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 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: 

• Regular ongoing training for every centers
• Workshop on business development and motivational sessions.
• Conducting monthly test to measure the progress level of beneficiaries 
• Regular center visit by coordinators and review meetings
• Final test conducted of the enrolled beneficiaries 
• Successful completion of the course by enrolled 90% beneficiaries  
• Assistance to start the enterprise by women Artisan 

Name : Manjubala  ( Name changed)              Age: 26         Location : West Bengal 

 Manjubala - a mother of two children was low on self- esteem, helpless and insecure when we met her. Manju lives in the remote village of Jhalda-II block areas with her family and two siblings. Her husband works in the Ananda Marga school hostel and earns about Rs.5000/- per month. Being the sole breadwinner of a joint family, it was difficult for them to make ends meet. Hence, Manjubala and her husband were on the look- out for other options that would give them regular employment. Manju was keen to learn some skills which would help her generate a little income for her family.

She attended Literacy India’s vocational training center at Khatanga and enrolled herself for the Cutting & Tailoring six month program. On completion of the training, she was adept in tailoring. However, she couldn't find sufficient orders to rely on and generate enough income. She soon decided that she would have to find work in another area, away from home. She launched her tailoring shop. She took loan of Rs.50,000/- from a relative  and  expanded her tailoring shop to a readymade garment shop. Her soon started generating an income of Rs.10,000/- per month. This not only improved her standard of living, but today she also owns her own house.

What makes Manjubala happiest is that she can provide her children with an education.

 Now she is focusing on improving her revenues and has plans to open another shop in Jhalda. This will help her maximize her earnings and also create new job opportunities for the poor.

She conveys best regards and respects to Capt: Indraani Singh, CEO, Literacy India whose support helped her become an entrepreneur.

 In Manjubala’s words, “Time at Literacy India gave me a sense of direction and awareness about what I wanted to pursue for the rest of my life. Earlier, I was just a shy and naïve person and had never thought I could grow so much as a person, in terms of skill and knowledge. The officials of Literacy India have helped to bring out the untapped potential in me by showing me that there is a world full of things to be done and dreams to be achieved." 

Links:

• Pilot Project

The youth and women in our society are in need of livelihood options. However, most often they do not have the means to get the required skillets for the same, more often than not, limiting their options.

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 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 enables beneficiaries to have employment in the garment industry or set up their own stitching and tailoring units. 

• Vocational training in driving encourages beneficiaries to have careers as drivers in automobile, transport and travel industry or seek self-employment as professional drivers.

• Community based skills like,Home stay, kitchen gardening, Organic farming empowers them to self-sustain in their community.

 Creating opportunities

 The opportunities are created in the following manner:

Step 1: We conduct a Survey of the area and identify Beneficiaries

Step 2: Assess the skills/ trainings that will be most beneficial to them

Step 3: Set up and installation of equipment and machines 

Step 4: Invite beneficiaries for an Orientation session

Step 5: Regular ongoing training till completion of the program.

• Workshop on business development and motivational sessions.
• Test to measure the progress / proficiency achieved by the beneficiarios, and certify the beneficiaries

 What makes Karigari unique:

-   Complete program is free of charge, with all equipment and raw material provided by Literacy India

-   The beneficiaries are exposed to real life workshops/ centre where the work is happening

-   The involvement of Literacy India does not end with training. There are regular visits by coordinators to help the beneficiaries get jobs/ start their own enterprise.

  Name: Sanita  ( Name Changed)     Age: 20     Location: West Bengal

It is said, when you empower a rural and tribal woman, you in-turn make a complete family socially and economically independent, thereby energizing the whole village and ultimately contributing towards the progress of a nation. 

Sanita, a 20 year old, is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree from Sarbori Panchokot Mahavidyalay. She lives with her parents and siblings in their self-owned house in Madandih village in Neturia block, Purulia, West Bengal. It has been Sanita’s dream to work in beauty parlours/ salons. To excel, Sanita knew she needed to undertake training, but faced many barriers. the biggest challenge facing her was financial crunch in the family. She required INR 10-15000 to get the training from any institution.

 During the Mobilization Programme (by Literacy India) in their village Sanita, came to know about the beauty culture training that was to be held in their neighboring village. Literacy India offers this course to the poor adolescent girls and women and make them skilled enough to get employed . The center’s quality teachers also help girls enhance other skills like personality development and time-management, to make them more competitive and ready for the real world.  Sanita enrolled in the beauty culture course at the Literacy India’s training Center and underwent training for for six months. She learned practical skills and developed the confidence to visit local beauty parlors and see how work happens. 

Sanita says, “After visiting other parlors, I had lots of questions about the machines they use. I was able to ask my teacher and get answers to all my questions.” She says that the support and “love” that she found from her mentors and peers was extremely motivating and unlike what she had experienced before.

She has started a small parlor at home as a first step. This will help her sharpen her skills and save some money before she ventures into a well furnished parlor. Apart from this, Sanita goes to a nearby parlor twice in a week to get exposed to better equipment. Currently her income is   Rs. 1000 -1500/- per month. Of this money, she keeps Rs. 500 for her monthly expenditure, and saves the rest amount for her future. Sanita says, “The only thing else I want to say, is that girls need to have skills in their hand. Girls should be independent.” Sanita is a role model in her community, and despite the many barriers she has faced, is on-track to pursuing her dreams.

Links:

• INDHA" Power to Empower Women - Project of Literacy India