THE BACKGROUND:

The community of women residing in slum areas at Bandra, Andheri, or nearby areas in Mumbai grapples with the harsh realities of economic marginalization. Deprived of formal education and vocational skills, they are either unemployed or work in low-paid roles like household help, receiving wages that barely rise above the subsistence threshold. Their spouses, also face similar educational barriers, low income from informal labor, insufficient to support their family's basic needs. This financial strain not only hinders access to education for their children but also perpetuates a cycle of hardship. Moreover, financial dependency can leave these women vulnerable to domestic abuse, further entrenching their disempowerment.

THE SOLUTION:

Pratham, an NGO aims to break this cycle of hardship by imparting essential sewing skills to women from the community, assisting them to not only earn more and improve their own lives but also uplift the lives of other women in the community. A group of women will be identified from the community and trained as Master Trainers in advanced sewing techniques over a comprehensive 40-day course with the support of Usha International. Upon successful completion, these women will be awarded certificates, equipped with a sewing machine, a detailed course booklet, and a service recall manual, empowering them to launch their own sewing enterprises. These women may mentor other women from their community fostering a community-wide cycle of skill-building and economic upliftment, depending on the situation.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:

• The women will be trained through a 40-day comprehensive course.

• Training is provided free of cost.

• On completion of the training, they will be given USHA Sewing Machines.

• The target is to support 10 women through this campaign.

FUND GENEROUSLY

IF YOU FUND:

• INR 5000, you will part-fund a woman to get a sewing machine.

• INR 10000, you will help support a woman to get a sewing machine.

• INR 25000, you will be supporting a woman with an entire training program including getting a sewing machine.

THE MACHINES THAT WOULD BE GIVEN,

THE KIND OF PEOPLE YOU CAN IMPACT:

ABOUT ME AND THIS CAMPAIGN:

My name is Sana Aftab. I am a Grade 11 student at Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, Mumbai.

I am running this campaign to empower the marginalized women residing in a slum area at Bandra, Andheri or nearby areas in Mumbai. This initiative, in collaboration with the renowned Pratham Mumbai Education Initiative and with the support of Usha International, seeks to equip these women with sewing skills and the necessary tools to thrive.

Our goal is to enable at least 10 women to establish their own sustainable sewing businesses and mentor others within the community creating a ripple effect of skill development forming a network of self-reliant and enterprising women. It’s incredible that for just INR 25,000, we can significantly impact a woman’s life, providing her with a sustainable livelihood. I was amazed to learn that such a modest amount can make such a profound difference

Your support is pivotal in driving this transformative change 

LOCATION OF THE BENEFICIARIES:

ABOUT THE NGO:

Pratham is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India set up with an aim to improve the quality of education in India. Established in 1995, Pratham has been pivotal in crafting high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable educational interventions. With a strategic focus on innovative teaching methodologies, Pratham’s initiatives supplement governmental efforts, aiming to bridge the gaps in the education system. Pratham's vocational training arm is dedicated to the cause of enabling youth with the skills needed to access livelihood opportunities. Pratham’s commitment to large-scale change has reached millions, ensuring children and youth not only access education but also thrive within it. Pratham proposes to play a pivotal role in this initiative by mobilizing women from the community, coordinating the training program, and providing mentorship and assistance to make this initiative successful.

TAX BENEFITS:

The funds from this campaign go to the Pratham. Funding for this campaign is eligible for tax breaks as this trust is a registered NGO. You can avail of benefits under section 80G of the IT Act.

NOTE : FOREIGN FUNDING IS NOT ALLOWED.

FEEDBACK THAT YOU GET:

To ensure that there is complete transparency I shall get a report from the NGO (this takes between 1 to 3 months usually after the funds are raised and transferred to them) telling me who benefitted from the funding. The details will then be posted in the UPDATES section of my campaign and will be in a format like the one above. As soon as I post an update, the platform will send an EMAIL alert to all the funders - i.e. to you. Click on the link in the email and you can read about which woman benefitted.