Skill Development for Women in the Chennai communities

Oasis India aims to prevent trafficking and other forms of violence against women and children and assist each person to flourish in the context of their community. Our thematic areas of work are Education, Skill Development, Prevention, Rehabilitation, Sports and Community. These programmes are a response to the needs of the community, through which we help make India better for women and children.

According to a recently released report by UN Women, the pandemic is likely to have pushed 96 million people into extreme poverty, of which 47 million are women and girls. 3 out of every 4 women do not take part in any recognised economic activity, and Oasis India is changing that narrative by helping women learn skills for employment. Skill development is the way to empower our women for financial stability and independence.

The work in Chennai focuses on building lives in the Kalayanapuram, Kannigapuram, Basin Bridge, and Kannagi Nagar communities. The issues in each community vary, but the underlying cause of these issues remains poverty. Violence against women and substance abuse run wild in these communities, making it unsafe for the women and children. Through skilling, the goal is to empower women to build a sustainable income for themselves and their families. The skilling programme is designed according to the need of the women and their interests. Vocational skilling initiatives like microskilling and cloud kitchen helps women to generate small income at home and have access to the materials needed in their area. Cloud Kitchen promotes entrepreneurship, healthy eating, and well-being at our Chennai hubs. Cloud Kitchen Courses team trains the women to cook everyday meals with healthy substitutes like millets and vegetables. They also learn about the nutritional values of all of these foods. Ponmozhi, our cloud kitchen trainer, says that "Everyone goes to work in our communities, and women often choose easier options to cook faster, which are not always healthy, leading to diabetes and obesity. So, in our classes, we teach women to substitute rice with millets and to include vegetables rich in nutrients in all the dishes. They learn to cook smarter and faster." Our goal is for women to take this up as a small business, either as a group or individually. Similarly, in micro skilling courses, we train women to make every day products like phenyl, soap oils, candles etc. which can be sold among peers and in the community.

A six-month certified training courses for women like the vocational tailoring course and hair dressing training where women are given theoretical and a hands on practical learning to master the basic techniques of tailoring or hair dressing with beautician skills.  Dhana's story is an important one that highlights the importance of skilling for women from low-income families. Dhanalakshmi, fondly known as Dhana is part of the hairdressing and beautician training in our Kalayanpuram hub, Chennai. She is the top performer in her class and is loved by everyone as she patiently helps those who struggle with techniques and is always trying new things! Her positive attitude and smile often mask the sadness in her life. Dhana lost her mother at a very young age and did not have much of an education as she had to drop out of school. She also recently lost her father, who was the pillar of their family. Having lost both parents, Dhana was left to take care of her sisters.

Dhana heard about Oasis India through a friend. She decided right away to enroll in the hairdressing programme and learn a new skill that will help her care for her family. This served as a turning point for Dhana. She became the best performer in her group, quickly grasping concepts and techniques so well. She also makes the effort to be presentable and grooms herself well. This helped her become very confident in herself and her skills. After graduating, Dhana has started earning through hairdressing and beautician home services. She still comes to the hub to practice regularly and strives to be the best. Dhana hopes to return to school and finish her education, earning a degree that will add value to her hairdressing and beautician skills.

Women who join the skilling programmes across India also earn great support systems for life. Through life skill discussions and sessions conducted by our staff, women learn to navigate through life's struggles efficiently and to support each other through the process. Many who graduate, often come back to receive guidance from our team. Rekha joined a vocational tailoring class at Kannagi Nagar and picked up the skill quite easily. Her enthusiasm and commitment made her a hit among her neighbours as she started taking orders soon. Rekha and her husband opened a small tea shop but it not take off and that took a toll on them financially. Her husband started driving auto rickshaw for a living and Rekha started a tailoring unit at home. During the lock-down, she worked for hours, so that she would have enough money to run the family. Rekha says, "My husband is my biggest strength and support."

Rekha also joined our self–help group to begin saving money. She became an office bearer and coordinated among the women in her group. Rekha took the responsibility during the pandemic to gather her team members and collect the money for the savings, despite everyone having financial crisis of their own. Rekha says, "I have not taken any loans yet. As a group, we felt that some needed the money more. I wanted to take a loan for my expenses during the Diwali festival but one of our SHG member’s husband had a heart attack and was hospitalized. So we all decided to let her take the loan. Many others have taken loans when they struggled with paying children’s school fees or for other sudden expenses." Rekha and the members of the SHG in Kannagi Nagar have a strong community that supports each other through their ups and downs. A much needed support system.

For more details about training programmes conducted by Oasis India NGO contact Carol on 9600174161.