Sewn for Success

Tailoring is a common occupation in India, with more than 32.4 million individuals in this profession [1]. Sewing has become an empowering tool for impoverished women in India, which is highly significant since about 50.7 million people live in extreme poverty but only 20.7% of women are part of the labor force [2]. Women have been able to double their household incomes, through learning how to sew and becoming professional tailors [3].

This initiative aims to provide sewing machines to rehabilitation centers that have vocational training programs so that the beneficiaries they serve can learn how to sew and make a sustainable livelihood for themselves. This campaign is primarily centered in India since tailoring is a prevalent manner of subsistence. We hope that by both providing sewing machines and offering vocational training through the rehabilitation centers, we can help vulnerable members of our society supplement their incomes and take care of their families. 

Another component we wish to implement in the long-run is having these beneficiaries sew items like clothes, undergarments, and bedding which we can then donate to homeless shelters and orphanages. Our organization would pay for the sewing costs and labor, thereby ensuring salaries for the tailors while simultaneously helping another community in need.