“ SAHELI ” Vocational and family welfare centre for Women

1. “ SAHELI ”Vocational and family welfare centre for Women

2. The story unfolds of a multi-faceted approach , which includes Vocational Training Literacy , Hygiene and moral training which gives rural women the tools to help uplift their families and communities at large .

3. Mahatama Gandhi , The Father of the Nation had rightly said “ When you educate a man , you educate an individual . When you educate a woman , you educate a family .”

4. With this in mind R.I.District 3250 took up the challenge and started the Rotary Saheli Project under the leadership of PDG.Sandeep Narang and PDG.Kamal Sanghvi . The initiative was fuelled and supported by Jennifer Hendrickson , Chairperson , RIFPD and PDG.Buck Lindsay .

5. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES “ Saheli ” means a lady friend , who receive training at the institute are encouraged to retrun to their communities and share what they have learned , whether vocation , reading , writing , health and hygiene technique or even how to make better decisions as a group .They bring back new ideas about health, hygiene , improving their own homes and importance of educating children .

6. The primary objective of the centers is to train rural women for a vocational activity , thereby empower them with knowledge of their true selves and to give them the skills and knowledge needed to improve the quality of life of their own , their families and their communities . To alleviate poverty and to remove inequality based on gender .

7. Population a key issue of concern of the district will also be addressed at the centers with each trainee being taught the advantages of Child spacing and usage of modern tools for child spacing .

8. The Curriculum is designed to achieve the following :To facilitate change in the age old attitudes and practices which block or impede the efforts of men and women to live in equality with dignity and security .To facilitate initiation and execution of development activities in the communities.

9. To increase awareness and knowledge of the potential for improving the social and economic conditions in the communities .To impart skills and knowledge needed to initiate development activities , improve health and nutrition , raise household income , increase literacy .To practice child spacing .

10. TARGET TRAINEES :The majority of women both in rural and semi urban areas of Dist. 3250 (states of Bihar and Jharkhand) are employed in the informal sector , which are characterized by low productivity , minimal incomes , lack of economic and social security , farming and are subject to economic as well as sexual exploitation . In rural India 87% if women are employed in agriculture as laborers and cultivators with income of US$ 1 per day .

11. TRAINING PROGRAMS :Three to six months course for learning the skill of Tailoring , Sewing and Knitting and maintenance of the equipment Six to 12 months course in Computer education and equipment maintenance.6 to 12 months course on Adult literacy

12. Each Trainee is given training for usage of modern medicines and techniques of child spacing Each Trainee is taught skills to deal with health problems , personal hygiene , child care and nutrition , prevention of water borne diseases , importance of immunization , caring for sick and elderly , damaging effect of alcohol , waste management , replace superstitious practices with medical care from qualified doctors .

13. Additional programs for teaching local arts such as embroidery , beadwork , Mehendi designs , jute bags & paper bags making etc are also taught . A new module of Beautician Course is also being attached to each center .

14. EXPERIENCE AND RECOGNITION :The training staff in each institute have 5 or more years experience in training rural women in vocational skills . Former trainees are encouraged to joins as trainers .

15. CENTER MECHANISM : Each centre will be managed and run by local Rotary clubs with or without cooperation of other local social organization . Rotarians and spouses of each club are involved in the day to day running of the centers . A chairman and a working committee of Rotarians and spouses monitor the functioning of the center.

16. REACH :4 Centers were started in 2003-04 , 9 more were added in 2005-06 taking the total tally to 13 centers under operations currently . 5 more were processed in 2005-06 and are awaiting funds from TRF .

17. District plans to add 6 to 7 centers every year targeting a total of 80 centers in the District covering over 75 cities of Bihar and Jharkhand . Once all the current 18 centers become operational by end 2006 , the District will be training nearly 7200 women for a vocation skill per annum .

18. BELIEF R.I.District 3250 believes that the woman is the central pillar of human society and deserves her due .

19. 27 SAHELI CENTERS AT RI District 3250 . Aurangabad * Buxar * Bettiah * Chapra * Chas * Dhanbad * Gaya * Gaya City * Garwha  * Giridih * Gumla * Jamshedpur * Jamshedpur Steel City * Jamshedpur West  * Koderma* Madhupur * Motihari Lake Town * Nawada * Patna * Patna Ashok * Patna City Patna Midtown * Patna Shakti * Patna West * Ramgarh * Ranchi South * Rehla

20. Achieve Universal Primary EducationPromote gender quality and empower womenReduce child mortalityImprove maternal health

21. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseasesEnsure environmental sustainabilityDevelop a global partnership for development

22. RAMGARH

23. JAMSHEDPUR

24. MADHUPUR

25. THE PROJECT To impart vocational training to women To create a volunteer force promoting child spacing and family planning These trained women would be called ROTARY SAHELIS