It was both refreshing and inspiring for us to have the opportunity to work with such a dynamic group of young women in Trichy. Our experience teaching in Trichy reinforced the notion that art is unique in its ability to overcome language barriers and can be used as a tool to discuss important societal issues. By allowing these young women to express themselves and their feelings through art, we challenged them to think critically about the world around them.

When asked what they would change either about themselves, their communities, or the world around them, hearing their responses helped us to form a more comprehensive understanding of the various challenges they have overcome in their daily lives. For example, one young woman responded to a program designed to provide TVs to every household in villages throughout Tamil Nadu. She recommended to members of her community that instead of becoming dependent upon their newly acquired television set, they ought to become actively involved in their village in order uphold the unique fiber of their community. Overall, it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm these women expressed towards art making and the creative solutions they came up with to improve their communities.