As I write the March newsletter, I am enjoying a hot cup of tea in the upstairs waiting area of Allure Spa which overlooks Quincy Center. I inspect the bustle and noise of the city below me. As I look down at my tea, I notice an inspirational quote located on the stem of my tea bag string. It says "Our thoughts are forming the world." This quote guides my ideas for the newsletter, as it relates to the amazing journey I have been a part of with the Friends of the World Charitable Trust. I identify with this particular quote and I cannot express enough of my excitement that I have to be able to share a beautiful story with you.
The beautiful story starts out on February 8 at 4:00 a.m. at Boston Logan Airport as the temperature struggled to gain a balmy 19 degrees. It was indeed the calm before the storm. It was hours before the Blizzard of 2013 that swept through New England, and left many without power and shelter.
I was dropped off at Terminal C, alongside Susan Cananvan, owner of Aura Salon and the gift I have been blessed with from Allure Spa, Molly Coyle. The three of us traveling are all Trustee members of Friends of the World Charitable Trust. This was our third trip to Bangladesh, relating to our commitment in training young impoverished young women by teaching through the vocation of cosmetology. Throughout the first and second trip we conducted a six week training program of cosmetology for the young women and helped enroll the young women into accelerated training within their capital city, Dhaka. This third trip's purpose was to observe The International Salon and Spa as a business and to facilitate financial management and other business skills for the women.
The first of the three flights was our shortest lag flying us to JFK, New York Airport. At this time it was just shy of 8:00 in the morning as we landed and we observed the first of the storm resulting in the high wind that was throwing ice crystals in the air. I felt that Susan was getting very nervous that we would not make our second flight to the Dubai Airport due to the inclement weather conditions. After the turbulence we just experienced from our first flight, she leaned over and whispered to me, "Do we have insurance on any of our flights Sandra?" I responded while giggling and also reassuring her, "We are doing God's work, you have to have Faith."
We were the last flight to make it out of JFK airport for the following two days that they closed as a result of the blizzard. Approximately 48 hours, two Emirates planes, and one painfully exhausting 8 hour bus ride, we finally reached our final destination at The Christian Service Station (C.S.S.). The C.S.S. has been the only hotel we call our home on all of our travels to Khulna, Bangladesh.
The first day we arrived, we were too tired to unpack. Before retiring that evening, we dragged down to the cafeteria for dinner. On the stair case we heard this little benevolent voice. "Sandra. Are any of you Sandra?" I looked up and saw this beautiful, young American draped in Bangladeshi attire. I smiled and responded,"I am Sandra."
Her name was Maggie. Maggie was from California and was a former cosmetologist in the U.S. She collaborated with Troy Anderson in California who is the founder of Speak Up For the Poor organization. She currently teaches English to children in an orphanage in Khulna that Troy assists by providing educational opportunities for young women. In our first conversation on the staircase, I was trying to absorb so much information about her. All I could focus on were my thoughts of how she is truly an angel that was placed in our paths deliberately. She was a blessing throughout our trip and is currently supervising the business at the International Salon and Spa.
The members of Friends of the World Charitable Trust were not able to be there when The International Salon and Spa established their business in October, 2012 as a result of political turmoil that erupted. This trip enabled us to walk through the doors of The International Salon and Spa and see how the operation functioned. Fortunately, Milton, General Manager of the C.S.S. Center has helped supervise the project throughout the months we weren't able to monitor the business. I know I could speak for Susan and Molly, that we were overwhelmed by witnessing the tangible business for the first time. We were so proud and fulfilled with how the project approached its completion.
The two young adults, China and Maria, who are employed at the International Salon and Spa have been with FOTWCT since the start of our six week training program in September 2011. We were pleased to observe their work within their business. Each haircut service costs $1.88. We stressed the importance of acquiring more clients, and to be able to reach a profit that would progress to a self-sustaining business. We discussed having a Grand Re-Opening for the business and suggested we offer complimentary services to family, friends and neighbors.
The day before our Grand Re-Opening party, we went out into the local community and invited everyone to enjoy a complimentary service. It was a huge success and widely received by the community as a whole. We counted 80 people who were able to attend our event. Susan, Molly, Maggie and I had no choice but to put on our lab coats and smocks and jump in and start servicing clients. Molly mentioned that it was as busy as a Saturday during wedding season at Allure Spa, if you can imagine that!
There was a mother and daughter carrying grocery bags that entered the business. The mother stated that she didn't have the money for any hair service because she was a "house wife." I reminded her that she was a "house engineer" and she deserved to have a complimentary color, cut and facial service. It is so true that it is such a universal concept that people want to feel needed, loved and touched.
China and Maria learned so much about the potential that their salon and spa has. We spent every day thereafter training the employees of the International Salon and Spa all of the tools they will need to become a successful business. Their ability, talent and their knowledge have made our team very proud.
I am sitting here reflecting on how this trip has personally affected me. Many years ago I traveled to Bangladesh for my first time with The First Presbyterian Church. We were called to look for ways to help these impoverished people. My heart has always been so connected to the land. I am a native to Trinidad, but my relatives, are known to be from a region in India. My great great grandparents labored in the rice patty fields in this region of the world. They made many sacrifices and were laborers that migrated to Trinadad. As a young child, I remember the summers that I was invited to spend with my grandparents. They also worked in the rice fields and we had so much fun playing and running up and down the fields. Often times I am very overwhelmed with emotion when I travel to Bangladesh. I see many generations of my family's faces in the natives in Bangladesh and throughout that region of the world.
I cannot express how blessed I truly am in terms of this chance I have been given to improve the lives of others, the amazing connections I have built, the people I have traveled and bonded with, and the future that holds so much opportunity for me.
The number one question I have received from my staff and clients have been, "Is this your last trip to Bangladesh?" This project was completed by the birth of the International Salon and Spa. However, I do believe there is a new chapter that has opened up for so many by continuing to love, care and to help others.
Our thoughts are forming the world...
