, & Peletons are back-ordered and meal-prep services can't keep up.

One truth that is indisputable: the economy local to our area is immensely valuable.

When the novel coronavirus COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, shopping habits changed dramatically and immediately. 

One of the headlines that made me cringe was something like “Amazon hires 100,000 new employees”. As many of my local businesses were closing for a week (and then, indefinitely), it grieved me that Amazon — the business with already so much of the market share, so much in the bank, the richest man in the world in charge, and which would surely fire everyone as soon as they weren't needed — would grow even more.

But, I also didn’t begrudge anyone from shopping there, either! Where do you buy educational workbooks or board games and the odds & ends you need when you are suddenly housebound?!

Dignify has grown over many years and stages, but much of it was built in the margin time of my life when my husband was working full time and I was caring full-time for a 2 & 3-year old. 

Isaac Newton worked on the early foundations of calculus & gravity during his isolation “annus mirabilis” (amazing year).

Do you need to start a side business or become a math whiz if you have any downtime? No! 

But, binge-watching wears out after a while... and there is absolutely a middle zone of creative, constructive ways 

In my recent reader survey, one reader shared this (remarkably prescient) comment:

“The world moves too quickly now and we are expected to keep the pace but in my opinion it is far from healthy and we need to realize that.” 

Here I am, in my home office, typing at my computer, surrounded by kantha blankets. This is nothing new; in fact, my work situation (and my husband, Wayne’s) is, on its best & most productive days, remarkably resemblant to “social isolation” or  “social distancing”. Some weeks (most weeks?), I barely leave my neighborhood.

But there's a difference...

Where does my kantha blanket come from?

I’ve written plenty about Bangladesh and how our blankets are made, and also some behind-the-scenes from the arrival of our shipments.

But, today, let’s join the journey with one kantha blanket, to give you a glimpse of the travels it takes from creation to enjoyment in your living room!