Aasha, as the word suggests, provides hope to women to generate an alternative or supplementary income for their families.  Most families we interact with are migratory workers, moving where there is work to be found. With uncertain or irregular incomes, they are pushed back deeper into the cycle of poverty and distress, during periods of no work. 

We encourage the mothers of the children who enroll in our center to participate in our Aasha program.  We teach them skills and basic literacy which are essential to the skill development training they receive.  

Starting with two sewing machines, today we have eight machines where they learn tailoring, measuring units, and contemporary items like scrunchies and accessories alongside regular stitching of clothes. 

Over time, we have included the making of fast-moving and demand driven items like gel candles, ordinary candles, painted traditional Diyas for Diwali and Rakhi making, which are festival specific. We have successfully taught them to make eco-friendly Holi colours too. 

We are cognizant of the challenges they face and therefore bear in mind that we teach them suitable skills which they can manage independently and creatively, and ones that offer them flexibility of time on the one hand and things they can do operating from home on the other.  The courses offered typically range between 3 – 6 months, providing the women adequate knowledge to facilitate livelihood opportunities at the end of the training programme. Trained personnel are brought in to impart this training development program.

A total of 125 women from the slum areas of Dehradun and 25+ women in Kalagachhia village, West Bengal have been or are in the process of undergoing this training.