EMPOWER & IGNITE THE YOUTH FOR A BETTER NATION

“Life is like a tango; fortunate are the few who can master it”

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has infected more than three million people in more than 150 countries. A scourge confronting all of humanity, impacting lifestyles, businesses, economies, and the assumption of common well- being that all of us have been mainly taken for granted. The outbreak of the COVID-19 posed fresh challenges on all aspect of life. The worst affected is the Poorest of the Poor and their families, Rural communities and their Children. Millions of workers who migrate seasonally to cities in search of daily wage labour have been severely affected by the Lockdown. Stranded far from their homes without income, thousands had to undertake journeys on foot across state borders for over hundreds of miles to their native places.

 Meanwhile, Market trends demands regular process of upskilling. Being an expert tailor or an experienced handloom craftsperson is not enough. One must also know which patterns are in demand and where the market is headed. Quality is another key requisite to obtain order and stay ahead of the market curve.

The pandemic has hastened this trend multi-fold. The magnified impact of this trend calls for a concerted effort towards mass upskilling, advanced machinery and focus on necessities. The COVID-19 situation has thrown the normal in array! The emerging trends for new normal are focused on essentials, as the global shut down leaves a lasting mark.

 Youth and women in our society are in immense need of livelihood opportunities, however most often they are not found capable to acquire a required skill for the same, hence limits their decisions. Our Karigari Program helps to improve the status of Women / Youth in the society by providing them with livelihood opportunities through vocational training in the areas based on beneficiaries’ preferences and aptitude.

• Computer literacy offered at our centres allows beneficiaries to build careers in IT related fields like BPO Centres, Data Processing Units and lately in UID centres etc. especially in the cities like Delhi, Gurgaon & Kolkata, hence creating entrepreneurs.
• Stitching, Embroidery, Beauty Culture, Block Printing, Tie & Die, electrical Training, Mobile Repairing & Computer Hardware etc enables beneficiaries to get employment in the garment industry or set up their own stitching and tailoring units.
• Vocational training in driving encourages beneficiaries to build careers as drivers in the automobile, transport and travel industry or seek self-employment as professional drivers.
• Community based skills like kitchen gardening, and organic farming empowers people to sustain themselves in their community.

 The opportunities created in the following manner:

Step 1: Conducted survey of the area and identified beneficiaries

Step 2: Assessed the skills/ trainings that would benefit them most

Step 3: Set up and installation of equipment and machines

Step 4: Invited beneficiaries for an orientation session

Step 5: Regular ongoing training till completion of the program as per the module

Step 6: Workshop on business development and motivational sessions

Step 7: Support to set up business models and provide ongoing support to sustain the business

Name: Rakhi (Name Changed) Age : 21  Location : Delhi 

There are millions of ordinary women, who overcame the hardships of life and gain success. But their stories rarely come forward. One such inspiring story is of Rakhi who resides in Bhati Mines, New Delhi.

Rakhi lost her father when she was in school. Her father was the only earning member of family after which they faced severe economic crisis. The burden of nurturing family with 5 children came on her mother’s shoulder who was an illiterate. Her mother worked as a daily wage labourer to earn living for herself and 6 children.

Family struggles in meeting the square meal of a day with the income earned by the mother. Rakhi looked for opportunities to supplement the family income in meeting the daily expense and provide siblings an access to quality education to come out of the vicious circle of poverty.

Fortunately, Rakhi came in contact with Literacy India and learnt Stitching & tailoring under its Karigari Program for Women Empowerment and sustainable livelihood development. She was trained for 6 months under the program where she attained good command over the work and able to create articles of tailoring with utmost sincerity, accuracy and neatness. For past one year, she is working for Indha as an artisan and supporting her mother in meeting day to day expense. Six months ago, she approached Li and expressed interest to take a loan for sewing machine and started working individually by taking orders from the community.

In the time of nationwide lockdown, her mother lost her job and family’s responsibility came over her shoulders. She didn’t give up but tirelessly worked individually as well as for Indha and able to earn an income in meeting daily needs for survival.

Literacy India believes in creating sustainable livelihood by making people skilled and made them capable to earn for life. Rakhi has now became an only earning member of family and earning well to make the living.

Links:

• Literacy India Indha: Torchbearer for Women Artisans