India
Economic Development
Updates from the Field - Livelihood for 500 Tribal Women in Gujarat
Updates from the FieldUpdates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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Recent Updates from the Field
Exposure Visit and Training
By Lily Goldschmidt - Volunteer for Vikalp Women's Group, August 18, 2009 11:01 AM
Greetings. The past few months have been very busy for the members of Sakhi Sangtathan. First there was a three-day legal training at Vikalp Women’s Group where the women were versed in the Indian laws and acts that they work with frequently. They were given tools to better understand their rights and how to work within the system to get what they need. For example, they spent one day of the training learning how to fill out forms for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), through this act the women are learning to file applications to demand work for 100 days. This is an act that the women must know intimately because they come into contact with this regularly. This will help Sakhi Sangathan and Mahila Panch (the better assist their community as well as other members of Sakhi Sangathan. By the end of the three days, everyone had learned the procedures and necessary documentation to file complaints and follow up with the local government on a variety of legal issues.
A few weeks later there was an exposure visit to Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS), a women’s organization, which works on issues of livelihood, they are located in western Gujarat. The women traveled together to Kutch in a bus listening to music and enjoying one another’s company. They had the chance to visit one of the Sangathans (women’s group) of KMVS that has been around for years and is quite well established. It was a great opportunity to learn about another organization that is working on similar issues. They were able to spend the whole day observing how the women of KMVS work. There was discussion of best practices and the different methods that KMVS uses. We also had time for questions and getting to know each other.
They also bought and sold manure to members of Sakhi Sangathan and sold out! This has been a wonderful way to start a new business venture. They are planning to buy even more manure (with your help) next year!
A few weeks later there was an exposure visit to Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS), a women’s organization, which works on issues of livelihood, they are located in western Gujarat. The women traveled together to Kutch in a bus listening to music and enjoying one another’s company. They had the chance to visit one of the Sangathans (women’s group) of KMVS that has been around for years and is quite well established. It was a great opportunity to learn about another organization that is working on similar issues. They were able to spend the whole day observing how the women of KMVS work. There was discussion of best practices and the different methods that KMVS uses. We also had time for questions and getting to know each other.
They also bought and sold manure to members of Sakhi Sangathan and sold out! This has been a wonderful way to start a new business venture. They are planning to buy even more manure (with your help) next year!
Want to support this project's continued work? 
June Update
By Lily Goldschmidt - Environmental Day and Politics, June 08, 2009 11:46 PM
Hello! Excitement was in the air as the women of Sakhi Sangathan prepared for their celebration of Environmental Day. On May 30th, women arrived with axes and picks in hand ready to dig holes so that they could plant tree saplings the following week. Humidity had begun to fill the air, and it looked as though rain would follow in the next few weeks. Vikalp staff members joined in the preparations and Sakhi Sangathan members taught techniques for handling the tools and digging proper holes. Laughter and high spirits could be seen and heard all around.
Once the digging was complete, everyone gathered in the small outside amphitheatre as one of the field officers facilitated a discussion about the recent results of the elections. The women have decided set up meetings with their representatives in the coming months so that they can address the issues that are facing their communities. They plan to compile a list of all the issues and present it to the representatives during the meeting. This is Sakhi Sangathan’s first step into politics (as a group). It’s a sign of the power and influence these women can harness to improve the quality of life for themselves and their communities. Please show your support and donate today! We have posted a few new pictures from the preparations on May 30 enjoy.
Once the digging was complete, everyone gathered in the small outside amphitheatre as one of the field officers facilitated a discussion about the recent results of the elections. The women have decided set up meetings with their representatives in the coming months so that they can address the issues that are facing their communities. They plan to compile a list of all the issues and present it to the representatives during the meeting. This is Sakhi Sangathan’s first step into politics (as a group). It’s a sign of the power and influence these women can harness to improve the quality of life for themselves and their communities. Please show your support and donate today! We have posted a few new pictures from the preparations on May 30 enjoy.
Want to support this project's continued work?
Sakhi Sangathan has something to celebrate as Interntional Women's Day Approaches
By Lily Goldschmidt - Thank you for the support!, March 06, 2009 09:45 AM
Since our last update the group has grown in membership from 500 to 630 and its still growing! With an increase in membership and the generous donations made by the Global Giving community (roughly 30,000 rupees) and the amount added by the women of Sakhi Sangathan (32,000 rupees) and a few other donations from other sources (totaling $25,000 rupees) they have been able to give out more loans to women in their communities as well as purchase more cotton. This has helped Sahki Sangathan to avoid a loss in profit even during the tough economic conditions (it is important to note that we broke even so there was NO profit).
