In rural Pakistan, the village of Thatta Kedona has been the focus of a unique project since 1991. Thirty-six volunteers from Western countries have worked with the villagers to promote self-sufficiency. The project centers on the creation of dolls and tin toys that reflect Pakistani regional cultures, providing a vital source of income for farming families through a local cooperative. Meanwhile, the volunteers find themselves enriched by their experience in a traditional Islamic community shaped by Indus Valley, Mughal, Hindu, and British-Indian influences. This creates a shared sense of joy – for the villagers who are empowered to avoid poverty by working in their community, and for the volunteers who gain a new perspective on their own history within a different culture.
