2025 Our Year in Review: Part 2

Looking back at 2025, what stands out most is the energy and joy woven through the Social Development programs. Every visit to the cooperatives reflects this—women engaged, connected, and smiling—and the programs themselves were vibrant, meaningful, and genuinely fun.

All Social Development programs are led by women from within the cooperatives. Each cooperative has three leaders, one for each program area: Darpan, focused on individual growth; Social Action, centered on change within their communities; and Armaan Club, dedicated to children’s development. These leaders meet monthly to plan and coordinate activities based on what the women in their groups want and need. The work involves significant organization, and through this process, leadership skills naturally develop.

• 92 newspaper meetings
• Yoga classes: 3229 women participated in 343 Yoga sessions

Some programs are ongoing favorites. Newspaper reading sessions are especially dynamic. Women bring articles—printed or digital—which are read aloud so everyone can participate. With no set agenda, conversations unfold organically and often in unexpected directions. Depending on production schedules, these meetings take place about 8–10 times a year.

Yoga sessions are held at workshops, in community spaces, or online, and participation is strong. Zumba classes, introduced recently, are quickly gaining momentum and tapping into a shared love of music and movement.

• 38 parent-focused meetings
• 36 leadership meetings

These programs support personal growth through team-building, conflict-resolution, and confidence-building workshops. This year included rich conversations around shared values—Respect, Development, Quality, Independence, and Joy—and how they play out in everyday life and work.

While cooperative workplaces offer flexibility and autonomy, they also depend on strong communication. Creating safe spaces for open dialogue allows leaders to emerge, strengthens collaboration, and helps build a more supportive and balanced workplace for everyone.

Another focus of the Social Development programs is parenting and parent–child relationships. The women want their children to finish school, succeed, and lead fulfilling lives, yet today’s environment is very different from how they grew up. With academic pressure, internet access, urban influences, and social risks, parenting feels complex. Regular parent-focused sessions explore understanding children, strengthening relationships, and balancing discipline with encouragement.

• Recycled: 378 kg (833 lbs) of recyclables collected
• Golden agers: 10 participants and 9 meetings

Having worked with the women for over 40 years, it’s only natural that some are now empty nesters. The Golden Agers group meets monthly with the therapist for sessions that invite sharing, laughter, and learning as they navigate this new stage of life. The gatherings are lighthearted and lively, filled with animated stories, games, and plenty of fun, while strengthening bonds among the women.

Social Action activities focus on environmental issues and the impact everyday choices have on the planet. One especially engaging session explored the environmental effects of common cleaning products and taught women how to make their own alternatives. The women were fascinated and quickly recognized the added economic benefits. An ongoing plastic bag collection program encourages each family to save used bags, which are picked up monthly by a recycling plant. Beyond reducing waste, the program has become a learning experience for their children and has even inspired some neighbors to join in.

Individual counseling sessions are also available with the on-staff therapist. While women may request sessions for themselves or their children, some feel hesitant to do so. Through observation during group meetings, the therapist or staff may suggest individual support when it could be helpful. Counseling is offered as a short series, typically three to twelve sessions.

• 79 One-on-One Child counseling session
• 257 One-on-One woman counseling sessions

Celebrations is a big part of the activities through the year.  Each cooperative celebrates all religious festivals, and all participate irrespective of their religion.  It is a true sign of acceptance and bonding.  Each group celebrated International Women’s day and many of the groups also celebrate individual artisan birthdays. 

Each year, one special celebration brings together women from all 11 cooperatives. In 2025, it was the Food Mela. Each group set up a stall and worked together to choose and cook a single dish. Women received coupons to “purchase” and sample dishes from other groups. Food has a way of bringing everyone together and cooking collectively—then tasting one another’s creations—made the day lively, joyful, and unforgettable.

Armaan Club activities focus on the overall development of each child, beginning with close monitoring of academic progress. The women Club leaders collect academic data for children in their cooperative, which is reviewed by a social worker to identify students who may be struggling. When needed, discussions are held with parents and sometimes teachers to understand underlying challenges.

Strong emphasis is also placed on vocational guidance, introducing different career paths, aptitude testing, effective study habits, and exam-taking skills.

Beyond academics, Armaan Club organizes fun, enriching activities during summer, Diwali, and December holidays—arts and crafts, sports, camps, and museum visits. The highlight is a week-long summer camp focused on confidence, curiosity, and learning through experience.  Dance classes every Saturday is very popular and is combined with a fun and engaging math class. 

All this work by the parents, children and staff resulted in:

• 7 Girls and 6 boys graduated 12^th  grade
• 5 Girls and 6 boys graduated 10^th grade
• 125 Armaan Club students (100% advanced to the next grade)