GIFT THE GIFT OF EDUCATION TO AN UNDER-SERVED GIRL

Karigari helps to improve the status of women / Youth in society by providing them with livelihood options through vocational training in different areas, based on beneficiaries’ preferences and aptitude:

• Computer literacy allows beneficiaries to have careers in IT related fields like BPO Centers, Data Processing Units and lately in UID centers etc especially at our centers in the cities like Delhi, Gurgaon & Kolkata and creating entrepreneurs. 
• Stitching, Embroidery, Beauty Culture, Block Printing, Tie & Die etc  allows beneficiaries to gain employment in the garment industry or set up their own stitching and tailoring units. 
• Vocational training in driving allows beneficiaries to have careers as drivers in automobile, transport and travel industry or seek self-employment as professional drivers

• Community based skills- Home stay, kitchen gardening, Organic farming empowering beneficiaries to sustain in their community.

 Creating opportunities

 The opportunities are created in the following manner:

• Step 1: We conduct a Survey of the area (existing and adjacent) and identify beneficiaries who can come and access the centre’s services
• Step 2: Assess the skills/ trainings that will be most beneficial to them

Beneficiaries with an aptitude and basic understanding of painting are identified for Art and Craft training. A module has designed and the training is imparted by people with experience and expertise.

We focus on Abstract design, fine arts and tribal paint. We try and enhance their knowledge and capability through exposure visits and design making workshops.

The students who excel are introduced to different organizations for work. Few are also absorbed by Indha (Literacy India’s unit).

We also have workshops on organic Color making workshop tribal Art & Paint for the tribal youth as well as for the artisans involved in mask making.

Process of creating new designs and multi-design catalogues is introduced to artisans.

 Stories from Ground:

Name :  Ajay ( Name Changed)   Age  :26       Location : West Bengal

Human culture is produced and reproduced by interaction of man with the environment. Culture becomes resource when it meets the needs of man. Folk art tradition has continuously been recreated from one generation to another due to change in livelihood options and perception of aesthetic environment. In this way, the folk-art tradition becomes a resource and helps in sustaining livelihood of people. Among the various regional masked folk dances of West Bengal, Purulia Chhau dance of Purulia Distict is characterized by the most elegant and gorgeous masks. These masks have gradually gained popularity as a separate work of art.

26 years young Ajay  was born and brought up in Chorida village, in very weak economic circumstances. His family has been making masks for the Purulia Chhau dnace for the last many years. A full size decorated mask costs around Rs. 3000 -3500. But increasing costs of the raw materials, poor marketing, middleman, lack of any government intervention are some of the main factors which bring down the profit percentage. Hence, chhau mask-makers have to rely on making other decorative masks which can be used as wall hanging.

Literacy India intervened and provided training to the youth of the community, on “ORGANIC COLOR COMBINATION WORKSHOP“, with the aim to reduce the cost of acrylic color they use. They have also been provided with a multi-design catalogue of masks, to help them work on new designs.

Ajay has passed higher secondary from a local school. He is ambitious and has a desire to learn Photoshop for better design work in future.  He designs masks and has been successful in improving thr household income, post his training with Literacy India.

Now, Ajay is also invited to set up stall in different fairs, festivals and exhibitions as well as participate in competitions throughout the year. These opportunities have helped him maintain a certain level of sustainable livelihood. Ajay is currently earning Rs. 8000- 10,000/- per month.  

Karigari helps to improve the status of women / Youth in society by providing them with livelihood options through vocational training in different areas, based on beneficiaries’ preferences and aptitude:

• Computer literacy allows beneficiaries to have careers in IT related fields like BPO Centers, Data Processing Units and lately in UID centers etc especially at our centers in the cities like Delhi, Gurgaon & Kolkata and creating entrepreneurs. 
• Stitching, Embroidery, Beauty Culture, Block Printing, Tie & Die etc  allows beneficiaries to gain employment in the garment industry or set up their own stitching and tailoring units. 
• Vocational training in driving allows beneficiaries to have careers as drivers in automobile, transport and travel industry or seek self-employment as professional drivers

• Community based skills- Home stay, kitchen gardening, Organic farming empowering beneficiaries to sustain in their community.

Creating opportunities

The opportunities are created in the following manner:

• Step 1: We conduct a Survey of the area (existing and adjacent) and identify beneficiaries who can come and access the centre’s services
• Step 2: Assess the skills/ trainings that will be most beneficial to them

Beneficiaries with an aptitude and basic understanding of painting are identified for Art and Craft training. A module has designed and the training is imparted by people with experience and expertise.

