Jiwinka Nari Kalyaan Sewa Foundation

At Jiwinka Nari Kalyaan Sewa Foundation, we are based in Chorman village, which falls under the Bhagwanpur Hat block in Siwan. The address is technically Vill-Chorman, Tola-Chorman, in the Panch-Mahamada area. It is one of those places where everyone knows everyone else’s business, so we don’t really need a map to find people. Our office is a simple room where we gather to talk about what the local women need. The walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, and the floor is just plain cement that stays cool in the heat. We spend a lot of time sitting on plastic chairs or sometimes just on mats if there are a lot of us. Siwan can be a tough place to get around during the rainy season, but we manage. There is a big tree near the entrance that gives some nice shade in the afternoons. We don’t have fancy computers or a lot of high-tech stuff. It is mostly just notebooks and pens and a lot of talking. People from the neighboring tolas come by often to share their news or ask for advice on small things. It feels like a second home to most of us who work here. We just take things one day at a time and try to keep the work going despite the occasional power cuts that happen around this part of Bihar.