Empower a disadvantaged woman in India

Support Shakti.ism's Women's Empowerment Sustainable Livelihood Project to train 10 disadvantaged Indian women in design + tailoring with ongoing dignified employment (with fair wages) options for successful graduates.

Investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. Women make enormous contributions to economies, whether in businesses, on farms, as entrepreneurs or employees, or by doing unpaid care work at home. But they also remain disproportionately affected by poverty, discrimination and exploitation. Gender discrimination means women often end up in insecure, low-wage jobs, and constitute a small minority of those in senior positions.

By providing an opportunity for marginalised women to obtain transferable skills like sewing, we can help them to achieve financial independence. Empowering women to earn their own steady income means that they will be able to provide food, clothing, and other basic necessities and education for their children and other family members.

According to the UN, when women work, they invest 90% of their income back into their families, compared with 35 percent for men. By focusing on girls and women, innovative businesses and organisations can spur economic progress, expand markets, and improve health and education outcomes for everyone.

How your donations will be used:

- Rs. 20,000 (~£215/$275) buys one professional electric sewing machines

- Rs. 27,000 (~£290/$370 each) buys one professional overlocker machine 

- Rs. 5,000 (~£336/$430) can provide 6 months of tailoring livelihood skills training (including training, materials, and daily stipend for the duration of the training)

*Note that we also accept sari donations (please email [email protected] if you'd like to donate saris from anywhere in the world)