Sisters are doing it for themselves

Namaste Everyone,

Here is hoping this mail finds you well.  

I am pleased to report that the first of our new sewing machies purchased with your help has arrived at the centre. The young women were so excited . The cost of one machine is $260 and if you can donate that amount it will of course be used only to purchase a much needed machine. More machines means we can reach out to more young women and girls and teach them a skiil whch will lead to an independent income 

As Madu says, one of the girls who will benefit from the new training says,

" Wow, this really great!. I always wanted to learn tailoring and sewing and now I can, it will me and all the other girls the hope we need that things can only get better in our lives.

Along with security, care, and a listening and supportive ear these girls need to have skills which will give them confidence to move forward positively in their lives.

Thank you for helping to make that happen.

Priyanka

Namaste

Warm greetings to you all,

Hi Everyone,

I am Madhu and I am a community worker with People First. In the last reports we have asked the women to tell in her own words what the sewing centre means to them.

For this report, I would like to explain something about the background and the need for the project.

Bihar is a pitiable place for women especially in Rural Areas. Who says so? The government in the shape of the National Planning commission, this is from recent report concerning the state of women in Bihar...

“Where more than 40% of the population live below the poverty line and more than 80% of the population live in the pitiable conditions of rural Bihar, to talk of the marginalisation of women has been considered meaningless. However, there is a catch in this situation, and this pertains to being a victim of double discrimination— 1. Being a woman 2. Being member of a backward region”

 Key research findings include the following: Woman typically work 16 hours per day on both paid and unpaid labour; Most women have no leisure time; Women bear the greatest responsibility for household chores, including many tasks related to income generation; Women generally assume full responsibility children; Rural women perform a wider variety of tasks; While both men and women recognise that women’s household activities constitute important work, they fail to grasp the extent of its economic value;,

To quote again from the report,

“Women are worst affected when it comes to unemployment and poverty. Without any income of their own, they need to depend on men for anything and everything. If the men are also unemployed, the matter gets worse. Women empowerment through self-reliance and financial independence can be achieved by providing vocational training, through which women can either start up something of their own or take- up a job”

This is what the Sewing centre provides, along with support and companionship.

 The consequence of underestimating women and their contributions to the economy are reflected in the life of Renu (name changed) and her children. Renu is a 30-year-old married woman who lives in a remote local village She has never been to school, and got married at the age of 14. She was completely ignorant about childbirth, child care, vaccinations, reproductive health issues, and contraceptives. She did not possess any say in decision-making, even for issues like pregnancy. Thus, at the age of 30, Renu has 7 malnourished children, not one of whom goes to school. None of her children are vaccinated, apart from the polio campaign. If this is a common scenario among the lower socioeconomic sector of Bihar, is making is making India a developed country by 2025 a realistic vision?

We work with women like Renu to provide the health education and advice and support she needs, and a skill which will give her a vital independent source of income for the first time in her life.

This project is truly life changing, thank you all so much for your support for women like Renu.

Madhu

Links:

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