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Hailing from a small village near Nagpur, Swapnali moved to the big city of Mumbai and struggled to land a job. She started work at a Customer Service Centre after she received coaching at ACT's vocational guidance cell, and she never looked back! She quickly became a role model and showed the way for other aspirants.

Gangabai earns her living as a domestic servant but nurtures dreams of a better life for her family. At ACT's tailoring classes, she got just this opportunity to learn a new skill and earn respectably. She has transformed into a confident woman, unafraid to launch her own business from home.

Pooja, chief caretaker of the household while her parents go to work, and her younger brother Balram discovered a love for science and maths at ACT's after-school learning centre. Now, they aspire to become tomorrow's geniuses like Shakuntala Devi and Narayan Murthy.

Indians have idolized many successful and powerful female leaders, yet we are a nation riddled with woeful cases of violence against women. A basic tool provided to women at ACT centres everywhere is self-confidence and independence. Sumitra underwent this transformation and is now an avatar of Goddess Shakti, as she earns a living as a tailor-cum-designer and is a doting wife and mother.

When we complain about things like not having the latest iPad or PC, do we ever imagine the world as it is for a person who has never seen ANY computer at all! Lack of sight does not hinder Manju, a budding artist, from dreaming of a life of fame and riches. Initially, she struggled to make ends meet, but she never gave up. She now works as an online consultant using a-voice enabled laptop gifted by ACT.

Priya, residing in Bhopal, is a brilliant student pursuing her degree in Mass Media & Communications. As her family could not support her higher education, she was opting out of a college education. Her entire future looked bleak, until ACT. stepped in to cover her entire fees and ensure her graduate education. She has topped her class in all semesters so far and is sure to graduate as a university top ranker.

Dhanashree, aka Khushi, strives for excellence and is always smiling, despite the hardships and responsibilities on the home front. She is utterly grateful to the tutors who help her master Algebra at ACT’s after-school learning centre.

Beauty is not just skin deep, as our budding beautician Suvarna proves! Since coming to ACT, she has enhanced herself from a timid housewife, into an accomplished professional and is brimming with confidence on both work and home fronts.

Ulfath has no schooling background, and she was always apprehensive of visiting her children's English school due to this drawback. She seized the opportunity to join ACT's free English classes. In six months, she worked hard and honed her English skills and now can hold her own at school PTA meetings.

Shraddha's dream, to play any sport for her country one day, was briefly shattered when her mother threatened to withdraw her from all sports activities due to falling grades. She is happy now as her grades have improved, while she juggles between school, the ACT learning centre, and her basketball court.

Sangita was despondent that she could not go to the ACT tailoring classes, because of her inability to use her limbs, but now,she has a reason to smile as the class and an electric hand machine came home to her. She is thankful to ACT for providing her a means to support her large family.

'Teach a man to fish' is a well-adapted adage at ACT , working to uplift women beneficiaries like Rupali who wish to work in the corporate sector but lack English or computer skills. She was one of the top rankers at the ACT computer class and will soon be gainfully employed, thanks to ACT 's placement support.

Family background: Nilofer is married and she lives with her husband, daughter and mother in law.

Her story: Nilofer, 29, did her basic tailoring course in YWCA before joining ACT’s 3 month advanced tailoring course, Project Saksham, at the vocational training centre generously funded by IDFC First Bank. Her husband's income was not sufficient to meet their household expenses. She wanted to contribute, but she lacked skills to obtain a job.

Nilofer found that she was able to help her husband with household costs even during the ACT course, as she was receiving a stipend and being paid for the stitching work she completed. She found it extremely helpful that the course timings did not clash with school times.

As well as learning all the skills required for the stitching work Nilofer also gained the self-confidence to become a supervisor for the ACT course, earning a salary of 2,500/- a month. She has earned an additional 17,000/- over the last 12 months for stitching Saksham products and has now advanced to working as an artisan for I Was a Sari. Nilofer is very grateful for being given this opportunity. Before doing the course, she was struggling with financial problems, but now she is able to pay rent and other small expenses with her own income.

Nilofer was given full support from her husband and her in-laws were happy to see Nilofer stand on her own feet. Nilofer hopes that she will now be able to give her daughter everything she needs and enable her to fulfill her dreams. Nilofer wants to thank ACT for giving her the opportunity and the confidence to overcome her problems.

Family Background: Vaishali is married and she lives with her husband and her three daughters Shweta, Shripada and Sakashi. She has taken the responsibility for all the household expenses as her husband has a back problem and can’t work.

Her story: Vaishali, 36, did her 3 months advanced tailoring course in project Saksham at ACT’s vocational training centre generously funded by IDFC First Bank. Before she began the course with ACT, she was teaching students from K. G. to Std. 8th in Marathi medium but found that students were shifting to English medium teachers and her income was dropping. Her husband was unable to earn, so she began struggling to meet her household expenses, including for her children’s basic needs and education.

As Vaishali had some basic tailoring experience, she decided to quit teaching work and focus on tailoring, alongside her part-time job as Aarogya Sevika. When she started the advanced tailoring course she received not only knowledge but also a small stipend which helped her to maintain her household until she graduated.

ACT’s tailoring course has given her the skills and confidence to become a course supervisor for project Saksham, earning a salary of 2,400/- per month. In addition, she has earned 10,000/- over the last 12 months for Saksham tailoring work and has even provided tea for the women at the centre, earning a further 27,000/- to date.

Vaishali’s family is very supportive and her husband even helps where he can with her work. She is very passionate about tailoring and her dream is to become a famous Fashion Designer. Her wish is that her elder daughter Shweta will also make a career in tailoring and wants her children to fulfill their dreams. Vaishali wants to thank ACT for giving her and others self-confidence by giving them the opportunity to make a difference in their life.

