Food Security India Project #55473

Nourishing Hope: 500 Weekly Meals

by Prime Educational and Social Trust

Project Report | Sep 21, 2026
Supporting traditional artisans with microcredit

By Savarinathan Maria Arasu | Founder Director

Supporting traditional artisans with microcredit

Supporting Traditional Artisans Through Microcredit

Empowering Skilled Artisans to Build Sustainable Livelihoods

Across communities in and around Puducherry and neighbouring districts, many skilled artisans depend on traditional craftsmanship to support their families. Among them are artisans who create beautiful idols and sculptures using metal and stone. Their work represents generations of artistic knowledge, cultural traditions and craftsmanship.

However, possessing valuable skills does not always mean having a financially secure livelihood. Many artisans work as small household-based enterprises and face difficulties obtaining affordable working capital. The rising cost of metal, stone, tools, transportation and other materials can make it difficult for them to accept new orders or expand their production. Some are forced to depend on informal sources of credit, which may carry high interest rates or unfavourable repayment conditions.

Prime Trust aims to address this challenge by providing microcredit support to eligible local artisans engaged in metal and stone idol-making and related traditional crafts.

How the Project Works

Through this initiative, Prime Trust will provide small, affordable loans to artisans who have an established craft-based livelihood but require working capital to continue or expand their activities.

Microcredit can help artisans purchase essential raw materials such as metal and stone, meet production expenses, repair or purchase tools, arrange transportation and complete customer orders on time.

Access to timely working capital can also enable artisans to accept larger orders and take advantage of opportunities that they might otherwise have to decline because of a lack of funds.

The programme will focus on responsible lending, with beneficiaries selected according to appropriate eligibility criteria and their capacity to use and repay the loan. Prime Trust will monitor the utilisation of funds, repayment progress and livelihood outcomes.

Creating a Sustainable Cycle of Support

The project is designed to create a revolving cycle of livelihood support. As artisans repay their loans, the recovered funds can be used to provide microcredit to other eligible artisans.

This approach allows an initial pool of resources to potentially support multiple artisans over time. Rather than providing only one-time assistance, the programme seeks to strengthen the financial capacity of small artisan enterprises and encourage greater economic independence.

Expected Impact

With access to affordable working capital, artisans can:

Purchase raw materials required for production.
Complete existing and new customer orders.
Invest in essential tools and equipment.
Increase their production capacity.
Reduce dependence on high-cost informal borrowing.
Improve the stability of their household income.
Create or sustain employment within their small enterprises.

The project also contributes to preserving traditional craftsmanship by helping skilled artisans continue practising and passing on their knowledge and skills.

Our Vision

Prime Trust believes that traditional artisans should have the opportunity to transform their skills into sustainable livelihoods. By combining access to responsible microcredit with appropriate monitoring and support, we hope to help artisans strengthen their enterprises, improve their economic security and provide better opportunities for their families.

Your support can help a skilled artisan purchase the materials needed for their next order, keep their craft enterprise running and build a more secure future for their family.

Through your contribution, you can help Prime Trust expand access to livelihood finance for local artisans while supporting the continuation of valuable traditional metal and stone craftsmanship.

Supporting traditional artisans with microcredit

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Sep 18, 2026
Women's Tailoring & Embroidery skills program

By Savarinathan Maria Arasu | Founder Director

Women's Tailoring & Embroidery skills program

Women’s Tailoring and Embroidery Skills Development Programme

Prime Trust is implementing a Tailoring and Embroidery Skills Development Programme to empower women from underserved and economically vulnerable communities with practical vocational skills and opportunities for livelihood development. The programme is designed to help women build confidence, develop employable skills, and explore ways to generate income for themselves and their families.

Many women in low-income communities have limited access to formal employment and affordable vocational training. Household responsibilities, financial constraints, limited educational opportunities, and a lack of suitable local employment can make it difficult for women to obtain stable sources of income. Prime Trust recognises that accessible skills training can provide women with practical tools to improve their economic opportunities.

Through this programme, women receive hands-on training in tailoring, sewing, embroidery, garment making, cutting, measurements, stitching, finishing, repair, and alteration techniques. Training sessions combine demonstrations with practical exercises so that participants can gradually develop their technical abilities and confidence.

