Livelihood Skills
Tailoring Course
A significant number of rural women in India are uneducated and economically dependent. There was a need for self-employment opportunities for women to lead a path towards empowerment. As stitching is a job-oriented skill that provides a self-employed opportunity with minimum capital, we began with our ‘ISS Silai School’ in collaboration with our corporate partner ISS for women in rural and tribal areas with the aim of training them in various skills required for running a successful tailoring enterprise. We provide tailoring training right from the start, which includes taking measurements, knowledge of different types of fabrics, drafting and cutting, stitching, knowledge of embroidery, inspections and alterations of garments for fittings.
We also train them in machine maintenance so they can repair other tailors’ machines too. They also receive training on personality development and teaching techniques, so they can train other needy women at a nominal cost. Their ability to earn a living from sewing and tailoring can enable them to pay school fees for their children and uplift their self-confidence and economic status. Currently, we have Kokan Sewing training centres in Nashik, Karjat, Kasara, Bhiwandi, and Pune, where we have trained more than 3000 women by providing them with sewing machines to live an independent and dignified life.
Beauty Parlour Course
Women’s empowerment is our primary focus, in particular to enhance employability and financial independence among women in rural areas. We run an Assistant Beauty Therapist course in rural areas for girls and women. The activity of providing crash courses on running beauty parlours comprising makeup, hair styling, facials, etc. is in the domain of women’s empowerment. During the training, they are trained in several techniques such as eye brow making, facials, make-up, medicure, pedicure, mehndi, hair cutting, waxing, etc. in detail. To test their skills, we ask them to perform practical tasks in basic depilation, manicure, pedicure, and basic facial maintenance services, along with teaching them how to handle the client with confidence.
With this plan, we provide them with all the necessary information that will help them run the beauty parlour business along with marketing knowledge where they can sell various products to the retail market. Currently, we are operating in the outskirts of Mumbai and Pune in association with various village gram panchayats. Over 1000+ girls and women benefited from the program, and many of them started their own salons or worked with others to earn their livelihood.
Beauty Parlour Course
Women’s empowerment is our primary focus, in particular to enhance employability and financial independence among women in rural areas. We run an Assistant Beauty Therapist course in rural areas for girls and women. The activity of providing crash courses on running beauty parlours comprising makeup, hair styling, facials, etc. is in the domain of women’s empowerment. During the training, they are trained in several techniques such as eye brow making, facials, make-up, medicure, pedicure, mehndi, hair cutting, waxing, etc. in detail. To test their skills, we ask them to perform practical tasks in basic depilation, manicure, pedicure, and basic facial maintenance services, along with teaching them how to handle the client with confidence.
With this plan, we provide them with all the necessary information that will help them run the beauty parlour business along with marketing knowledge where they can sell various products to the retail market. Currently, we are operating in the outskirts of Mumbai and Pune in association with various village gram panchayats. Over 1000+ girls and women benefited from the program, and many of them started their own salons or worked with others to earn their livelihood.
Fashion Designing Course
The fashion designing industry is growing exponentially and the job opportunities in this field are expected to witness a rise. Due to increasing demand in the fashion industry, the fashion designing courses are also expensive, and as a result, many girls and women from rural areas cannot afford them, in spite of being passionate about being a part of the fashion industry. To help many such women and girls pursue their careers in the fashion industry, we provide fashion design courses free of cost.
We provide them with a comprehensive understanding of the latest advances in technology and creative innovations in the fashion industry, and train them to integrate their creative talents with the demands of the fashion industry by teaching them the entire design process, from concept creation to innovation to comprehensive technical skills. Our goal is to provide the girls and women with a diverse set of experiences and insights that will hopefully inspire a lifelong learning spirit and prepare them for a bright future. At the end of the course, we provide them with certificates essential for employment in the fashion industry, along with helping them with placements.
So far, we have helped more than 35 women to pursue their careers in the fashion industry.
Nursing Education
With the rise of pandemics, skill gaps in the healthcare sector have emerged as a major barrier. We believe that nursing schools and trained nurses are essential to providing quality care to our nation. We seek to offer employment opportunities for aspiring nurse-aides and also address a system-wide demand for healthcare workers. We provide training and education to girls in tribal and rural areas who have completed their basic education and are determined to work in the healthcare sector.
In 2017, we established a nursing school on our campus where we provide 3 months of theoretical training along with 6 months of practical training. Once students complete their exams, we also offer them placements in the nearby hospitals as per their preference. We have trained 120 assistant nurses and placed them successfully in various hospitals and healthcare departments.
Nursing Education
With the rise of pandemics, skill gaps in the healthcare sector have emerged as a major barrier. We believe that nursing schools and trained nurses are essential to providing quality care to our nation. We seek to offer employment opportunities for aspiring nurse-aides and also address a system-wide demand for healthcare workers. We provide training and education to girls in tribal and rural areas who have completed their basic education and are determined to work in the healthcare sector.
In 2017, we established a nursing school on our campus where we provide 3 months of theoretical training along with 6 months of practical training. Once students complete their exams, we also offer them placements in the nearby hospitals as per their preference. We have trained 120 assistant nurses and placed them successfully in various hospitals and healthcare departments.
Health and Hygiene Products
We developed a full-time training programme for herbal soaps, phenyls, and other health and hygiene-related items for rural women in response to a need for more sanitation and hygiene awareness. This course includes training women in making herbal soaps, sanitary napkins, cosmetics, black and white phenyl, hand wash, and liquid detergent, as well as how to confidently take orders and market their products. The purpose of our programme is to help women start their own small businesses that can be sustainable over the long term. As a result of our course, more than 60 women have been able to pursue self-employment by creating and selling their own products, as well as educating others about how to do the same.
