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"Driving a car makes me feel strong and powerful!"

How a south Indian village girl became empowered.

On the south Indian Coromandel coast most people are dedicated to fishing. Life is very traditional and for young girls it is often hard to find their own way and shape their own lives. Amala, 17 years old, is participating in a Women without Borders driving training programme. Together with others she has learned to drive a 3-wheeler. Read about Amala´s life - her problems, her wishes and fears.

"I will be married quite soon. My parents are already looking for a husband for me, somebody from Chennai will come next week to see me. They are trying to find a man with whom I should stay all my life. I like my life here, but my parents want to change it for me.
My whole family is working on fishing - the man are going to the sea, the women are selling the fish at the market.
I would feel better if they would do another work. After the Tsunami life is not any more the same for us, it changed a lot and we need an alternative. We never know what will happen next. We are all suffering from economical problems. It often happens that there is no catch and then we have the problem to get our food, our rice to eat. In such times we have to pledge our jewellery to get some money."

Amala has to do a lot of housework. Compared to the boys, she doesn't feel free at all: "My parents don´t let me go out like I want to, because I am a girl. Boys don´t have problems with this, they can do what they want."

Although life is not easy, she isn't giving up her dreams: "I am looking forward to being independent one day, I hope that I will have a nice man who is listening to what I say, I want to be the chief. Now I have to do what my parents say, I always have to listen to them and can not take decisions on my own. This should change when I have my own family. I want to have the say."

The driving training was a great opportunity for her: "Learning how to drive is giving me a lot. I feel very strong and powerful when I am sitting in the car. It was hard work to convince my parents to let me participate in the driving training. We had several talks, but in the end I got their "yes" - I am so lucky."

Amala has a very clear picture of her future: ""I want to be self-responsible. I want to have my own work and earn my own money. I want to become an independent person. I would like to have a change in my life and going to another place, living in another city would be great.
My biggest dream is to build up my own company. Maybe a tailoring company with 4 or 5 tailoring machines where I can employ 4 to 6 people."";

Through Girls without Borders Amala can share her dreams and discuss her thoughts - JOIN IN TOO!!

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