Open Acceptance and its Effect on Products
Dear Women Workers of Ubuntu,
Your intimacy startled me. When I first came to Ubuntu two weeks ago and met you, you took my hands between yours, smiled and hugged me, and asked me my name in a manner that suggested you were merely asking me to remind you of who I was, and that we had met sometime before. I thought your kind words and warm gestures were a consequence of your hospitality towards strangers, but as the days passed by, and you maintained constant concern over whether I had eaten and fussed over my growing collection of mosquito bites, I realized the genuine nature of your care.
Your children are the same way: they crowd around me and kiss my face, hold my hands, and laugh uncontrollably as I clumsily regurgitate the few words of Kannada I’ve learned (utu, food. Aitu, I’ve eaten. Anni, elephant...excuse my spelling).
It is your openness to new things that translates to the quality of your products. As my fellow interns have mentioned, you sometimes have trouble maintaining a level of consistency when printing on the bags. However, when we point out some mistakes, you laugh a little bashfully, looked slightly embarrassed by our directions, then actively realign the stencil, and double check your handiwork. I have to be honest- sometimes the idea of “quality control” takes more than a few simple gestures to convey: I took to sitting on the floor near the printed bags, and using a makeshift paintbrush to correct some small stenciling mistakes to show you the attention required to produce a quality and uniform set of bags. Your open receptiveness to my exaggerated miming (if only I could speak Kannada!) has definitely made you quick learners, and has also made me a better communicator. Because you accepted me with open arms (literally), I don’t feel awkward about pulling out a faulty bag, and pointing out a paint smear or a crooked line, because I know that in the next moment, you will pull me over to the stack of fabric, and pat my head as I try to help you cut a straight line. Your candid affection creates a satisfying work atmosphere between us, as well as among yourselves. It’s the kind of contentment that generates better products and fulfilled and confident workers.
Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday,
Lily
