Written by Tanvi Nair
Last year in August, Sammi Bennett visited the colourful city of Bangalore to conduct research on the communities that Pollinate Group works with. She spent her time conducting in-depth interviews with women entrepreneurs (Suryamukhis), and was able to provide insights as to how Pollinate Group can better serve their communities.
Sammi set out to conduct ethnographic action research about women’s participation in clean energy and entrepreneurship through a case study with Pollinate Group. She came with the intention of conducting action-oriented research in the hopes of shedding light on what the communities needed. Her focus was on understanding the individual narratives of the women and how these stories could shape Pollinate Group’s work.
Sammi had her first community meeting with Lakshmi. It was the first time she had ever been in an informal community, and she noted that while the space was small, it felt extremely homey. She noted being struck by the sense of confidence that Lakshmi had.
“I was welcomed into her home, and she brought out her solar lamp so I could take notes, and then brought out her solar fan and was really excited about it. It was the first time I had been in a space like that.”
Sammi performed a series of field interviews from different women in the community. She and her translator Nidhi, a student at a local women’s university, would visit the communities Pollinate Group serves across Bangalore. Following the interviews, Sammi would transcribe the information and package it into meaningful observations.
Sammi’s research found the key motivations for women’s involvement in Pollinate were the opportunities for additional income, the ability to help provide for their communities, and the desire to become more financially independent.
Underpinning the key motivations were enhanced feelings of agency – women in the program felt more confident talking to people and selling products.
From her research, in a roundtable conference in Bangalore, Sammi suggested the ways Pollinate Group could further empower women. She suggested that the team focus on creating a model to emphasise collaboration between women entrepreneurs, and to use these group networks to enhance sales and recruit more women.
Sammi faced challenges in her experience as well. In the field, she noted that women would be less willing to talk if their husband was present, but when he left, they became more animated. Male dominance was also a problem Sammi presented in her research findings, with some cases where husbands sold products, rather than letting their wives handle the job.
On a more personal note, Sammi was acutely aware of her own identity as white woman entering these communities. She struggled with the language barrier in particular and, while her translator was there to help, Sammi felt she missed nuances in the women’s stories.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic cut Sammi’s visit short. Now, back in the US, she worries about how these informal settlements will deal with the lockdown in India.
“People living at the base of the pyramid are affected the most,” she says.
While she couldn’t complete all that she had planned during her trip, she provided Pollinate Group with essential research about the women living in these communities.
Ravi, Sammi’s reporting manager during her time in Bangalore, said this about her work:
“Thanks to Sammi for joining us and presenting her insights into the communities we serve, and thanks as well to the Fulbright Scholarship Program and the Miller Center For Social Entrepreneurship for supporting her.”
Our CEO Sujatha commented that “her research has impacted Pollinate Group’s understanding of the needs of women living in these communities, and has shed more light on how collaboration within networks can enhance sales and provide women with more agency in their business.”
Sammi’s time in Bangalore was part of a Fulbright Scholarship, and her vision for the scholarship grew from her time as a Global Social Benefit Fellow with Santa Clara University’s Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship.
You can also visit Sammi’s blog to learn more about her experience.