Meet the ladies

The group of ladies taking part in our first Hand Skills Training programme have been together for almost 4 months. They have become close friends, so now it’s time for you to get to know them.

 

Manjula

Manjula is a project co-ordinator with the Young Women Christian Association, and is the group’s hand skills teacher. She is 29 years old and has lived in and around the slum all her life. 4 years ago, contrary to the tradition, Manjula had a love marriage and has since had one son. Her little boy suffers from thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, which requires regular blood transfusions. However living with her parents-in-law, who can take care of him, has enabled her to find work. In the past she had a variety of jobs - including shop work and call centres – before training in hand skills. Now with the YWCA Manjula is involved with several community initiatives that are close to her heart. She teaches these women sewing, works at the morning childcare centre and buses the needy to hospitals. She greatly enjoys her job but admits the teaching can be challenging at times. However her confidence will certainly grow with practice.

 

Selvi

Selvi is 29 years old and is originally from Indiranagar, Bangalore. At 16 she had a love marriage and moved to the slum for her husband’s work. She briefly worked at a garment factory before her marriage, but now stays at home looking after their 3 daughters while her husband works as an office assistant. She has always been interested in hand skills but had never found the opportunity to learn the ropes. From the house visits YWCA co-ordinators make in the area, Selvi discovered our training programme. She only knew one friend amongst the group of ladies, but quickly settled in. So far she has had a great experience with the training, especially enjoying the tailoring. This is a useful skill in her home, as she is able to mend and make clothes for her family. Tassel making has also been memorable, as she thinks they look beautiful on saris. After the training finishes she would enjoy working in the tailoring trade from home, and also teaching her daughters the skills she has learned.

 

 

Latha and Sandhya

Latha and Sandhya are sisters, who have both grown up in the slum. They live with their 2 other siblings, their mum (who is a housewife) and their dad (who is a labourer). Latha is 21 years old and the oldest sister in the family. At the moment she is studying Commerce at college but would like to gain a Management degree before running her own computer technology business. Sandhya is 16 and is in her last year of high school. After this year she would like to study medicine and become a doctor. Despite their different future plans, both girls had an interest in hand skills. After hearing of the programme from Anu (another class member) they came along to learn about designing and altering fabrics. With these skills they can make clothes for themselves and their family. Neither had any experience in sewing, but have loved everything so far. After the training they will continue tailoring and embroidery for fun in their spare time.

 

 

Sangeetha
Sangeetha is 24 years old and has been married for one year. So far in life she hasn’t worked, but her husband sustains the two of them with his accounting job at a hotel. Having grown up in Gujarat, she moved to Bangalore for an arranged marriage. Relatively new to the area - but experienced in sewing - she asked a haberdashery shop about hand skill classes. The shop owner knew Manjula, and put the two ladies in touch. She enjoys making crafts for family and friends because they like and appreciate her efforts. After the training programme Sangeetha would like to make handicrafts from home and have many happy customers. Tailoring has been her favourite activity, while sari falls were her least favourite. Ever the perfectionist, she feels sari falls take a long time and she isn’t very good at them. Over the 4 months, not only has she developed her hand skills, but she has also made good friends in her new home town.

 

 

 

 

Anu

Anu is 25 years old and has spent all her life in Bangalore. From her 4 year love marriage she has had 1 little girl and is expecting her next baby later this year. Her husband supports their family with his job at a medical supplies wholesaler, while she stays at home. Anu discovered the class from Prema (another member) and was encouraged to join by the other ladies. She hadn’t sewn before but was eager to learn. At the class she steadily works away on her project, enjoying tassel making the most. She is motivated to learn these skills purely for herself and her family, as altering and mending fabrics herself would save money. Especially with a new baby on the way, saving money where possible is important.

 

 

 

 

Sathya

 
Sathya is 19 years old and lives with her parents, siblings and extended family. She has grown up in the area and now lives just down the street from the crafts centre. She stays at home with her mum during the day taking care of the house, while her dad is out driving lorries. In the evening she goes with her aunt to sell flowers on the roadside, which can make for a long and tiring day. She found out about the hand skills training by passing the centre and asking about its activities. Sathya had experience in machine sewing, as their family has a sewing machine in the house. She wanted to improve her technique, while also picking up some new skills. Machine stitching is the most useful to her as she plans on becoming a tailor from home.  





Maheshwari

Maheshwari is 34 years old and grew up in Tamil Nadu. She moved with her parents to the slum, which is where she met her husband. From this 8 year love marriage she now has 2 sons. She has never worked but her husband’s income from driving auto-rickshaws sustains the family. Maheshwari was interested in joining a sewing class so came to the centre and spoke to Manjula (our co-ordinator). She had no experience in sewing but wanted to make unique clothes for her and her family. She would also like to pursue work as a tailor from home and earn additional money for the family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vani

Vani is one of the younger girls in the group at 18 years of age. She grew up with her grandmother just outside of Bangalore, and moved to live with her parents and brothers. Her mum is a domestic helper and her dad paints buildings. She is still at school, now in her 9^th grade, but is keen to pick up new skills wherever possible. She had no experience in sewing before the class but wanted to give it a try. After hearing about the programme from her friend and neighbour Sathya (who also is part of the group) she got involved mainly to learn tailoring. However on reflection, embroidery has been her favourite activity. For her, such skills would enable her to work and earn money in her spare time while still at school. In the future Vani would like to work in a call centre but continue with handicrafts for fun and as an additional income.

 

 

 

Prema

Prema is also one of the younger girls in the class at 19 years old. At the moment she lives with her parents and brothers. Her mum is a housewife and her dad a wage labourer. Her plan is to move away from home to study at a design college, with the aim of becoming a full time tailor one day. She also has the dream of making and designing her own clothes. Prema has attended previous hand skill and art classes before, and on hearing from Selvi (a family friend who also attends the class) about our programme, she immediately signed up. This class is a perfect foundation for her college course, setting up her future in the handicrafts trade.

 

 

 

 

Sumathi & Mary

Sumathi is 40 years old and Mary is 33. These two ladies married into the same family – as Mary’s husband is the brother of Sumathi’s husband. Their two families (along with a sister and her subsequent family) all live together, with a total of 20 people living under the same roof. Mary is originally from Tamil Nadu and moved to the slum for an arranged marriage to her cousin. She has been with him for 16 years and now has 3 children to care for while he works in the military. Sumathi grew up in the area and also has 3 children. Before her marriage 20 years ago she shortly worked in a garment factory, but since her love marriage she hasn’t worked. Her husband works for the government and with the whole family pitching in, they can sustain themselves. Both ladies are under strict control from their husbands and male relatives. They found out about the training programme by seeing activity out the window and investigating. Mary can knit, but neither had experience with sewing. However they were curious, so asked their husbands if they could attend. They were allowed to join the class only because the centre is so close to their home. They want to make the most out the 6 month programme and are enthusiastic to learn everything. After the training is finished they would like to buy their own sewing machine in order to make clothes for the family. This has been a great experience not only for the skills learned, but also for the friendships made and freedom enjoyed.