WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene):

Hygiene & awareness programs related to hygiene and sanitation have become absolutely essential especially because of Covid-19. Our WASH program was introduced to spread awareness & menstrual hygiene in schools and slum areas.

20 hygiene/menstrual awareness camps benefitting over 1310 students, teachers, and rural women were organized. All participants in the awareness program gained knowledge on women’s health & hygiene along with Covid-19 prevention and received free menstrual kits that contained a pouch with 2 reusable cloth sanitary napkins and gained insights on how to wash & use these eco-friendly, safe & plastic-free and low-cost napkins

Another program called ‘Swastha School’ under which 26 handwash stations were installed across urban/rural underprivileged schools in Karnataka benefitting over 7910 students, teachers & staff.

Micro-Enterprise Development through Alternative Sustainable Livelihoods:

Telephonic conversations were planned with local voluntary organizations/self-help groups to explain to them the micro-enterprise program and their willingness to participate. Our team physically visited these locations and held meetings with village groups/families to check their readiness and clarify their doubts. Simultaneously, working on identification of manufacturers/ suppliers for the small-scale Jaggery plant and Tamarind processing units. Even after contacting manufacturers (after gathering their details from the internet), we were able to find one jaggery machine maker who can supply small-scale plants and only one manufacturer dealing in tamarind machines.

Our team either physically or virtually visited the plants to gain the technical know-how and get demonstrations of the machines.

Tamarind processing machines (Cover removal and seed removal) were delivered and installed at village Baad and jaggery machine installation is in progress. A total of 50 families were direct beneficiaries of these jaggery and tamarind processing plants.

Livelihood:

Free tailoring classes to over 400 (direct + indirect) beneficiaries was conducted across 4 locations in Karnataka. Each batch was an exhaustive three months-long training program for women to teach them the techniques of cutting & stitching to produce cloth masks, bags, sanitary napkins, pouches, dresses and other products with high market demand.

Basic computer and spoken English Training program for the livelihood of women in low-income/slums of Bangalore was given for productive employment. Each batch was an exhaustive 1-month training program with theory and practical sessions.A placement program was also conducted at the end. Trained professionals were hired for conducting the training who helped enable job placements through placement agencies.

Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Camps:

There is a huge gap in India when it comes to the awareness of menstrual hygiene. In a span of 4 months in districts across Karnataka, 19 camps were set up respectively in villages and schools to help spread awareness about menstrual hygiene and help the adolescent girls and women gain much more control of their lives. Reusable sanitary napkins and refreshments were distributed amongst the participants which were free of cost and they were shown an informative video about the menstruation cycle and hygiene. A total of 1314 beneficiaries were directly reached through these camps.