An Holistic Approach to Empowerment
We believe that women, unskilled and disadvantaged can change their own world... And then, like a ripple turning into a tide, women can change our world.
I am thankful to Creative Handicrafts for giving me the courage to face life when I had no one to lean on, for helping me overcome my problems and single handedly raise my children
Suvidha Therade - member of Creative Handicrafts Cooperative
I am thankful to Creative Handicrafts for giving me the courage to face life when I had no one to lean on, for helping me overcome my problems and single handedly raise my children
Suvidha Therade - member of Creative Handicrafts Cooperative
Education & Childcare
Investing in the next generation
135
children were impacted through Balwadi's last year
Pre-school education
Balwadi
The Balwadi Project caters to the educational development of children aged 3 to 6 years from the slum and tribal area in Andheri and Goregaon Aarey milk colony. Currently, 5 Balwadis function in slums and in the tribal hamlets.
The Balwadis were started in response to the problem of malnutrition and non-enrolment in school among children in the slums and tribal colonies around Andheri. The Creative Handicrafts Balwadis provide foundational learning and ensure that children are enrolled into school at the right age.
Child Development Centre
Balvikas Kendra
The Child Development Centre (CDC) or Balvikas Kendra as it is known in the local dialect, was started with the aim of providing a safe place for children from the community to spend time, study and rest while their parents are at work. To begin with, these were children of people engaged in begging.
Today, any needy family can enroll their child (aged 3 to 16 years) in the CDC at a nominal cost of Rs.10 per month. Children are provided with breakfast and lunch. A full-time teacher looks over their school work and ensures their homework is completed. Children enrolled at a CDC are much less likely to drop out of school and their chances of pursuing higher education are greatly improved.
130
children were supported by the Child Development Centre last year
189
children benefited from Creative Handicrafts' daycare in the past year
Creche
When Creative Handicrafts first began, women brought their little ones to the Cooperatives while they worked. Trying to work and care for their child at the same time was far from ideal! This led to the creation of a day crèche for Cooperative members and the women who come into the training centers. During the workday, this provides a safe place for their children aged 6 months to 16 years. The children benefit from daily nutrition, play, rest and tuition at the crèche.
School-going children are helped with their studies and smaller kids are cared for. The crèche also makes it possible for mothers to breastfeed their babies or check on them when needed because it is located next to the Cooperatives where the women work.
Education Sponsorship
One way to help women in the slum break free from poverty is to help them educate their children. Creative Handicrafts runs a sponsorship program in partnership with the NGOs, Tramundi (Spain) and La Joyeuse Vague (Belgium). They help support the educational expenses of around 150 children. You can sign up for the sponsorship program too!
Children aspiring to complete their higher education are also supported. These children are encouraged to support another deserving child once they have become financially self-reliant.
91
university graduates, sponsored through Creative Handicrafts
Healthcare
Health Camps
Good health determines the quality and capacity of the women to manage their work and their family life. However, many women neglect their health for the sake of their family or due to insufficient finances.
Preventive care is seen as a low priority in the community as a whole. Health camps are run to help establish its importance and make health care more accessible to the women members and their children.
Over 200 people benefit from the health camps that are held every year.
Eye checkups
Cancer screening
Gynecological checkups
TB detection and awareness
HIV AIDS awareness
First aid courses
Reproductive health awareness
Eye checkups
Cancer screening
Gynecological checkups
TB detection and awareness
HIV AIDS awareness
First aid courses
Reproductive health awareness programs
Mutual Health Fund
Arogyanidhi
Economic & Social Empowerment
Skills Training
Sewing training is provided to women from the slum and tribal community who are unskilled and facing a severe financial crisis in their families. Women are selected after a survey of their socio-economic status. Keeping in mind the financial struggles they face, they are paid a stipend to help provide some relief while they learn the intricacies of sewing.
A woman's progress in the tailoring course is assessed at the end of the 3rd and 4th months. Those who have achieved a satisfactory skill-level are moved into the existing Cooperatives to eke out a living. Women who pick up the skills more quickly are shifted to the cooperatives much sooner.
60
women are trained to sew each year
13
groups, each with around 20 women
Fair Trade Cooperative Groups
Once trained, a woman joins the Cooperative as a member of a group. These groups produce textile based handicrafts, garments, accessories and soft toys. The Cooperative is managed by its women members.
Each Cooperative has its own bank account and administrative setup. An elected head of the group supervises and guides production activity ensuring the timely completion of orders. She serves as the link between the Cooperative and Creative Handicrafts' central office. The central office assists the Cooperatives in securing orders, marketing and sales of products and overall financial management.
Flexible Employment Options
The Home Project was initiated in order to provide employment opportunities on a part-time basis to women who have skills but are not able to join the Cooperative.
Around 400 women assist in embroidery and patchwork. These women are associated with Creative Handicrafts for 3 to 4 months every year. This part-time, home-based employment helps them supplement the income of their households, while also allowing them to be present at home for their families.
400
women employed in part-time positions
20
women prepare meals each day
Project Asli Food
Project Asli Food was initiated to provide an employment opportunity to those women who came from financially disadvantaged situations but could not pick up sewing skills.
Lunchbox services, party and catering orders are received and successfully executed by these women all on their own strength. At present over 510 lunch boxes are prepared, packed and delivered each day by 20 women under the Asli Food project.
*Mumbai only
Capacity Building
Over the years we have seen a transformation not only in the economic status of the women but also socially. We have seen the women draw strength from the various awareness programs, counseling and guidance provided by social workers at Creative Handicrafts. These women then step out to provide support for others in their group who face similar situations. This is the core purpose of the capacity building sessions and programs.
The capacity building is primarily based on the issues of women empowerment, gender equality and ending violence against women.
The goal is for women to stand up for equality and build a violence-free society.
Topics include:
Perspectives on gender and sex
Building violence-free marriages
Types of violence against women
Identification and prevention of child sexual abuse
Legal awareness
Safety of women in public spaces
Understanding patriarchy and its effects
1500
women benefit from Saving & Credit groups
Saving & Credit groups
Earning combined with saving is the only way to ensure that the women do not fall into a debt cycle with money lenders. With this in mind, Creative Handicrafts started Saving and Credit groups.
After 6 months of regular savings contributions, women are eligible to take a loan. Members are encouraged to take loans for educational purposes, medical emergencies and for entrepreneurial activities. The Saving and Credit groups are managed by the social work department of Creative Handicrafts.
At present 120 groups with a total of 1500 women in the community are benefiting from this program.
