The month of May 2023 was an exciting month for the women who are students of our Skill Development and Livelihood (SDL) Training Programs and for the graduates of our SDL courses now in Self Help Groups (SHGs).
These were mothers and older sisters of the children studying in our Beacon Learning Centres across four slum communities in Mumbai. Some have been so busy with family and household chores and have never thought about learning a skill or being financially independent.
So, when Vision Rescue went knocking at their door with opportunities to learn Beauty and Hair care, Mehendi, Tailoring, Notebook-making, and 6 other courses, many grabbed it and enrolled in courses of their interest.
Little did they know then that this month of May had something special in-store for them apart from their regular curriculums. They took a plunge and learnt special skills related to their courses.
10 students of Beauty and Hair Care course learnt techniques of hair colouring. They learnt tips on using the shade grid, using the right hair colour and about skin tone and hair type while doing hair colouring. For these women, who were thrilled to learn the basics techniques in ‘Beautician and Hair Care,’ this was an icing on the cake. “It is so exciting to be able to do something we have never done before!” said some of the participants.
22 students of the two-month Mehendi course learnt to draw mehendi designs on postcards. So now, these designs are not limited to the palm but can be used as greeting cards. “We never thought we could draw mehendi designs on postcards,” said the students. This innovative idea can help them get orders, use their skill creatively and earn some more income.
24 students of the six-month Tailoring course signed themselves up for a Hand Embroidery course. They learn cutting and stitching of fabric to make it into desired dresses, as well as learnt how to use their needles and threads to embellish beautiful patterns and designs. Hand embroidery takes more time, skill and effort than machine-led tailoring, but this skill will surely generate the women more income than simply stitching a dress would.
Eight members of the Self Help Group (SHG) in the Shivaji Nagar community learnt the art of notebook making. These women from the Sakthi Mahila Bachatghat and the Smart Mahila Bachatghat Self Help Groups came together last year with a common goal to save some money which can be further invested for the future.
To support their goal Vision Rescue has conducted relevant trainings by which they could save money through healthy lifestyle practices. Notebook making was one such course. After being trained on how to make notebooks, these women gladly took an order and made 148 notebooks in one month! What a good start to their new skill!
While these women open their minds to financial independence they also broaden their horizon to learn new skills that cater to today’s markets. Most importantly they are able to keep their sons and daughters engaged and sustained in the education system as they then feel empowered to contribute to their children’s education financially. Above all it helps them realise that just as they are able to earn if they learn, so will their children, as educated adults one day!
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Vision Rescue exists to rescue children from all forms of exploitation by engaging and sustaining them in education. We are a registered NGO for child education under the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950.
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