Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India

by The Desai Foundation
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India

Project Report | Jan 24, 2024
Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India

By Amber Toth | Grant Writer

Career Guidance & Counseling Workshops
Career Guidance & Counseling Workshops

Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India - Campaign Update Report

August 2023–December 2023

In response to the dire circumstances faced by rural Indian women in informal jobs, who accounted for 80% of job losses in early 2021, the Desai Foundation continues its dedicated efforts to rebuild and empower these women's lives in rural India. The foundation firmly believes that providing livelihood opportunities to these women not only restores their support system and income but also fosters independence and empowerment. By equipping women with essential skills and integrating them into the workforce, these programs cultivate confidence and dignity among participants.

Rural women in India often work as informal laborers, rendering them vulnerable to exploitation. In 2020, a staggering 94% of rural women were engaged in informal work, such as daily wage labor or self-employed home-based production workers like sewing and craftsmaking. Without investment in their untapped potential and integration into the formal economy, these women remain trapped in a cycle of gender-based poverty.

The Desai Foundation's approach is holistic, providing vocational training across diverse trades, along with entrepreneurship and technical training. This approach offers program participants the flexibility and agency to pursue paths that align with their unique interests once they complete their training. The foundation's projects encompass not only economic but also social and physical well-being for the participating women and their communities. Additionally, the project addresses critical issues such as women's health, discrimination, human rights, and self-sufficiency.

Long-Term Impact:

The Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India project aims to achieve several key outcomes:

- Enhance the capacity and employability of disadvantaged women and girls.

- Create income generation opportunities and sustainable livelihoods through skills training in sewing, beautician skills, candle and diya making, jewelry making, computer classes, and entrepreneurship development.

- Enable less fortunate women to generate income and attain sustainable livelihoods through vocational skill training.

Heroes for Humanity Program:

Initially launched in 2021 as a COVID disaster relief initiative, the Heroes for Humanity program has since evolved to encompass the Desai Foundation's regular programming. This includes health screenings and camps, menstrual health education, vocational skill training, and more. Heroes, primarily women themselves, are employed to work in their rural communities as agents of hope and change. They not only earn a livelihood but also promote programs that provide opportunities for others to do the same.

Program Impact:

The Heroes for Humanity program has reached over 4.3 million individuals to date across eight states in India. In the last five months alone, more than 16,703 individuals have engaged in various programs, including computer courses, sewing workshops, beauty parlor training, candle and diya making, jewelry making, and training workshops on entrepreneurship and vocational skills. Family members of participating beneficiaries indirectly benefit through increased household income. The expansion of vocational training awareness leads to improved employment abilities and economic conditions in the region and the nation.

Programs and Participation Data:

From August 2023 to December 2023, the Desai Foundation conducted various programs with significant participation:

1. Banking and Saving Education & Awareness Program: 859 Participants

2. Sewing Class: 1,309 Participants

3. Beauty Parlour Class: 763 Participants

4. Jewelry Making Workshop: 136 Participants

5. Candle Making: 390 Participants

6. Career Guidance Program: 6,074 Participants

7. Entrepreneur Development Training: 794 Participants

8. Asani Distribution Training: 1,467 Participants

9. Banking and Saving Education & Awareness Program: 859 impacted

10. Computer Class: 1,767 Participants

11. Personality Development Program: 4,085 Participants

12. Primary Health Program: 10,691 impacted

These programs reflect the Desai Foundation's commitment to empowering rural women and creating sustainable livelihoods, marking significant progress towards its mission.

In conclusion, the Livelihood Opportunities for Women in Rural India campaign continues to make a substantial impact on the lives of rural women, empowering them with skills, independence, and dignity. The Heroes for Humanity program amplifies these efforts, reaching millions and bringing hope and change to communities across India. The Desai Foundation remains committed to its mission of transforming lives and eradicating gender-based poverty in rural India.

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Organization Information

The Desai Foundation

Location: Woburn, MA - USA
Website:
Facebook: Facebook Page
Twitter: @DesaiFoundation
Project Leader:
Cora Woloson
Woburn , MA United States

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