Kalbeliya World
A virtual gateway for female artist-entrepreneurs in India
Although the Kalbeliya community is nowadays praised for its epic performances throughout India and the world, they were historically marginalized. They are still facing barriers to living wages, access to resources, and inclusion.
Pre-COVID19, Kalbeliya women earned a low-income as stage performers and dance teachers to international tourists and are financially responsible for many extended family members.
During COVID19, all Kalbeliya artists were left with zero income, no-government support, and further isolation, creating more threats to the already challenged community.
In May 2020, Kalbeliya World was founded as an emergency support project. With only smartphones, often without wifi or electricity and no literacy, 12 Kalbeliya dancers pivoted online for the first time.
Vision
Kalbeliya World is a self-employment program and social entrepreneurship project for, and with the Kalbeliya female artists in Rajasthan, India.
Self-employment program
Kalbeliya World provides a digital gateway with tech and business coaching for non-reader dancers to set up online LIVE-stream dance classes and educational content for students around the world.
Social entrepreneurship project
Solidarity projects are built into our model with immediate support programs that benefit the larger Kalbeliya community creating long-term growth.
Mission
Gateway for digital literacy to non-readers
Through our work with Kalbeliya World, we are learning that digital literacy surpasses reading and is immediately helpful to access income and inclusion for non-readers in the new virtual world.
Support female-run businesses
Females are changing the structure of society by being leaders of enterprise. Their work empowers larger groups from structural marginalization.
Generate sustainable models of employment
Sustainability is in the scale of opportunity, schools contracts, global clients and online commerce for craft artisans and more.
Knowledge exchange in both directions
Kalbeliya World is an exchange opportunity in which cultural knowledge is shared by the Kalbeliya community to its participants, and at the same time the women in the program are receiving digital training to expand their business in the global market.
Our Organization
Kalbeliya World is a platform supported by the a 501c3 USA based, fiscal sponsor, Joy of Sharing Foundation. Sponsorship includes receiving registration payments, transferring money to India, and accepting tax-deductible donations.
