Word: sewa
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...were members of the Self-Employed Women’s Association and are living proof that economic development and women’s empowerment go hand in hand. We were a group of Harvard affiliates in a group called the Alba Collective that hopes to sell products made by SEWA members in western markets. As we sat on the floor of a two-room house, the women told us their stories...
...woman, named Joomiben, told us that she was born into the untouchable caste and spent the first 20 years of her working life as a migrating day laborer, transporting bricks and mud on her head for about 10 cents a day. When she joined SEWA 10 years ago, she was given the opportunity to do embroidery work for a salary. With her income, she was able to finance the construction of her own house for herself and her family. Because of her ability to make money, her life and the lives of her family members have been completely transformed...
...SEWA and similarly focused organizations throughout the developing world are working toward widespread social change through women’s empowerment. Improving the plight of half the world’s population, especially through education and vocational training, is increasingly seen as one of the most effective ways of fighting poverty, disease, and even religious fundamentalism. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a point of visiting women’s organizations and talking with women about their lives during her summer trips to India and Africa. When she addressed members of SEWA in Mumbai in July, she noted...
...Raising the status of women in many communities requires a multifaceted approach because gender discrimination is ingrained in so many parts of everyday life. SEWA, for example, provides vocational training in a huge number of different trades so women can earn their own incomes. Reading and writing are essential for even basic things, like reading the numbers on buses and the prices in stores; therefore SEWA started literacy programs and its own university for younger members. It schools women in basic first aid and provides counseling and child support for widows. It has established its own bank because no other...
...fine embroidery work on clothing and upholstery products, which are then sold to high-paying markets and the profits are channeled back to the women. The Alba Collective teamed up with this fair-trade endeavor and is now trying to attract high-end, western designers to buy SEWA products. The profits would go directly back to the women artisans...