Skill development centre

Transforming communities through empowering women

In a society dominated by a preference for boys, lower education and higher mortality are common outcomes for the girl child. Most women have never heard that they are special, that they haves value and that they are incredibly precious. We at CFI believe that women are one of the greatest resources for transforming communities. We aim to help each woman increase in understanding of herself, other people and life principles. Our programs centre around inspiring and educating women, providing ministry and skills training, and leadership development. It is a well proven fact that in aid and development programs the most effective group to target are women. As mothers and carers they will turn any benefits they receive back into their family and community. So to help break generational poverty CFI workers have set up skill development centres that are providing skills and tools to these precious ladies. They are taught to make traditional Indian clothes, embroidery, soft toys, jewellery, soap, shampoo, etc. At the end of their training each woman is presented with a sewing machine and other tools necessary for them to start their small business. The ability to generate an income gives these women a new level of dignity, respect, worth and value and status in the community- along with the security of knowing they can help provide nourishing food, education, and health care for their children.  Please continue to help the countless women who are abused, disgraced, neglected and living in shame and poverty. You can partner with CFI in changing their lives. Contact CFI for more information.

Success Stories

Stories of Success and great appreciation from the villages have propelled CFI in undertaking the mission with passion. The below stated are the comments of few women from different parts of India who were trained in our Sew- Sow Centres. Sunita Kumari says with pride “when my husband was not paid his wages for four months by the Contractor, I was providing for my family.” I thank CFI for this. It is CFI that taught me a profession and kept my head up during the most difficult times of our lives.”

Transformation through Sew and Sow Centres

CFI also has the Sew Sow program in order to uplift women economically. Through the Sew Sow Centre they also give moral education to address superstitions, and cultural norms that curb the freedom of women in the society. Many Sew Sow Centres have become the liberative centres. Pinki says “I thank CFI for all the help which has really changed my whole status in the society. Through the Sew and Sow centre I am fully transformed. Now I am not the old Pinki who was unemployed but now I am employed .People respect me because of the change which really changed my status. Asha is Mukesh Kumar’s wife. She has 2 children. She is from a poor family. She joined the tailoring centre for learning a profession. Now she is very happy become a bread earner of the family. Here is the witness of a lady who could go to school only till her fifth grade “CFI has really given importance to our lives; after stopping my studies at class fifth I was almost good for nothing. But through this sewing centre, CFI has given me a reason to smile and above all, I got a purpose in my life. Now I can be self-dependent before my family as well as in my society. I am thankful to CFI and all sponsors for your valuable contribution towards this project to build up our lives” says Lakshmi a graduate of CFI Jaunpur SS. Kanta is from very poor family.  Kanta says “It was my childhood desire to learn sewing and stitch clothes of different styles.But because of poverty I could not afford to buy a sewing machine. Joy knew no bounds when I heard about this centre. My dream has come true; with this machine I will stitch clothes for me and others”. Sister Kuldeep: Kuldeep comes from downtrodden family. Her husband who is a daily wage labourer earns only a small income which is not enough to look after the needs of the family and their two minor kids’ education. She was longing to find some other source of income so that the family could be better off. She came to know about the CFI sewing project in her neighbourhood. Then, life took a different turn. “The centre is a great help for me. With this gift (sewing machine), now I can stitch clothes for my family and save some money. Stitching a simple salwarkameez in the tailoring shop costs rupees 150, which is too costly for us. Now I can save this money! I can even stitch for others and earn some amount to look after the needs of the family. Earning money increase the self –esteem of poor women like me,” says Kuldeep. Neetu: Neetu came to the Center without any previous experience of sewing. However,she was very quick in mastering the skills. After the six month training, she has volunteered to teach other students joining the centre.  “I am happy today, with the new machine gifted to me by CFI, I can stitch new garments for ladies, and repair and rework on old ones.” My financial contributions will surely support my family