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SendVocational training centre for women
Project region : Cuddalore district (south of Pondichery), Villupuram district (north of Pondichery) and Tamil Nadu
Duration : From December 2007 and ongoing
Aim : Vocational training for women and youngsters
Course of action :
- training in bakery
- training in sewing
- computer training
Diploma courses
As well as working to develop the economic, social and agricultural activities in the area the aim here is also to reduce unemployment among the young, create an initiative for social development, consolidate existing cultural practices and mutual help and improve problem solving through local initiatives by creating a vocational polytechnic school. After the tsunami, while the implemented reconstruction programs were for the very young or adults, adolescents were generally left on the sidelines.
A multidisciplinary training centre for adolescents was built and inaugurated in November 2008: 100 adolescents are trained each year and continuing education has been implemented in 3 or 6 month courses.
Although Solidarité India had planned to train adolescent boys and girls, it was recognized that first of all, meeting the needs of young women and adolescent girls was a priority in the Villupuram and Cuddalore districts. As their situation is the most precarious:
- They are restricted to repetitive and domestic chores: looking after animals and children, collecting wood and water, preparing meals
- They cover 2/3 of the work load, produce half the food, but earn only 10% of the household’s income
- 2/3 do not attend school
- Some are subjected to violence: alcoholic husbands or fathers, forced marriages
- they are not allowed to take decisions at any level
- The impact of the recent Tsunami and economic globalization has increased their workload and seriously dented the budget and the impact of local social services
The aim is to reduce female subordination by allowing women to become independent earners and give them more influence in social affairs at every level.
The first courses to be implemented were: bakery (coordinated by James Forest and Michel Cires), sewing and computing, further course are being established in fashion design, carpentry, electricity and food processing.
Market studies and contacts with local entreprises will be set up throughout the year in order to promote unit of production for every activities. These units of production will insure the financial sustainability of the project. Every young will also have the possibility of obtaining small loan through the micro credit allowing him to implement his own unit in his village. The common action will be valorized.
Local partner : Solidarité India (independent Indian branch of SOLIDARITÉ)
