Shoshana Sewing Centre, Vijayawada.

It is very sad to write about one of our sewing instructors Mrs. Srivani.who passed away yesterday at the age of 66yrs. She had been working with Shoshana from the beginning ie from 2001.
She was a very active and lively woman. She had a heart for the poor and concern for needy woman around her area. Over the years she helped many woman to be independent .Though she crossed her retirement age she always used to say that she want to help people as along as she can. That is true and till her last day she was helping people. We miss her and may her soul rest in peace.

These pics were taken only two weeks back in our recent visit to her sewing project.

Shoshana medical centres in areas like Tadiparru, Epurupalem.

Nurses working for Shoshana medical centres at various places.
Some of the pics from the area and also from the medical centres.


Weavers colony in Epurupalem and Sainagar areas

 We have qualified nurses who are attending all kinds of people especially old people with special needs.

These areas have less access to health care and not many health workers are available.

The professions the people  are in are mostly physical in nature like physical labour, farming, weavers exposed to chemicals, pollution etc

Not only rural areas Shoshana is extending its medical help to backward slums where people are mostly rag pickers, collecting waste living in very unhygienic  and unhealthy surroundings.

Besides giving out medication and first aid help, Shoshana is encouraging the nurses to educate the people about personal hygiene and health care.

Pics from Shoshana medical centres in Prakasam and Krishna Districts

Shoshana's medical help in some of the rural backward areas and urban slums
where there is poor access to health care either distance wise , affordability and poor quality of health care.


Shoshana is giving basic medical care in these areas with a regular nurse giving out free B.P and sugar check ups, basic medication and first aid help. If the patients need additional care they are referred to a doctor or helping them to see a doctor.

These first aiders are accepted by the people and not only giving out medication but telling about personal care and hygiene and preventive measures  like for  mosquito borne diseases etc

The local societies are arranging room facility for the centres and for medical camps with qualified doctors when ever necessary.

Pics from the women at Shoshana sewing centre, Vijayawada.

Besides sewing and embroidery skills the instructor Hemima is teaching the women some handicrafts skills.

Hand made jewellery

Hand made products which are useful and decorative using only simple tools. Preserving the traditional skill as well as an income source.

These needy women who are  unemployed and interested are spending time in learning handicrafts skills to earn a good amount of money. The raw materials are easily available and cheap. With proper skills there is a definite chance to generate employment.

Tie and Dye technique in making scarfs  - Folding, twisting the cloth with bands or strings and application of  different colors of dye.

Shoshana sewing project - Bapatla

The project intends to give needy women, training in tailoring and embroidery skills for their sustainable livelihood and they could live an independent life.

Providing with a sewing machine at the end of the course to survive on their own.

Meeting some of the beneficiaries who already finished their course and who are getting self employment at homes, and are earning some daily income which is helping them to buy some necessary things for their families.

With these skills they are earning a regular income and their economic development will slowly increase and  there will be no need for them to depend on any body. If they are good in using their skill their income will be enhanced and there by reducing their poverty.


There are many needy girls and women who are getting  free sewing classes in different sewing projects of Shoshana and still there are many who are waiting for their opportunity.

Providing them with a sewing machine at the end of the course is needed so that they could start working immediately. There is a need for sewing machines.

Thanks to Möglingen Germany

my special THANKS to Gertrauds Friends in Möglingen who provide financially to have this wonderful project in Chilakaluripet running since the beginning. Sumathi and Swetha convey their thanks and greetings too!
Thanks to all our donors! Without them we could not do much. So each of you can enjoy the success of our doing.

Mein spezieller DANK gilt Gertraud Z. und ihren Freunden in Möglingen/ Ludwigsburg. Von Anfang an haben sie dieses wunderbare Projekt in Chilakaluripet finanziell unterstützt und getragen. Sumathi und Swetha schicken Grüße mit herzlichem Dank!
Danke an alle unsre Spender! Ohne die wir nicht viel ausrichten können. Ihr könnt euch mit uns freuen an dem Erfolg unsrer Arbeit hier.
Herzlichst
Martha

Visit to Shoshana Sewing Centre, Chilakaluripet

Pics from Shoshana Sewing Project, Chilakaluripet


This sewing project is specially started for tribal women who migrated from the north east parts of Andhra pradesh and settled in sugali colony. They moved here in search of work since Chilakaluripet is a bigger town and there are many companies like tobacco where they could get some  work.

Though it is started for the tribal women in the beginning, it is helping all kinds of women who are  need of help.

Women without income on their own need to depend on men for everything. If men are unemployed too then it is more worse. Providing vocational training to women helps them to either start something on their own or take up a job. Stitching clothes is something which is a never ending job.This they could start immediately after completion of the course and also could work from home.

The sewing project is started mainly to identify women who are interested and who are in need of help ( divorcees, single parents, school drop outs etc)and teach them new skills to generate income and not only teaching, giving them a sewing machine at the end of the course and encourages them to work for their living.

So far Shoshana had more than 140 beneficiaries from this project who finished their training in sewing and embroidery.

There are many such women who finished sewing and embroidery courses from this project and have started their own business at home as a tailor.

Some earn their living by giving tailoring classes to other women.

Besides sewing and embroidery, Shoshana is also encouraging women to learn some handicraft skills.
Handicraft programs provide a space for developing creativity  as well as an environment for women to support other women.

Learning new skills to generate income and there by successfully  selling their products.