World Vision India empowers women to become self-sufficient

Nov. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- Empowering women to become self-supporting and independent has been a constant effort for World Vision in India. And in ensuring that care-givers take an active interest in their children’s well-being women in rural communities are being trained to choose various livelihood opportunities, which can help increase their household income.

In a recent development initiative in the eastern part of the country, the organisation’s East Khasi hills Area Development Programme helped set-up a piggery unit for Teimon Lawai, which is now helping the whole community.

After receiving assistance through the ADP’s economic assistance programme Teimon Lawai set-up a piggery unit and also underwent training at Kyrdemkulai training centre in Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya on Veterinary Health care. During the course of the training Teimon Lawai was taught about pigsty construction, the importance of vaccination, preparation of feeds, feeding procedure and also about appropriate animal medication.  

While the financial assistance helped Teimon Lawai start her own venture with four piglets, a pigsty and feed, the training that she had received helped her understand the nuances of managing the business. Now over a period of time, Teimon Lawai’s unit has evolved to become one of the most successful piggery units even amongst the surrounding villages that people in her village are now keen to visit her piggery unit and learn from her.

As expected the business has today evolved and expanded to add a new dimension to its operations. Teimon Lawai’s piggery unity now also doubles up as a training and demonstration centre for the people in the village.

Confident and independent Teimon Lawai now looks ahead with hope and has also been able to earn more than Rs 25,000/- in a year, a sum that would have been an impossible dream before World Vision India’s intervention. This income has enabled her to provide nutritious food for her children and also afford their school fees and books. Her children now attend school regularly, which has made her an inspiration amongst the women in the community. Self-assured with the security of a livelihood Teimon Lawai wants to make sure that her children will be well-educated and well-taken care of. As she says, “I will be able to support my children even for higher education”.