‘When thoughts of what’s next troubled me, it was the Responsible Tourism Mission that opened a path ahead of me , says Rehana Amal with gratitude.
Rehana Amal, a resident of Cheruvannur, entered the entrepreneurial sector in 2022 through the terracotta jewelry training program conducted by the Responsible Tourism Mission.
Until then, Rehana was a homemaker. Post-training, she chose terracotta jewelry making as her field and began reaching people through social media and exhibitions. Today, as both an entrepreneur and a trainer, Rehana credits the Responsible Tourism Mission for playing a significant role in her transformation.
‘They provided free classes and even stalls to sell products,’ she says. ‘It’s through RT Mission that I found a way to earn an income of my own ,’ Her words reflect the confidence gained in the journey from homemaker to self-sustaining entrepreneur.
‘This way, come in, come in,’ she invited us warmly into her home. There was a pair of curious little eyes peeking from behind the door . ‘This is my little one… The others have gone to school, so she’s alone,’ Rehana said with a smile. As we entered, those curious eyes continued to follow us.
‘She throws and breaks everything I make; that’s her hobby,’ Rehana said playfully. ‘Shall we take a top-down shot?’ she asked. We all laughed in agreement.
Rehana crafts her life from a small room upstairs, meticulously creating terracotta jewelry. Hearing about her work was fascinating. How much effort goes into making a single piece of jewelry? Where would it be sold? These were the questions swirling in my mind. Rehana had one simple answer: ‘RT Mission.’
‘This was a field I thought I could never excel in. I knew nothing about making products from clay. But it was Sreekala ma’am’s confidence in me that brought me here,’ Rehana explained. ‘It takes about 15 days of effort to make a single piece of jewelry. You have to shape the clay, let it dry in natural air, not under direct sunlight, as it might crack. Once it’s dried properly, it’s baked and then painted,’ she added. ‘These are eco-friendly products, with threads being the only other material used. So, there’s no harm to the environment.’
‘I had just completed my studies and was unsure of which direction to take. On top of that, I was a homemaker without any personal income. It was RT Mission that gave me immense confidence,’ Rehana shared.
When there are no stalls, Rehana sells her products through her Instagram and Facebook accounts and WhatsApp groups. She posts pictures of her jewelry on social media, and interested buyers contact her.
Rehana demonstrated her craft for us, creating wonders with clay. Each design was crafted with great precision, like nurturing a child. We watched with awe as she skillfully worked, and soon, we felt like her four-year-old daughter, captivated by her artistry.
“How long have you been here without drinking juice?” her mother’s voice reminded us. With a sip of freshly made date juice, we turned back to admire Rehana’s work. She explained that the piece would need to dry before it could be fired. She then showed us some finished designs. Pieces are baked in a pot filled with charcoal, along with beads and designs, after about 15 days of drying and preparation.
‘People know me only because of RT Mission,’ said Rehana, who lives in Cheruvannur, Kozhikode. After spending some more time talking with her, we bid her farewell.
Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Mission, under the Tourism Department, ensures active local participation in its activities. The Mission, which has seen reforms under Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on October 20, 2017.
Through the Responsible Tourism Mission, one not only learns about the land but also about its people and their unique cultures. In short, Kerala invites everyone to explore its villages and connect with its people, ensuring that the benefits of tourism reach even the common folk.
Content Highlight: Rehana Amal is bringing color to life by crafting ornaments out of clay