Sambhali Trust works to change the lives of Rajasthani women by providing them with access to formal education, training in traditional income-generating skills such as handicraft production, as well as arranging and monitoring women's self-help groups, helping them to save money, have access to loans and create small enterprises of their own. We teach women about their human rights and provide refuge and support in cases of domestic violence, and financial help with legal issues.
Dalit women are amongst the lowest caste of women. Unfortunately, even today, there is still a lot of caste prejudice in India. Particularly relevant in the villages of Rajasthan where the traditional culture is accepted, the problem is trying to shake off the shackles of a deep-rooted oppression where a girl child is still seen as a burden. It is important to help gradually change the views of society to accept women and girls as valuable in their own right and to realize gender equality.
Our Empowerment Centers provide underprivileged women and girls with tutoring in Hindi, English and Maths as well as training in traditional income generating skills such as sewing and embroidery. Every week a workshop is given on different subjects (cultural studies, health, computers etc), which help the women get a rounded and diverse education. Our centers work to boost their confidence and self-worth and support them in working towards financial independence, emotionally and practically.
Our Centers in Setrawa and Jodhpur impact over 200 women, giving them access to education and vocational training, providing them with the building blocks to create a prosperous future for themselves. By supporting them towards financial independence, we are helping to drive change in the attitudes of the Rajasthani communities towards women and girls. Our centers aim to reduce the discrimination and helplessness these women experience because of their caste, economic situation and gender.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).