Participants are introduced to the safe and effective use of sewing machines and other tailoring equipment. They learn basic stitching techniques, fabric handling, measurements, cutting and garment preparation. The embroidery component provides participants with opportunities to learn decorative stitching, embroidery patterns, thread handling, design development, and finishing techniques. Regular practice allows participants to improve their skills and produce simple garments and textile products.

An important element of the programme is its focus on livelihood opportunities. Prime Trust encourages participants to consider how their newly acquired skills can be used after completing their training. Depending on their circumstances and local market opportunities, women may be able to undertake tailoring orders, provide clothing alteration services, undertake embroidery work, stitch garments, produce textile products, or gradually establish small home-based enterprises.

The programme also contributes to women's personal empowerment. Learning a practical skill can strengthen self-confidence and encourage women to take a more active role in household economic activities. For women who may not be able to take up conventional employment because of family responsibilities, home-based tailoring and embroidery can provide a flexible option for exploring income generation.

Prime Trust monitors participation through attendance records, trainer observations, practical exercises, participant feedback, and assessments of skills acquired during training. Follow-up activities will help the organisation understand how participants apply their skills and whether they are able to use them for employment or income-generating activities.

Prime Trust aims to expand the programme to reach more women in underserved communities and strengthen the connection between vocational training and sustainable livelihoods. Future activities may include advanced tailoring and embroidery training, entrepreneurship awareness, access to sewing equipment, product development, and guidance on local market opportunities.

Support from GlobalGiving donors can help Prime Trust provide training materials, sewing equipment, fabrics, embroidery supplies, trainer support, and other resources needed to expand the programme. Every contribution can help create an opportunity for a woman to acquire a practical skill and move closer to greater economic independence.

Through this initiative, Prime Trust seeks to create lasting opportunities where women can learn, build confidence, develop skills, and work towards sustainable livelihoods while contributing to the well-being and economic resilience of their families and communities.

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Sep 11, 2026
Strengthening partnership for women's empowerment

By Savarinathan Maria Arasu | Founder Director

Strengthening Partnerships for Women's Empowerment

Strengthening Partnerships for Women’s Empowerment

Representatives of Akshaya Self Help Groups Confederation recently participated in a review meeting with the General Manager of Puduvai Grama Bank, strengthening an important partnership focused on improving livelihood opportunities and financial inclusion for women from vulnerable and low-income communities.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress of ongoing initiatives, discuss achievements and challenges, and identify opportunities for further collaboration. Through regular engagement with the banking sector, women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) are being supported to access appropriate financial services, credit facilities, savings mechanisms, and opportunities to strengthen their income-generating activities.

Women in rural and economically disadvantaged communities often face difficulties in accessing formal financial institutions and affordable credit. By strengthening SHGs and connecting them with banks, we help women move towards greater financial independence and reduce their dependence on informal and high-cost sources of borrowing.

The discussion with Puduvai Grama Bank also focused on strengthening the linkage between women’s groups and formal financial services. Better access to institutional credit can enable women to invest in small businesses and livelihood activities such as tailoring, livestock rearing, handicrafts, petty businesses, agriculture-related activities, and other locally appropriate enterprises.

For many women, even a small amount of affordable credit can make a significant difference. It can help them purchase equipment or raw materials, expand an existing activity, meet working-capital requirements, or start a new source of income. When women generate their own income, the benefits often extend beyond the individual to their families and communities through improved household nutrition, children's education, healthcare, and overall financial stability.

The review meeting was also an opportunity to discuss how the partnership can be strengthened in the coming period. Continued coordination between community-based women’s groups and the banking institution will help identify eligible beneficiaries, facilitate access to financial services, monitor progress, and provide appropriate support to women as they develop their livelihoods.

Akshaya Self Help Groups Confederation believes that sustainable empowerment is achieved when women have the knowledge, confidence, financial resources, and institutional support needed to make their own decisions. Partnerships with responsible financial institutions play an important role in creating this enabling environment.

We are grateful to the General Manager and team of Puduvai Grama Bank for their continued engagement and commitment to supporting women and their communities.

Through these partnerships, we aim to reach more women, strengthen their livelihoods, promote financial inclusion, and create sustainable opportunities for families to build a more secure future.

When women gain financial strength, families and communities grow stronger.

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