From Child Labour to College: Support Her Future

Often parents in India pull their children out of school so they can work to supplement the meagre family income. In order that kids stay in school the needs of parents to earn a decent income must be addressed. That is why the project looks to give women livelihood opportunities in sewing and stitching. With the income they earn families are better able to support their children’s continuing education.

Rubina, 25, lives in the village of Kerula with her husband and three small children. Her husband works as a driver and earns around £50 per month. Before she contacted the project Rubina spent most of her day taking care of the children and doing household chores.

Rubina had dropped out of school after 10^th standard like many young girls in Indian society. When a team member told Rubina about the project’s free vocational skills course for women she didn’t have the confidence to enrol. But with some encouragement from the project worker she agreed to take a place in the stitching and sewing course.

During the one month course Rubina was able to leave her children with the project crèche while she took classes. She quickly excelled and after she graduated from the course Rubina was stitching pillows and curtains to a professional standard. But without a sewing machine of her own Rubina couldn’t practise or use her new skills at home.

The course teacher was able to lend Rubina an old sewing machine so she could practise until she was in a position to buy a machine of her own.  After a few months Rubina’s husband agreed to pay the money to buy a new sewing machine. It wasn’t long before Rubina was bringing in income from orders from the neighbouring villages.  

Without the project and its supporters Rubina would not have found the confidence to learn a new skill and earn income of her own. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity this has afforded her.