In Jharkhand, India, Karuna-Shechen has launched an exciting new vocational training program for poor women from rural communities – painting on ceramics.
Ten villagers recently participated in our first free introductory course. Based on their skills, creativity, and personal interests, we selected four women to paint designs on pots that will be sold by Karuna-Shechen in various markets around Jamshedpur, the capital of Jharkhand.
Sunita during a pot painting class.
One of the women chosen was Sunita Mishra, a mother of two daughters, ages 7 and 12. Sunita is happy that they can go to an English language school, but quality education in India is costly.
Sunita joined the program to earn extra revenue for her girls’ education and their dowry. “I chose to participate in this ceramic painting program for my children,” Sunita says. “It is a very good program. Training is free and I am now able to save money for their future.”
Thanks to this program, Sunita and other participating women can earn an extra 3,000 rupees (47 USD) per month. In India, the average monthly wage is 295 USD.
“Jamshedpur is one of the biggest cities in north eastern India. We know from our research that there is a big market for such painted pots there,” explains Shamul Akhtar, Karuna-Shechen India Director.
“Unfortunately most rural women lack the necessary skills and knowledge to sell their products in big cities. Through this program, not only do we train illiterate women, we also connect them to buyers and markets.”
In Bihar and Jharkhand, our various free vocational training classes are transforming lives of hundreds of women like Sunita and her daughters. We equip them with revenue-generating skills so they can earn money and contribute to the well-being of their family and community.
May 6 2022
We believe that education is a tool for development, which should also help everyone to cultivate their inner qualities. Indeed, Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a major axis of intervention for K...
April 28 2022
This year, all the donations collected by Action For Karuna finance our food security program in India which supports more than 53,000 families: organic vegetable gardens, fruit trees, drip irrigati...
April 19 2022
"When altruists join forces, they can generate a tremendous power for good. (...) Everyone can mobilize in his or her own way and cultivate an altruistic state of mind to become a link in the immense ...
March 31 2022
Since June 2021, Karuna-Shechen has been supporting Calcutta Rescue in its intervention in the slums of Nonadanga and Canal West, in Calcutta, India. This sister association was created by Dr. Jack P...
March 14 2022
"In this current era, we face many challenges. One of our main problems is to reconcile the demands of the economy, the pursuit of happiness and respect for the environment. These imperatives corresp...
