New Sewing Project at Gamela Bazar, Vijayawada.

Rag pickers area - Gamela Bazar, Vijayawada.

There are around 1500 to 2000 people in this area who mainly depend on  waste picking. They collect recyclable waste from dump yards and garbages,  segrate them and sell them for money. Each family has around 4 or 5 kids. Kids are the main income sources for the family.

As we observed, most of the families are run by single parent. Women left by husbands, take care of the children. Because of the family burden, children also take up the same job to survive. Living in poverty, unclean surroundings without proper help from the Government.

A lot of garbage is cleaned informally by the rag pickers in urban areas of India who work without any proper wages. Collecting waste is a difficult and harmful job. Not only that they are exposed to harmful substances, infections, respiratory diseases and abuse on the streets.

During the Covid lockdown they had lot of difficulty in getting a single meal. Some of the NGO's provided groceries for them during that time.

We thought of giving them an alternate job opportunity, so that they could use it to run the family and have a decent living. Besides that encouraging the children to go to schools.

Shoshana started a sewing project in this area - with some women who are interested to take up sewing as their career. Hemima - Instructor who is working with Shoshana for more than 15 yrs came forward in helping these women.

 SHOSHANA MEDICAL CENTRE, THORAVARIPALEM

All the Shoshana medical projects are running normally. We have all the medication necessary for common flu and viral fevers which are vigorous right now. We kept the protective equipment for Covid-19 available for the people like masks, hand sanitizers and gloves. Mask alone can't avoid the infection but atleast to cover the cough and sneeze droplets and over course maintaining physical distance. 

To boost the immunity we have all the vitamins available for the needy besides the basic medication for the mild Covid cases. Most importantly telling people about personal protective measures.

Presently we have Buela rani(nurse) taking care of this area. Not many covid cases except one or two here and there.

 Shoshana Sewing and Embroidery Centre- Chilakaluripet

The sewing project running normally after the Covid 2nd wave effect. The instructor Mrs.Sumathi's family was also effected and everybody got recovered.  Especially Sumathi went into a critical situation, hospitalized and got recovered but still she has post covid health issues.

Covid had a major effect physically, mentally and economically almost in every household.

Slowly the situation is getting to normal and people are doing their everyday activities.

Coming to our Sewing project - The new group of women started their class recently and by taking all the precautions the centre is going on normally. The women also are eager to attend the classes.

 

Sewing as well as embroidery class simultaneously.

And the same groups if they want they will shift to the other class.

All the women are from Chilakaluripet and the surrounding areas.

On behalf of the women heartful thanks to all the donors especially Gertraud and her friends who started  this project.

 

Waste pickers from Vijayawada who are in need of a sewing class

Main occupation of these people is waste picking. They collect recyclable waste from dump yards and garbages,  segrate them and sell them for money.  By selling they earn up to an average of 50 to 60 rupees per day.  Although it is done by adults majority of children also continue in the same profession.

A lot of garbage is cleaned informally by the rag pickers in urban areas of India who work without any proper wages, dignity and job security. Not only that they are exposed to harmful substances, infections, respiratory diseases apart for poverty, humiliation and abuse on the streets.

Collecting waste is a difficult and harmful job. They are exposed to cuts and infections. Rotten food makes them sick. They want to live in a clean space with some respect in the society and they could give their children a better education.

When some of our local partners of Shoshana came across these slums, some of the women expressed their interest in learning stitching for a living. Many of them lost work and also scared of collecting waste during the Covid situation. There is no other alternate work source for them besides collecting waste.

 

From Shoshana we want to offer them a free sewing class to some of the women who are interested.

Here are a few pics from their daily life.

 

New Nurse at Shoshana Medical Centre - Dasaripalem, Guntur District.

Swathi Keerthana - Nurse had a three year training in Nursing course.  This is her first job as a first aider. Married and has a two year old daughter. She is happy to be a part of Shoshana and is taking care of the project for the last three months. 

Her husband is also working for a Charity with which Shoshana has also been closing working with.

Covid cases drastically decreased for the last couple of months.  Only a few cases here and there. People still have post covid symptoms like fatigue, weakness and some have gastric problems.

Here at this project we are providing basic first aid help, B.p checkups besides giving medication for mild covid symptoms.

 

Name: Sujatha. M.  Married and she has 2 daughters.

Former student of Shoshana sewing centre, Vijayawada.

She used to work as a cleaning woman in a private school. Due to Covid, all the schools were closed and she lost her job. Her husband left her and living with an another woman.

She was begging for food during the lockdown to feed her children.

The instructor Hemima came to know about her situation and she helped her in setting up a sewing machine at home. Since the situation is getting to normal again here, she is slowing taking in orders to earn her living.

She thanked all the donors for helping her to find an employment.

 

Name: Jyothi. Kattavarapu aged 40yrs. Married and she is a housewife. She has two children.

Former student of Shoshana sewing centre, Vijayawada. Husband was a daily worker.

Last year her husband died of Covid. Her children are still in school.  Being an illiterate also during lock down they couldn't find any work to run their family. It was difficult for them to find at least one meal a day.  Thrown out of the house for not paying rent.  For the time being staying at their relatives verandah.  When ever she comes across the sewing instructor she was crying for help.

The instructor helped her in setting up a sewing machine at home and now she is slowing taking in orders to earn her living.

She is very happy that her sewing classes are now helping her in running her family.

Thanks to all the donors who made it possible.