First Restorative Justice Retreat!
Basking in the energy from Gandhi 3.0 behind at Sughad, we just concluded a 3 day "Restorative Justice" retreat. It featured a wide-range of NGO founders, researchers, policy makers, lawyers and state advisors!
What began as a gathering with room full of people behind their designations, degrees and organizations ended as a room full of people who called each other their family!
The moment people stepped into Sughad, they were moved by the place, by Jayesh Bhai’s talk on day 2, by all the little things this place has taught us to do -- writing letters, tagging, welcoming, prayer.
For once these people, who are typically in such frenetic pace, were made to slow down, drop the work load and just soak in the place! People just melted, and at many different points, they started crying! One lawyer who works with prisoners on death row said, "Before making an argument for cases and human rights, we are always worried what will the child rights people say (since most of the inmates are on death row because of child abuse or sexual harms) but today I am walking back feeling like we are all one and that that’s not the case!"
I am writing this on my phone and in the spur of the moment! Working on the blog soon. But I wanted to particularly share about what’s emerging ...
Everyone is super charged to work from the heart, to slow down and to plant the seeds. To see the human in people and to be in this work for the long haul!
We have been thinking of a newsletter like justice + transformation -- with the idea to share stories of transformation from the field, particularly from behind the bars.
Also, an Awakin call type format specifically related to RJ! Maybe even Zoom Calls. Or Laddership style peer learning curriculums. Maybe a retreat every six months.
Basically lots of inspiration, lots of transformation and lots of cross pollination. For example, UNICEF Gujarat wants to support Trupti’s work in the women’s home and also invite her to work in the observation home in Baroda.
To be honest, going into this, I was really nervous -- but one thing I clearly said to myself, "There's nothing in it for me, so just serve without seeking any outcomes. Just offer fully whatever you can."
Meghna, Jigu, Arnie, Suhasini and Trupti were the invisible siblings in service who moved everyone with their love! Cannot thank them, and all of you, for laddering me so beautifully for so long!
With deep gratitude ...
Posted by Sachi Maniar on Feb 8, 2018 | permalink
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Trupti Pandya wrote ...
+ 1 to Meghana di. To pull of 20 people from the government systems, policy makers, grass root workers from all over the country in no time shows the one to one ties that Sachi has built through her hard work. Thank you for giving all of us the opportunity to deep dive into something that you really feel passionate about.
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Suchitra Shenoy wrote ...
Wonderful to read this, Sachi!
So glad that you wrote it out soon so we could all share in the immediacy of the retreat and its effects.
Thank you (deeply), for all that you do. -
Nisha Srinivasan wrote ...
The smiles say it all..Happy to see such friendships blossom.
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Ashima Goyal wrote ...
wow!!! +1 to everyone :-) Thank you for sharing all this bubbling up excitement!
Meghna Banker wrote ...
Having witnessed a few glimpses of this experience 'Live' I can totally vouch on the excitement that Sachi has shared. To bring together all these folks and connect hearts - was not easy. To even create a space for them to open up and go deeper - together - was equally unimaginable. Sonya and Sachi you guys are amazing and your dedication and commitment to serve in these spaces is quite inspirational. Thank you for all that you do - my ears are ringing strong on hearing another retreat and a newsletter and the offline opportunities and the transformation and the zoom calls and the laddership circles :)))) Smiling so wide!!