EMPOWER-HER SEWING PROJECT: Equipping Women with Skills to Create Lasting Change

AdventureAid & IHCL

Project Overview

The Anita Mendiratta Foundation (AMF) is honoured to support the Empower-HER Sewing Project, a transformative initiative dedicated to uplifting underprivileged young women and single mothers in rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, India. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, and dedicated partners, this year over 50 women have gained essential sewing skills, providing them with a pathway to financial independence. By funding sewing machines, materials, and comprehensive training, we enable participants to run their own business, building a foundation for sustainable livelihood, self-sufficiency, and resilience.

In addition, the project empowers these women with the funds needed to send their children to school, unlocking opportunities that can break cycles of poverty and unlock generational growth. Through education and skill-building, the Empower-HER Sewing Project offers these women and their families the chance for a brighter, more secure future.

MORE ABOUT THE EMPOWER-HER SEWING PROJECT

For over a decade, this project has been a lifeline for marginalised women in Andhra Pradesh, addressing critical needs and fostering empowerment for those facing poverty, abuse, and social exclusion. Many participants have experienced significant hardship, including domestic violence, limited access to education, and severe financial instability. With limited opportunities to secure a stable income, these women face daunting barriers in creating safe, hopeful futures for themselves and their families.

The Empower-Her Sewing Project provides a safe, supportive space for these women to gain valuable skills, connect with others, and rebuild confidence. To ensure sustainable local employment and create meaningful opportunities post-graduation, a maximum of three women per village are selected to take part in the programme. This careful selection allows each participant the chance to secure work once they have completed the training, supporting the local economy while avoiding oversaturation.

Through the guidance of skilled trainers and a compassionate support team, these women are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to forge a new path. The Anita Mendiratta Foundation is deeply committed to this mission, working to empower women to overcome challenges and build secure, dignified lives for themselves and their families.

In October 2023, AMF’s Co-Leads of Global Projects had the privilege of meeting many of the young women who had graduated from the sewing programme through AMF’s partner Adventure Aid. What the women shared was deeply inspiring; their stories of resilience and transformation highlighted the profound, lasting impact of this initiative.

These women, some of whom have now become instructors, welcomed us warmly, sharing how the skills gained through the programme have enabled them not only to support their families but also to send their children to school. It was evident that the Empower-HER Sewing Project is far more than a skills programme – it is a lifeline offering stability, empowerment, and a pathway to independence for women ready to transform their lives and those of their children. 

If you want to help us reach more women through the Empower-HER Sewing Programme, please consider making a donation to the designated fund. 

Other Projects