Hannelore
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Philippe and Mathilde's Economic Mission to India; March 12-17, 2005
- Thread starter Cathérine Bergeyck
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Wow - great pictures you've found Hannelore, thank you very much for posting them 
. I was beginning to think that there hadn't been a gala dinner since there weren't any pictures, but I'm really glad you were able to find some and what sweet gala dinner pictures they are .
Also thanks to everyone else who's posted pictures earlier.
. I was beginning to think that there hadn't been a gala dinner since there weren't any pictures, but I'm really glad you were able to find some and what sweet gala dinner pictures they are . Also thanks to everyone else who's posted pictures earlier
.
Hannelore
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You're both very welcome !
The pictures of Mathilde in gala were at the evening of the fashion show (with clothes of Pierre Gauthier and diamonds from Antwerp), followed by a dinner. I saw images of it on tv, and Filip & Mathilde held hands all through the fashion show...
The pictures of Mathilde in gala were at the evening of the fashion show (with clothes of Pierre Gauthier and diamonds from Antwerp), followed by a dinner. I saw images of it on tv, and Filip & Mathilde held hands all through the fashion show...
Hannelore
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Hannelore
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Hannelore
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Hannelore
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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] princess lives out their fairy tale[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Six domestic workers talk to Belgium’s Princess Mathilde. And hope the world is listening[/font]Express News Service[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mumbai, March 17:[/font] [font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]THE dabbawallahs did it. Now, it’s the turn of the city’s domestic workers. On Thursday morning, six pairs of blistered palms folded in hopeful namastes when the Princess of Belgium, Mathilde glides into the office of the Bombay Houseworkers Solidarity, in a nonplussed Mazgaon apartment complex.
In that instant, the six maidservants—three of them children, aged 10 to 14—pitchfork to global recognition the vexations of a workforce that slaves quietly, without leave and for much less than the prescribed minimum wages— in millions of households across Mumbai
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But for those who shook hands with the princess, garlanded her and gave short declamations about their mundane daily routine, the brush with royalty was much more than a platform to find more listeners.
‘‘We met the rajkumari,’’ squealed Nisha Ante (11), who works in two households in Andheri. ‘‘She pinched my cheeks,’’ she continues in the same pitch, ‘‘when we sat next to her for a photograph.’’
Nisha, Geeta Ante (14) and Nayna Hingole (10) told the princess how much they earned and shook their heads guiltily when she asked if they attend school. ‘‘But I’ll remember this day all my life,’’ says Hingole. ‘‘She was a real queen, no?’’
Sandhya Adhavade (30), who did a course in social work and now moonlights as a bai while working as a field worker with the Bombay Houseworkers Solidarity, says they spoke of basic rights for domestic workers—holidays, pension, minimum wages and recognition as a large labour force.
‘‘Can’t believe it, no?’’ asks Stella Miranda (40), a native of Chhattisgarh living in a Bandra slum and working as a maid in a duplex bungalow nearby.
Their disbelief is apparent—hobnobbing with a “rajkumari” is usually reserved for fairy tales.
The princess actually enquired about their household chores, and besides, her highness is far too svelte to be a mother of two.
For Alpana Gujjar (35), the high point was the welcome. ‘‘I garlanded her—the kids were too short to do it,’’ she beams.
In that instant, the six maidservants—three of them children, aged 10 to 14—pitchfork to global recognition the vexations of a workforce that slaves quietly, without leave and for much less than the prescribed minimum wages— in millions of households across Mumbai
[/font]
But for those who shook hands with the princess, garlanded her and gave short declamations about their mundane daily routine, the brush with royalty was much more than a platform to find more listeners.
‘‘We met the rajkumari,’’ squealed Nisha Ante (11), who works in two households in Andheri. ‘‘She pinched my cheeks,’’ she continues in the same pitch, ‘‘when we sat next to her for a photograph.’’
Nisha, Geeta Ante (14) and Nayna Hingole (10) told the princess how much they earned and shook their heads guiltily when she asked if they attend school. ‘‘But I’ll remember this day all my life,’’ says Hingole. ‘‘She was a real queen, no?’’
Sandhya Adhavade (30), who did a course in social work and now moonlights as a bai while working as a field worker with the Bombay Houseworkers Solidarity, says they spoke of basic rights for domestic workers—holidays, pension, minimum wages and recognition as a large labour force.
