Setu - Women Empowerment Program

Dear Well-wishers,

Setu Entered the New Year with new hopes and with it came new responsibilities and many an occasions to celebrate and pat ourselves for what we were able to do over the pat one year. We hope you will enjoy this edition of the Setu Newsletter as Setu continues its journey of “Transforming Lives”.

Activities at the SETU Skill Centres

After the grand success of Sadarpur Multi Skill Center, a new similar Centre was launched at Berhampur Village, Ghaziabad under the Direct Aids program Australian High Commission New Delhi. The facility has a capacity to skill around 400 women in a year.

The center was formally launched on 28th March 2017. Special invitees were Ms Pallavi Nayek, Direct Aid Program Administrator, Mr Akhilesh Tripathi Financial Controller, Sudhanshu Mittal HR head – Dr. Wilmar Schwabe India along with Lorraine Squares Administration Head Mentor Graphics India. Also present on the occasion were the students, current and ex-employees of Setu. Currently 80 women are getting training on Basic Computer IT, Sewing and Health Care Skills.

The last quarter was full of activities and new initiatives. Two new courses were launched at Sadarpur Multi Skill Center in Beauty & wellness and High end tailoring course

Currently 20 Women are undergoing the course at the centre which is being sponsored by Creatnet and Beauty and wellness was launched at Setu. 34 students are currently attending the course under Project “Saksham".

Members of the Price Waterhouse Coopers India Foundation from across India participated in a go green event with the Special students at Setu. Pots were jointly painted and then plants were planted during the event. It was a wonderful experience for all.

Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for Hearing Handicapped along with National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped facilitated a special health camp at the Setu Skill Centre for Differently-abled. Over 170 people were examined and the event was inaugurated by Mr Manoj Kumar MLA Delhi Govt.

Mohd Junaid and Adil Shahid volunteer barbers helped groom the Differently abled students at Setu Centre for People with Disabilities..

International Women's Day was celebrated by Setu Students and Faculty at the Setu Women Empowerment Centre at Sadarpur. Empowering women was the theme of this wonderful event where students from all courses, Tailoring, ICT, Health Care, Hospitality, Beauty and Wellness along with the specially abled participated.

The students of the Smile STeP Course went for an Exposure visit to Dr Wilmar Schwabe India Ltd. Mr Sudhanshu Mishra HR Head interacted with Setu students during an orientation trip to the organization.

Volunteers at Skill center
Volunteers from corporates ensured that the knowledge and skill of the students at the skill is multi[plied with Guest Lecture and Remedial teaching. Accordingly the Students of STeP courses had guest lectures by employees of Cognizant –

Volunteer Students of Ali Yayurjung National Institute of Special and Hearing Disabilities conducted interactive sessions for the Special students of Setu

Convocation
110 women were certified on completion of their course under the Setu Women Empowerment and Employability Program at a ceremony held at the Setu Sadarpur centre. The Certificates were handed over by Ms Nidhi Varma, Mr Sanat Vatal and Mr Abbas Rizvi from MetLife GOSC.

The First Convocation of the sewing batches of the Women Empowerment Program - Saksham was held at Nithari Skill Centre was held on 27/02/2017. Thirt four women were certified and Venu Kapoor along with Siddharth Jindal from FIL interacted with the students and handed of the certificates.

Success stories

1. Pragati belongs to a family of 13 members which include her parents and 11 siblings. She is the only deaf child which made it more difficult for the parents to deal with her limitations. As it became difficult to interact with her immediate family she didn’t go through a formal education leading to further dis-orientation of her development. She grew pessimistic and in a situation with no strings attached to the social world leading to inferiority complex and fear for the world outside in her.
Pragati joined the Setu Skill Centre for Differently abled at Sadarpur Village and with the support of her elder sister, the facilitator tried to break the ice and take her into trust as she was vulnerable and completely closed to any communication. As weeks passed by with a compassionate heart and friendly approach they were able to pierce through her shield. Inducting with her socials skills they made her aware about other students with the same situation and embarked on the journey to main stream her. Teaching her the Indian Sign Language and regular counselling of Pragati along with her family members gradually brought out a change in her inhibitions and lead to development of her basic humanistic skills.
Pragati who for 16 years was closed and unaware of the ever changing environment started becoming independent by coming to the classes on her own and taking initiative to learn and explore the opportunities provided to her in the duration of the course in just 4 months. With the rapid changes in her personality she has started to pick up the basic computer skills. Holistic approach of the curriculum and tip to toe involvement of the facilitator made her into a totally different person..

 2. Pinki belongs from a middle class family. She is 12th pass and currently pursuing graduation. She always wants to become independent and help her family for betterment. So, she wanted to do a job and earn for being independent as well as for improvement of her family’s condition. However she wasn’t available to find a job after completing 12th. Then, she came to know about the SteP Program at Setu Nithari Skill centre and its benefits for the underprivileged youths through our mobilisers. She enrolled herself for smile course to fulfill her basic requirements of skills which is important for finding a good job. After successful completion of this course she picked up job of Tele-caller at IMRB Call Center with salary of Rs. 8000/month.