Bakery Course
In order to help women with self-employment, we provide training on making various bakery products such as cakes, pastries, muffins, cupcakes, donuts, cookies, etc. The training included not only making bakery products but also developing good customer relations, packaging and selling them.
We trained over 90 women, and many of them now independently take orders for various occasions and work in bakeries.
Over 1000+ girls and women have benefited from the Beauty Parlour Course.
Bakery Course
In order to help women with self-employment, we provide training on making various bakery products such as cakes, pastries, muffins, cupcakes, donuts, cookies, etc. The training included not only making bakery products but also developing good customer relations, packaging and selling them.
We trained over 90 women, and many of them now independently take orders for various occasions and work in bakeries.
Over 1000+ girls and women have benefited from the Beauty Parlour Course.
Whom do we train?
Women in rural India lack job opportunities, nor do they have access to employable skills. We believe that women’s empowerment is a key factor for achieving sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental sustainability. Due to various socio-economic factors, there are many women in rural India who have not even finished their high school education. Due to this situation, many women don’t have access to a decent job and lack a voice in their families and in society, facing economic and independence challenges.
The objective of our programme is to provide sustainable livelihoods to women in the most vulnerable and poverty-hit rural districts of Maharashtra, as financial independence is very important in achieving women’s empowerment.
Training Skills
Personality Development
Majority of women from rural areas lack confidence and that is a major barrier in their path of living an independent life. Women from rural areas often develop stereotypes about themselves by comparing with women from urban areas, thinking that urban life is easier and more empowering than rural life.
Our sessions focused on the development of critical thinking skills, self-confidence, and an independent mindset. In addition, we covered a variety of other important topics, including how to communicate confidently, knowing their strengths and weaknesses, personal hygiene, leadership skills, public speaking, and decision-making for rural women.
English Speaking
Education is the key to empowering women and girls from marginalised communities. As we know, English is not just a language but a need of the hour and a powerful instrument of economic and social change. Language is often a barrier for rural women to communicate as they mostly speak in their own dialect. In order to improve their communication skills, we provide English-speaking classes to rural women, wherein we provide training right from the basics.
We also motivate them to cultivate the habit of reading to better understand the language and to gain more knowledge.
English Speaking
Education is the key to empowering women and girls from marginalised communities. As we know, English is not just a language but a need of the hour and a powerful instrument of economic and social change. Language is often a barrier for rural women to communicate as they mostly speak in their own dialect. In order to improve their communication skills, we provide English-speaking classes to rural women, wherein we provide training right from the basics.
We also motivate them to cultivate the habit of reading to better understand the language and to gain more knowledge.
Yoga and Meditation
While fulfilling her roles and responsibilities towards her family, women often neglect their own health. Many women fall into the habit of taking care of others’ health and wellness needs before they take care of their own. In order to promote health and well-being among the women from rural areas, we conduct yoga and meditation sessions through certified trainers.
Besides providing training, we also promote awareness about mental health and the importance of meditation.
Besides providing training, we also promote awareness about mental health and the importance of meditation.
Organic Farming
Organic and sustainable farming has the potential to create new structures that actively work towards achieving women’s empowerment and protecting the use of indigenous knowledge. The aim of our project is to promote women farmers and capacitate them on various sustainable, efficient and organic models of agriculture to increase farm production and ensure household-level food security through better income and livelihood opportunities throughout the year. To empower women and to promote gender equality in the field of agriculture, we provide training to women from rural areas by motivating them to opt organic farming.
We believe that training in organic methods appears to be a critical support to enabling women to take on leadership functions.As a result of receiving training women have begun to utilise organic farming methods to grow crops with success. Along with theoretical input on indigenous seeds, we also do practical demonstration of different natural fertilizers, natural pesticides by creating more awareness about the current trends and opportunities for organic products in the market :-
We believe that training in organic methods appears to be a critical support to enabling women to take on leadership functions.As a result of receiving training women have begun to utilise organic farming methods to grow crops with success. Along with theoretical input on indigenous seeds, we also do practical demonstration of different natural fertilizers, natural pesticides by creating more awareness about the current trends and opportunities for organic products in the market :-
- Preparation of different organic fertilisers.
- Application of organic fertilisers in the field.
- Maintaining the field organically.
- Procedure to maintain /handle the post harvest product naturally.
Organic Farming
Organic and sustainable farming has the potential to create new structures that actively work towards achieving women’s empowerment and protecting the use of indigenous knowledge. The aim of our project is to promote women farmers and capacitate them on various sustainable, efficient and organic models of agriculture to increase farm production and ensure household-level food security through better income and livelihood opportunities throughout the year. To empower women and to promote gender equality in the field of agriculture, we provide training to women from rural areas by motivating them to opt organic farming.
We believe that training in organic methods appears to be a critical support to enabling women to take on leadership functions.As a result of receiving training women have begun to utilise organic farming methods to grow crops with success. Along with theoretical input on indigenous seeds, we also do practical demonstration of different natural fertilizers, natural pesticides by creating more awareness about the current trends and opportunities for organic products in the market :-
We believe that training in organic methods appears to be a critical support to enabling women to take on leadership functions.As a result of receiving training women have begun to utilise organic farming methods to grow crops with success. Along with theoretical input on indigenous seeds, we also do practical demonstration of different natural fertilizers, natural pesticides by creating more awareness about the current trends and opportunities for organic products in the market :-
- Preparation of different organic fertilisers.
- Application of organic fertilisers in the field.
- Maintaining the field organically.
- Procedure to maintain /handle the post harvest product naturally.
