Spirulina

Today I spent time learning about the Spirulina project. Spriulina is a dietary supplement that is provides nutrients and vitamins, which in turn increases energy and overall health. There is a guy here from America leading this project. He's been here for over a year and piloted giving Spirulina to the kids. They've seen marked growth compared to the control kids, in addition to resolution of anemia, weakness, and overall poor health. After this, Manav Sadhna has decided to make Spirulina into a project of its own. It smells strongly, which many kids have an aversion to, so it's mixed in with food or milk and given to the kids. It's now being given to the kids at two ashrams.

Today the doctor who started its cultivation and provides us with the supply came to visit from Jaipur. She is in her 70s, but truly inspirational. Once her kids settled down, she felt like she wanted to do something for others. So she went to a village far from the city. In this village, like any other, was poverty and need. The men were alcoholics, the women were beaten by them, and the kids were not sent to be educated. This doctor wanted to start a Spriulina farm there, but she made it so only women were able to work there as a way to empower them. She also sponsored a school for the kids to use. She works to market and sell the product, since the women don't have the freedom to leave the village.

We spent the day talking about adding more kids to the project and showing the doctor around Manav Sadhna so she knows what we do. It was very interesting to hear her background and her inspiration for her farm. The Spriulina farm has come full circle - it was started to empower women, and is now being given to undernourished children - that's a win-win for everyone!