We focus on Abstract design, fine arts and tribal paint. We try and enhance their knowledge and capability through exposure visits and design making workshops.

The students who excel are introduced to different organizations for work. Few are also absorbed by Indha (Literacy India’s unit).

We also have workshops on organic Color making workshop tribal Art & Paint for the tribal youth as well as for the artisans involved in mask making.

Process of creating new designs and multi-design catalogues is introduced to artisans.

 Stories from Ground

Name :  Ajay ( Name Changed)   Age  :26    Location : West Bengal

 Human culture is produced and reproduced by interaction of man with the environment. Culture becomes resource when it meets the needs of man. Folk art tradition has continuously been recreated from one generation to another due to change in livelihood options and perception of aesthetic environment. In this way, the folk-art tradition becomes a resource and helps in sustaining livelihood of people. Among the various regional masked folk dances of West Bengal, Purulia Chhau dance of Purulia Distict is characterized by the most elegant and gorgeous masks. These masks have gradually gained popularity as a separate work of art.

26 years young Ajay  was born and brought up in Chorida village, in very weak economic circumstances. His family has been making masks for the Purulia Chhau dnace for the last many years. A full size decorated mask costs around Rs. 3000 -3500. But increasing costs of the raw materials, poor marketing, middleman, lack of any government intervention are some of the main factors which bring down the profit percentage. Hence, chhau mask-makers have to rely on making other decorative masks which can be used as wall hanging.

Literacy India intervened and provided training to the youth of the community, on “ORGANIC COLOR COMBINATION WORKSHOP“, with the aim to reduce the cost of acrylic color they use. They have also been provided with a multi-design catalogue of masks, to help them work on new designs.

Ajay has passed higher secondary from a local school. He is ambitious and has a desire to learn Photoshop for better design work in future.  He designs masks and has been successful in improving thr household income, post his training with Literacy India.

Now, Ajay is also invited to set up stall in different fairs, festivals and exhibitions as well as participate in competitions throughout the year. These opportunities have helped him maintain a certain level of sustainable livelihood. Ajay is currently earning Rs. 8000- 10,000/- per month.  

Links:

• Increasing literacy rates in India still a challenge

BEATING  ODDS, CHANGING LIVES

by Capt. Indraani Singh

Karigari helps to improve the status of women / Youth in society by providing them with livelihood options through vocational training in the areas, based on beneficiaries’ preferences and aptitude:

• Computer literacy will allow beneficiaries to have careers in IT related fields like BPO Centers, Data Processing Units and lately in UID centers etc especially at our centers in the cities like Delhi, Gurgaon & Kolkata and creating entrepreneurs. 
• Stitching, Embroidery, Beauty Culture, Block Printing, Tie & Die etc will allow beneficiaries to have employment in the garment industry or set up their own stitching and tailoring units. 
• Vocational training in driving will allow beneficiaries to have careers as drivers in automobile, transport and travel industry or seek self-employment as professional drivers

• Community based skills- Home stay, kitchen gardening, Organic farming empowering beneficiaries to sustain in their community.

 Activity conducted

The activities are to be carried out in following manner:

• Mobilization and brief on activities
• Focus group discussion with beneficiaries
• Assistance to start the enterprise by  Trainees
• Training and support to start business  .
• Market survey and demand analysis
• Selection of location and space
• Facilitating soft loan from bank or SHG groups
• Procurement of required equipment to set up  business
• Operational the shop 

 Stories from Ground:

Name  :Gayatri( Name Changed)  Age : 37 Year  Location : Rajasthan

Gayatri is 37 years old, and a resident of Manoharthana, Rajasthan. Her husband works as a labourer in a furniture shop, earning Rs. 3000-4000/ per month. This income was insufficient to meet the needs of the family of 5. Hence, Gayatri started working as a sweeper in a clinic.  But she was not happy with the job.

In a community survey for livelihood, Gayatri got connected with Literacy India. In few of the Self Help Group meetings, she suggested that she could set up a flour mill in her home.  She did the market survey and concluded that the business would generate income for her. Literacy India provided her with the soft loan for the flour mill . She procured and completed the set up. She faced difficulties initially, especially in getting the commercial electric meter. However, she started operation soon.

Now she is running the flour mill successfully and earning Rs. 4000 – 5000 every month. She has started repaying  the loan through the monthly instalment of Rs. 1000 per month.

She is quite happy and motivated. She thanks Literacy India for supporting her and enabling her to be self-sufficient.

Links:

• Spearheading social change - Guided by digital transformation
• Literacy India Project Nandini