A Window into the Inclusive Duniya of Toys
Today I start my 20th year in the workforce. This time of the year is always quite interesting for me, reminiscent of transitions, new beginnings and all the excitement and energy that comes with it. This has especially been the case the last few years, as I have made moves into areas I feel truly passionate about, one step at a time!
Today was the official launch of the @polesofinconvenience rally we are participating in as @desiwanderwomen. We drove ~4 hours over to Prague, getting lost along the way, and embarrassingly arriving at the campsite driving a short but scary distance on the wrong side of the road! Between that and having a car with an aircon, we earned a lot of boos from the other participants! All in good fun though..
Seeing all the cars and participants was exciting, a real energy to the evening! We did have to explain a lot that it was ok to have a (new) car, considering we had come all the way from India! And that we got given the car and shipping for being India’s first all women’s team. We are so gratefulfor all the support received, but I have always felt discomfort with the surprise / awe it inspires.. Should we really feel pride for doing something so many teams do because we are all women?!Just last month, the entire world came together to celebrate and honour the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community. But, this fight for equality goes beyond having a seat at the table; it encompasses a much deeper and more profound change.
July is celebrated as Disability Pride Month – a celebration where all disabilities and their intersecting identities are acknowledged, valued, and respected. The intersectionality of disabilities with other identities, such as race, gender, and sexuality, further emphasizes the need for inclusivity and recognition of diverse experiences within the disabled community.
The journey towards true inclusivity is a collective effort that requires open-mindedness, empathy, and a willingness to challenge our own assumptions. It is about recognizing that each person’s story is unique and presents an opportunity to learn. As the only women’s team to partake in this rally, I definitely have had to challenge my assumptions on what I can/cant do, and how I share our story too!
Sitting there amongst friends and strangers, all on the same quest via considerably different routes, I couldn’t help but find it analogous to the path we are on as a collective – different paths, same destination – an inclusive duniya perhaps?!