This February, I had the opportunity to visit our partners in India for the first time, together with Roberta, our Product Development Specialist. It was an eye-opening experience to step away from my desk in Amsterdam and witness the difference we’re making through our social impact projects and to see the heart of our production in Kolkata.

At O My Bag, our mission is about much more than crafting beautiful bags—we’re committed to creating lasting change. During our visit, we saw how our partnerships empower women, improve working conditions, and support the education of children. In this blog, I share more about what we experienced and how our mission came to life.

Every year, O My Bag donates 1% of our revenue to different social initiatives. One of the most inspiring aspects of our visit was meeting the women and children whose lives have been transformed by these initiatives, as well as the dedicated people behind these projects. Experiencing their unwavering commitment to helping others was deeply moving. Their work is far from easy as they face harsh and unjust situations. However, despite the challenges, there are small wins and bright moments along the way.

Our first stop was visiting the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre (KMWSC) - an organisation that runs projects on Education, Women and Child Protection and Community Development. Currently we are involved in supporting three of their on-going projects:

O My Bag sponsors skills training for women in tailoring and beauty services to help them gain financial independence. During our trip, we met a graduate from the tailoring course who proudly told us she is now able to support her family by selling handmade clothing. We also spoke to a young beautician who had just started the course but already felt confident enough to do bridal makeup for her first client. She even teamed up with a classmate who is training to be a nail technician for another wedding. Seeing these women collaborate and thrive was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.

In India, sanitary pads are costly, and menstrual education is scarce, leaving many women resorting to using cloth instead. One impactful initiative of KMWSC, which we support, is their production of organic sanitary pads, which are distributed to communities in need. Alongside this, they also provide menstrual hygiene classes, led by men, in the hope of breaking taboos around the topic.

Through our recent Better Friday campaign, we were able to fund a year's worth of sanitary pads for 529 women working at our partner factories. The name of these pads stood out to us and holds a story that speaks to the heart. When women in Kolkata’s red-light district were asked by KMWSC when they felt happiest, they all answered: “during our period because it gives us a break from work.” This reality inspired the name of the sanitary pads: My Days, a small but significant step toward dignity and care.

Visiting the Brickfield Schools was an experience filled with mixed emotions. Seeing the incredible work that KMWSC is doing was inspiring, but the reality of why these schools are necessary is heartbreaking. Each year, families migrate from rural areas to the brickfields near Kolkata, working under harsh conditions for eight months. During this time, children do not receive any education. Since families are paid per brick, many children end up working alongside their parents—despite child labor being illegal. KMWSC is trying to change this by running 39 schools at different brickfields, five of which we support. Our donations help cover teacher salaries, provide school materials, offer healthcare check-ups, and serve daily meals to the children. Additionally, parents receive training on health, hygiene, child labor laws, and even child marriage.

Walking through the brickfield, we saw firsthand how these families live. The scale of the operation is staggering—there are around 5000 Brickfields and each site has a massive underground oven where bricks are baked 24/7 after being sun-dried. Each family has its own plot, producing around 100,000 bricks over eight months. It’s hard to comprehend.

In the middle of these fields are the Brickfield Schools, which now provide education for around 50 children in a single class. We sat in on some of the lessons, where kids aged 1-14 were divided into groups based on their age. The teachers do an incredible job covering subjects like Hindi, English, math, and reading. Beyond academics, they also teach personal hygiene—an essential lesson in these living conditions.

The teachers proudly showed us the attendance records of the children, and it was amazing to see that every child is showing up for school every day. This is a huge achievement, given that some parents still try to keep the younger kids working. However, KMWSC closely monitors them, and the most promising sign of change is that some children are choosing a different path as they grow older. Thanks to their education, they now have the opportunity to pursue careers beyond brick-making.

Our support also ensures that these children receive at least one nutritious meal per day. We met the man who delivers food to one of the schools by bike. That day’s meal included bananas and boiled eggs. Seeing this process in action made it all so real—every contribution we make directly impacts these children’s lives.

The Brickfield Schools Initiative

Our next visit was to Future Hope School, a place that provides education for vulnerable children. Since 2023, we’ve been working with Future Hope. Visiting the school was such a special experience. From down the street, we could already hear the cheerful sounds of children playing. As Roberta and I stepped inside, a group of curious children came running toward us, eager to give high-fives. We were given a tour by one of the students, played a game of volleyball with the kids, and sat down with the head of the organization to hear all about their work.

What’s truly inspiring is how every year, a team of about 100 staff members actively seek out the most at-risk children across Kolkata and surrounding rural areas, ensuring they get the opportunity to enroll in school.

In 2024, O My Bag funded 11 computers that students now use daily for their assignments. The woman who guided us through the school shared how much they’re learning from them, which was incredible to hear. Education is power, and we’re so happy that O My Bag can play a small part in their journey.

The trip was an unforgettable experience. Meeting so many kind and passionate people gave me a much deeper understanding of how things work in India and the difference we make with our projects. Looking back, I realize how much more there was to learn beyond what I knew before coming. It has strengthened my motivation even more to keep pushing O My Bag’s mission forward because the impact we create here is real.

Every bag we make tells a bigger story—one of craftsmanship, empowerment, and change. From the artisans who bring our designs to life to the women and children benefiting from our social initiatives, O My Bag is about so much more than fashion, and that’s something we’re very proud of.

Want to learn more about O My Bag’s journey? Interested in exchanging thoughts on ethical production or sustainability? Let’s connect!