Postnoon, July 11, 2012

In the midst of the busy residential locality in Amberpet, live scores of women whose lives are sought to be transformed.

Many women are busy learning the art and craft of stitching, embroidery, patchwork and thereby changing the dynamics of their lives. Each day, these women, most of them domestic helps, set aside two hours to convert ordinary pieces of cloth into magnificent pieces of art.

Maya is a mother of two and her husband works as a security guard. After having undergone these classes, she stitches blouses and salwars for ladies.

There are many more women and girls like Maya who are trying to become self-reliant. The two-month course enables women to set up their own units at home or seek employment. Empowering these marginal women is the AnandVidyalaya Vocational Training Centre for Women, powered by DhyanYog Society (DYS). DYS primarily focuses on child education and women’s empowerment through training.

DYS runs free tailoring classes across the country. A unit was set up in Hyderabad two months ago where women are taught stitching and embroidery.

“Initially we were doubtful about the response, so we started with a few women at Amberpet. It picked up momentum and more women approached us. We are coming up with two more centres — one more in Amberpet and another in Hitec City,” said PoonamKapoor, head of AnandVidyalaya Vocational Training Centre for Women.

“It’s a two-month course divided into morning and evening batches. After the course a certificate will be provided. We are trying to tie up with some tailoring shops in the City which can provide employment. Some owners have expressed willingness. In addition to training we also provide sewing machines to the poor,” she adds.

http://postnoon.com/2012/07/11/dys-stitches-broken-lives/58468