‘‘Can’t believe it, no?’’ asks Stella Miranda (40), a native of Chhattisgarh living in a Bandra slum and working as a maid in a duplex bungalow nearby.
Their disbelief is apparent—hobnobbing with a “rajkumari” is usually reserved for fairy tales.
The princess actually enquired about their household chores, and besides, her highness is far too svelte to be a mother of two.
For Alpana Gujjar (35), the high point was the welcome. ‘‘I garlanded her—the kids were too short to do it,’’ she beams.
Danielle
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Thank you Hannelore for the photos. Those children (in the article) must have been so honoured to meet Mathilde. I think it's really wonderful when royals not only visit the 'pretty' sights in countries, but see what life is like for people living there. Good on Mathilde!
Cathérine Bergeyck
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Cathérine Bergeyck
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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Princess Mathilde of Belgium in Mumbai, India this week
to see first-hand how microcredit works
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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Princess Mathilde of Belgium in Mumbai, India this week
to see first-hand how microcredit works
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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo: RUNIC[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]16 March 2005 – Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium will be in Mumbai, India this week to see first-hand how microcredit works and the role it plays in the lives of poor and low-income people. During her trip, Princess Mathilde is scheduled to visit Society for Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) in Mumbai on March 17. The Princess is visiting SPARC as an Emissary to the United Nation’s International Year of Microcredit, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of microcredit and microfinance in the eradication of poverty. SPARC is a non-profit organization that provides advocacy on behalf of poor communities and works to create innovative partnerships and linkages between communities of poor with professionals, community organizations and government agencies who wish to work with them.
Princess Mathilde has a special interest in working with vulnerable people, especially children and is an active and passionate supporter of the Year. “The Year of Microcredit highlights how women’s talents and innovations, together with access to credit and savings can give them the power to make long term investments in their families, communities and their children’s lives.” The Princess is looking forward to hearing about microfinance enterprises in Mumbai from SPARC’s staff and clients.
SPARC’s founder-director Sheila Patel, has been recognized by the prestigious Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. The foundation selects only the most accomplished social entrepreneurs to its network. Foundation Director Pamela Hartigan calls the entrepreneurs “pragmatic visionaries” who have been able to “combine innovation, resourcefulness opportunity, identifying new processes, services, products or unique ways of combining proven practice with innovation to address complex social problems.”
One of the primary aims of the Year is to increase public awareness about the reliability of microfinance clients, especially women, in repaying loans, managing household incomes, building assets and enterprises and contributing to the economy. Several innovative initiatives ranging from hard data collection on the state of microfinance to raising awareness through popular media about microcredit’s critical role in enabling people to move out of poverty are currently underway globally.
For more information about Princess Mathilde’s visit, please contact:[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
SPARC, Tel.: 2386 5053/ 2385 8785, e-mail:sparc@sparcindia.org
For more information on the Year, please contact: [/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Christina Barrineau, Tel.: (212) 906-6203, e-mail: christina.barrineau@undp.orgPrincess Mathilde has a special interest in working with vulnerable people, especially children and is an active and passionate supporter of the Year. “The Year of Microcredit highlights how women’s talents and innovations, together with access to credit and savings can give them the power to make long term investments in their families, communities and their children’s lives.” The Princess is looking forward to hearing about microfinance enterprises in Mumbai from SPARC’s staff and clients.
SPARC’s founder-director Sheila Patel, has been recognized by the prestigious Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. The foundation selects only the most accomplished social entrepreneurs to its network. Foundation Director Pamela Hartigan calls the entrepreneurs “pragmatic visionaries” who have been able to “combine innovation, resourcefulness opportunity, identifying new processes, services, products or unique ways of combining proven practice with innovation to address complex social problems.”
One of the primary aims of the Year is to increase public awareness about the reliability of microfinance clients, especially women, in repaying loans, managing household incomes, building assets and enterprises and contributing to the economy. Several innovative initiatives ranging from hard data collection on the state of microfinance to raising awareness through popular media about microcredit’s critical role in enabling people to move out of poverty are currently underway globally.
For more information about Princess Mathilde’s visit, please contact:[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
SPARC, Tel.: 2386 5053/ 2385 8785, e-mail:sparc@sparcindia.org
For more information on the Year, please contact: [/font]
or visit: www.yearofmicrocredit.org[/font]
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