Day 7: The end is the beginning
Our final day in India was one of reflection, learning, and deep conversations.
We visited the headquarters of MYRADA to create a Journey Map—a visual representation of our learning throughout this experience. The goal wasn’t to come up with concrete action points just yet, but rather to capture insights and begin to explore how this learning applies to our Scottish context.
A key conundrum stood out: Back home, we have many people in our community that don’t belong to a Small, Powerful Group (SPG). The groups here in India typically have 10-15 members, whereas our groups in Scotland tend to be smaller—between 3 and 6 members.
So we asked ourselves:
What have we picked up from this experience?
What’s missing back home?
Based on what we’ve seen and what we know is missing, what should be the key features of an SPG in Scotland?
Just as we were exploring these questions, we had the incredible privilege of meeting Aloysious Fernandez, the founder of the SHG movement in India.
His words were powerful:
Be an actionist, not just an activist.
Work for the community, not the donor.
More Crop per Drop—maximize impact with intention.
Do something systematically and with purpose.
Listen first.
Affinity makes it sustainable.
This wisdom left us with a sense of responsibility. We aren’t just bringing back ideas—we’re bringing back a way of thinking, of working, and of being.
This isn’t the end. It’s just the start of something powerful.
Holding onto what is essential
By Harvie:
India was an incredibly authentic experience that sparked a massive transformation in my mindset, values, and appreciation for the world.
Now, on our final day, I don’t want to go home yet. India has been so welcoming—the hospitality, the food, everything was 100%.
Throughout our journey, the movement within us deepened. It was raw, authentic, and profoundly transformative.
On Day 6, when we arrived at the Vistha Organisation—wow! I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. The lush greenery, the incredible plants with immense health benefits—it felt like Mother Earth herself was embracing us.
One of the most powerful moments was practicing Ascending and Descending with David. It was deeply healing, spiritual, and left a lasting impact on me.
Now, it’s time to bring this integral strength back home—the inspiration from the women in SHGs, their affinity, and their sustainable way of working. Their model holds something essential for us in Scotland.
I definitely want to come back—this is just the beginning of the journey!