The women of Sakhi Sangathan have now taken over the responsibility of handling the finances and accounting and continue to build on their business management skills. Through their sharper understanding of business they have been able to eliminate most of middle men thus increasing the potential for profit. The women have also taken a stronger leadership role in dictating the direction of Sakhi Sangathan; so this year the women have decided to purchase manure and sell it to the community since the government supply always comes too late to use. We can see the confidence of the women growing with the success and growth of Sakhi Sangathan. With this increase in confidence we hope that the women can have a stronger voice in the decision making process of family finances and household decisions. We look forward to their continued success in the years and months ahead. We would also like to extend our gratitude to those that donated through Global Giving; their continued support greatly impacts the future success of the Sakhi Sangathan.
The women of Sakhi Sangathan have now taken over the responsibility of handling the finances and accounting and continue to build on their business management skills. Through their sharper understanding of business they have been able to eliminate most of middle men thus increasing the potential for profit. The women have also taken a stronger leadership role in dictating the direction of Sakhi Sangathan; so this year the women have decided to purchase manure and sell it to the community since the government supply always comes too late to use. We can see the confidence of the women growing with the success and growth of Sakhi Sangathan. With this increase in confidence we hope that the women can have a stronger voice in the decision making process of family finances and household decisions. We look forward to their continued success in the years and months ahead. We would also like to extend our gratitude to those that donated through Global Giving; their continued support greatly impacts the future success of the Sakhi Sangathan.
Want to support this project's continued work?
July Update
By Anna Oppenheim - Livelihood Project is going well...and needs help!, July 28, 2008 06:53 PM
Our livelihood project is picking up, but we really need financial help.
Around 6,000 kg of cotton has been purchased, at a price of 23 rupees per kg (~65 cents/kg.) So far, the cotton the women have sold has been sold at a price of 25 rupees/kg. The majority of the cotton however, has been stored to sell in the near future, when the estimated price they will receive for the cotton will be 125 rps/kg.
The women have participated in two trainings so far - on methods and techniques of cotton growing as well as on accounts keeping and management of their crops. In the future, we hope to have more trainings, including workshops focused on different marketing techniques of the cotton.
Because of our financial situation, we are still waiting to purchase crop insurance for the women farmers. This is a vital part of our program which will help these women protect their livelihood.
Financial assistance will also help us purchase more tools (such as tractors,) that will greatly assist these women with their daily work.
we purchased cotton worth Rs. 1,30,000. and we earned 17% profit. this money came from the SHG savings of the women. this is a small and hopeful start but if we need to make higher profits, we need to buy cotton worth Rs. 5,00,000 for which we do not have the wherewithal. more money to invest is also crucial because so far we have limited ourselves to the local market and more money will help us explore other markets that give a higher price.
the buying season starts around october
looking at this successful experiment, more SHGs of women want to join us in this venture.
this is an excellent example of the collectivisation of women leading to creative and beneficial solutions for livelihood concerns.
We are encouraged with the progress of this program but need your help to ensure that the women are able to continue with the work and the project grows enough to become self-sustainable!
Around 6,000 kg of cotton has been purchased, at a price of 23 rupees per kg (~65 cents/kg.) So far, the cotton the women have sold has been sold at a price of 25 rupees/kg. The majority of the cotton however, has been stored to sell in the near future, when the estimated price they will receive for the cotton will be 125 rps/kg.
The women have participated in two trainings so far - on methods and techniques of cotton growing as well as on accounts keeping and management of their crops. In the future, we hope to have more trainings, including workshops focused on different marketing techniques of the cotton.
Because of our financial situation, we are still waiting to purchase crop insurance for the women farmers. This is a vital part of our program which will help these women protect their livelihood.
Financial assistance will also help us purchase more tools (such as tractors,) that will greatly assist these women with their daily work.
we purchased cotton worth Rs. 1,30,000. and we earned 17% profit. this money came from the SHG savings of the women. this is a small and hopeful start but if we need to make higher profits, we need to buy cotton worth Rs. 5,00,000 for which we do not have the wherewithal. more money to invest is also crucial because so far we have limited ourselves to the local market and more money will help us explore other markets that give a higher price.
the buying season starts around october
looking at this successful experiment, more SHGs of women want to join us in this venture.
this is an excellent example of the collectivisation of women leading to creative and beneficial solutions for livelihood concerns.
We are encouraged with the progress of this program but need your help to ensure that the women are able to continue with the work and the project grows enough to become self-sustainable!
