Skilling and Creating Enterprises to Strengthen Rural Women’s Livelihood

In partnership with Schöck-Familien-Stiftung and Humanium, Hand in Hand Switzerland and Hand in Hand India have been undertaking a project titled ‘Skilling and Creating Enterprises to Strengthen Rural Women’s Livelihood’ in 4 villages falling under the Khed block, in Pune, India. Initiated in April 2023 for a period of 2 years, the initiative aims to benefit 200 women through skill development initiatives so as to create / strengthen enterprises in order to have their own source of income. The project thereby looks to disseminate knowledge on regular savings and record keeping, improving knowledge on enterprises development strategies, bringing about financial independence among women, while also enhancing their and their families’ standards of living.

In line with this, women are provided skill training in the making of ready-to-eat products (candy, snacks, and savouries), incense sticks (agarbathi), dairy products (paneer and ghee), herbal tea, spice masala powder, henna art (mehandi), and housekeeping products like phenyl.

Women receive business development training and are taken on exposure visits to successful enterprises. The focus is also on the creation of family / group-based enterprises and the facilitation of market linkages / handholding support so as to ensure the sustenance of the enterprises.