The last few months, we have been hard at work getting our storefront spaces cleaned out and ready for training. The first shop we set up was the bakery. In November, we began training 13 women in baking skills. This is our pilot group! Most of the women in the pilot group are disabled and unable to farm for food. They rely on other work to support their families, but they often struggle to find consistent jobs. We hope that by giving them new skills, and providing a bakery space these women will earn a daily wage that will provide stability to their families. The group currently makes chapati and samosas, and will continue their training to make bread, cakes, and other baked goods.
Once the pilot group is fully trained, we will employ some of those women to train new groups, and to manage the bakery. We will also employ pilot group members to train women's groups in other districts. After the bakery is fully operational, we will begin working on the next retail space. By focusing on one trade at a time, we are able to establish a solid foundation for each shop. Next on the agenda is to set up the crafts shop. We will employ group members to run the shop. This will also allow us to support all of our women's groups as they all make beautiful handmade products. Creating a co-op space where they can sell their products will allow them to earn a more consistent income.
Each training session costs around $100. This includes supplies, food for the trainees, and the cost of hiring a chef to train the pilot group. We rely on donations to support our work, and we are eternally grateful for the support we have received thus far. If you would like to contribute to our work, please visit our "Donate" page on the website.
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