CDS-Shoshana sewing centre, Auto nagar gate, Vijayawada.

Sharing a few pics from the rag picking women group from Vijayawada.

As I mentioned in my earlier posts, around 30 rag picking families are living in Auto nagar area, Vijayawada. Shoshana started a sewing project in this area in August-2024. These women are illiterates and mostly rag pickers. Men are rag pickers and sewage cleaners. As I heard from them majority of the women in this area are single parents struggling to give at least one meal a day for their children.

Our main concept is to give them an opportunity to earn their living. Since they are still considered as untouchables in society, at least they could stitch for their families and fellow people.

Ms.Hemima, the sewing instructor took the initiative of helping these destitute women beside her regular sewing project at Giripuram, Vijayawada.

 Want to share some new pics from our CDS-Shoshana Sewing Centre, Pandaripuram, Chilakaluripet.

New group of women started their sewing class last year in the month of July-24. These women are interested to learn basic hand embroidery besides sewing so they are provided the opportunity to learn both simultaneously.

Shoshana provides sewing machines to the students after they finish the class so that they can start working immediately. Students contribute half of the price of the machine or what ever amount they could give. Around 20 previous students are in need of sewing machines from this project. 

Present group made a few embroided bags for the donors.

This sewing project is  started by Mrs. Gertraud Zeisberger (President - Shoshana ) for the tribal community. Special thanks to her for her continuous support.

 Sharing some new pics from Shoshana sewing project, Shalem nagar, Narasaraopet

New group of women at the sewing project - Narasaraopet. The regular instructor Mrs. Santhamma had an eye surgery so our new sewing instructor Mrs. Kalyani  from Ravipadu area took over the project for a while. Santhamma has been working for Shoshana from the year 2007. Even though she is over 70 yrs of age, she still likes to help more needy women in her area.

These women are still at the beginning stages of their sewing class. I keep you updated about these women in my coming posts.

Thanks to all the donors who are helping  these women in getting an education.

 

ON BEHALF OF  THE SHOSHANA FAMILY, I WISH ALL THE FRIENDS AND 

        SUPPORTERS OF SHOSHANA A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. 

        WISHING YOU BLESSINGS AND PROSPERITY IN 2025.

 

 

Story of one of the beneficiaries from Shoshana Sewing Centre,Gamela Bazar area, Vijayawada.

Ø    My name is M.Kavitha. I am 25 yrs old. I am married and have two daughters. My parents died when I was very young. I was begging on roads and my neighbours supported me to some extent. After I got married, I was living with my husband at Gamela Bazar area, Vijayawada where some of the waste pickers reside. After few years of my marriage, my husband also left me. I was left alone with my two kids. I was working as a waste picker and also begging for food sometimes to feed my family. My two small kids come along with me for begging. Since we live in slums in an atrocious situation, society mostly treats us as untouchables. No tailor likes to stitch clothes for us.

 

When Shoshana offered us a free sewing class, I was very happy to utilize the opportunity. I was in the very first group. After completion of the course Shoshana provided us with  sewing machines. So far no outsiders come to our area to give us work but at least we could stitch clothes for our ourselves as well as our children. This way we could save some money on stitching charges. Also every now and then I am stitching clothes for my fellow rag pickers . In future I hope I would be able to take this as a career. I started sending my kids to a Government school. All thanks to the donors who came all the way to our area, helped us in learning a skill which could help us earn a living.