FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
My country doesn’t have a litter problem, how can I connect Small Steps to my community?
Your country might not have visible litter and trash on the streets and sidewalks, but waste management is an international problem. In many ways, we in India are fortunate to have this issue shoved in our faces on a daily basis; it forces us to recognize what we are doing and take action against it. Your country may have recycle bins and services that everyone actively participates in—but do you know what happens after your trash leaves your street? Research waste management in your country and communitiy. You may find that your district only recycles certain products, or that your neighbours aren’t as vigilant as you might think, or that your city’s waste is being shipped to third world countries—like India. Regardless of what issues you come up with, remember that we all share this planet. The air we breathe and the water we drink is communal, even on an international scale.
How are the bags produced?
When Upasana contacts a village to produce Small Steps bags, we ask for women who want a job and are willing to learn a process. After recruiting interested women, we hold a one-week training workshop to teach them how to make the bags. The bag is designed so that it doesn’t produce any scraps or waste products, and it can be easily assembled. After learning how to effectively make the bags, the women are then given a loan through the Small Steps microfinance program. This loan allows them to purchase a sewing machine. Small Steps provides them with pre-assembled kits with the materials to make 50 bags. They create the bags at their own convenience and once they are assembled, they drop them off, and receive payment and a new kit. There are no deadlines and the women are free to work wherever and whenever they like, and pay off their loan in their own time. By initiating a system of economic sustainability, the project provides women with a sense of empowerment and control over the finances which few of them have ever had.
What is microfinance and how does it work?
Upon completion of Small Steps training, each woman receives a loan of Rs 5,000 from the Small Steps microfinance fund. This loan allows her to purchase a sewing machine, and the Small Steps program and training gives her the means to pay it back. This system not only gives rural women the skills to maintain a livelihood, but also the tools. As each loan is repaid to Small Steps, it is recycled. The money goes directly back into the microfinance fund, and it is used for another woman in another village, continuing the cycle of independent livelihood and economic sustainability.
What is the Gift Economy?
Upasana does not sell these bags in the conventional sense. Instead, they are distributed within what has come to be known as the “gift economy.” This does not mean that the bags are free, although you may take one without payment if you cannot afford to purchase one or you are not inclined to contribute. It means that you are asked to assess the value of sustaining this program, and to pay as you wish, so that others may enjoy that which you have been given. If you believe that the bag has value – as a utilitarian item, as a symbol of environmental responsibility, or as a tool of community awareness – you have the opportunity to support this initiative and help it grow. For example, you can cover not only the cost of the bag you receive, but also the cost of producing and distributing one or more other bags, which will end up in the hands of those who cannot otherwise afford them. Those bags will be a gift – your gift – and will keep the movement going and growing.
Who is making a profit from this?
Small Steps shopping bags are not intended for profit. They are, however, intended to be socially sustainable. Right now the project operates on a no-profit/no-loss system. Each bag is produced and sold in retail spaces for Rs 99, which is equivalent to $2 or 1.50 euros. Thus, only the production of the bag is covered and no profit is made. Though we often encourage donations of $5 or 3 euros per bag, this is done to sponsor the production of a bag for village schools and communities. The goal of this project is truly to spread the message, and great pains have been taken to ensure that this initiative operates under completely ethical circumstances.
How can I get bags to distribute?
Send us an email at smallsteps@auroville.org.in. Again, for large orders or overseas shipments, please give us advance notice and adequate time to process your request.
Is it “green” to get bags shipped to my country?
To reduce costs and carbon emissions, we generally try and send bags with people who are traveling abroad from Auroville. If you happen to be in or near our studio, or know someone traveling here, we recommend taking a large number of bags with you or arrange for them to reach you in this way. If, however, you would like a shipment and this option isn’t possible, contact us in advance and we can ship them to you at the minimum cost and the least environmental impact. If you are requesting the bags from overseas, please give us adequate time and notice of when you will need them.