Ms. Paru Laxman Shanwar hails from a tribal village - Udhwa in Maharashtra's Palghar District in Taluka - Talasari. She has two brothers and two sisters. She is the only one among their family to have pursued higher education.

At the tender age of 10, Paru lost her father and was brought up by her mother, who raised her and her family of five, amidst immense economic hardship and poverty, by working as a domestic maid. Paru was always academically inclined. She studied at a local school in Talasari. After finishing her 12th standard, she went on to complete her BA followed by ITI and ultimately took up studies in her dream career of Nursing. She was also unable to pay her second year nursing fees, due to which she was almost being expelled and as a result, she became depressed, and had it not been for the timely help of fee sponsorship by Animedh, she would have ended up losing her nursing college seat and her mind. ACT identified her as a potential beneficiary due to our objective of supporting girl child education with emphasis on higher education. Her academic performance has been outstanding throughout at Wadia Nursing College. She has passed with flying colours and was the only one from her entire batch to be recruited as a full time nurse at the prestigious Parsee General Hospital, Mumbai.

Paru was awarded the ACT Super Deeva award for Educational Excellence in March 2018, on the occasion of ACT Women’s Day Celebration. Paru is a great role model for her Adivasi community and she is determined to help her family and other needy girls from her tribal village, who aspire to study but have no financial means or support.

Samiksha, 36, did her 3 months catering course organized by Animedh Charitable Trust. Samiksha was from a very low income background, had only studied till SSC and lacked any work skills. Her husband Santosh worked for a measly salary of Rs. 9000 per month and they were barely able to make ends meet, let alone provide for their daughter Swara’s education.

Samiksha’s dream was to ensure that her daughter got educated and escaped from the poverty and misery that were the constant companions in her parents’ lives. Her mother-in-law would hurl insults at her for not bearing a male child. She did not care for her grand-daughter, a very timid and malnourished, but ever smiling Swara. Fed up with her situation and also of the ill treatment of herself and her daughter by the mother in law, she decided to stand on her own feet. So, she enrolled into ACT’s Aahaar catering services course, near her home.

Gradually, Samiksha learnt about the market outlay, the costs and margins, the nutritional and hygiene values, marketing and promotion and drew the courage to start her own tiffin services. Her husband was supportive and seeing Samiksha’s early success, decided to chuck his job and join her to help with grocery purchases and tiffin deliveries to nearby offices. Today, Samiksha is a proud owner of a self-made business which earns them enough to have a comfortable lifestyle, send her daughter to school and save for a brighter future. She has taken charge of her destiny and is fulfilling her dream of education and brighter tomorrow for Swara.

Samiksha has fought many challenges but she took charge of her life and turned it around, against all challenges. She was awarded the ACT Super Deeva Award for Vocational Excellence at ACT’s Women’s Day Celebration in March 2018.

Samiksha has taken two powerful messages from her life and success:

“Girls are a blessing. Educate our girls as they can go far ahead in life with the help of education and be of great support to their family and society.”

“No dream is too big, and you can start small but work at fulfilling your dream every single day with determination and confidence, using the skills that you have gained at Animedh.”

At Project Saksham, we get to learn new and advanced tailoring methods. We also get to earn by stitching different items. It is convenient because it is close to home and we train and practice on an automatic white machine for four hours daily. I am thankful to Animedh Charitable Trust and IDFC First Bank for giving me this opportunity.

Congratulations to Shaheen who received an outstanding achiever award under Project Sambhav, along with her mentor, Ms Tasneem, from NMMC ‘etc’ Education, Training & Services Centre for Persons With Disability - a local government organization working towards the rights and welfare of persons with special needs.

One of five children, Shaheen’s disabilities meant she was unable to participate in mainstream school education and was limited to special education activities such as painting. She excelled in her ACT vocational tailoring class in Navi Mumbai. We wish her every success on her journey to becoming self-reliant!

My name is Purnima Tiwari and I work as a Supervisor for I was a Sari at Animedh Charitable Trust(ACT). ACT is a Mumbai based NGO and one of the strategic production partner for I was a Sari.

Before joining ACT, I was unemployed for 3 years, having lost the job of a nurse. It was a challenge to make ends meet, bringing up my two daughters and taking care of my mother who is dependent on me as my husband does not contribute to household finances. However, I was determined to make things work and luckily for me, things fell in place.

I joined ACT in 2017 through their course called Saksham – a free garment construction and advanced tailoring course for underprivileged women. Through this programme, not only you learn the skill but also get income generation opportunities. I have never worked independently before this and my family was a bit reluctant about me going out and fending for myself, but I convinced them somehow and began my journey.

Soon when I completed the training, started getting work through I was a Sari and it was great to learn how to make new products. I realized I had a natural flair for pattern-making and overall production work. Gradually, I started helping other women learn how to stitch products and now I supervise the overall production for I was a Sari. Through I was a Sari, many women who complete the training are now directly starting to earn a respectable income and contribute to the household finances, a new found respect in the family follows.

It has made me extremely confident and now I take charge of household expenses. I pay for the tuition of my daughter and also take care of my mother without asking for any financial support. And I really like the fact that I have gained knowledge, and now I have so many new friends here.

Given a chance, I would open another income generation center close to my house as there are many more women wanting such opportunities but due to restriction at home cannot move farfrom where they live, secluding them from a chance to have a life out of the home and a better future.

From a student learning stitching to now supervising the entire production for I was a Sari, the journey has been full of joy, knowledge and hard work. I hope more women can find the path to financial independence because the woman (in so many roles in the family, including that of the mother) is the biggest change-maker in the society.

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