FOCUS: WOMEN AND LIVELIHOODS

Project: To improve skills in women and children, enabling them to carry out sustainable agricultural practices

Funded by:  VITOL

Duration:  April 2009 til date

This 2-year project is being initiated with the aim of stimulating interaction between children, parents and school teachers by the creation of an informal learning environment both for children and their mothers. The project is being implemented in Tiptur taluk.

Different activities are being carried out to improve confidence and skill levels among women. As a first step, training programs are taking place, enabling at least 4 women to conduct awareness meetings for school children and their mothers on nutrition, sustainable agriculture, environment and conservation of energy and water. In the process, they would also get involved in formal procedures at school and children’s education. They will also be trained on the engagement in sustainable agricultural practices and be encouraged to share the produce they grow with the neighborhood’s primary school.

Being the first year of the project, various meetings were held for 20 SHGs of Byrapura, Aralaguppe, Kallushettyhalli and Madlihalli villages of Tiptur taluk. A total of 146 women attended these meetings. The objective of the meetings was to identify women with the potential to conduct awareness and training programs on environment, nutrition, cultivation practices, water conservation, etc. for children and their mothers. Based on the interactions, exercises and the questionnaires that the women filled in these meetings, 8 women were selected and trained on various topics and awareness creation. A second round of training was held to impart more information on water conservation. Further training will be offered on energy and environment conservation, sustainable agricultural practices and nutrition. Suitable awareness materials are being prepared and given to the women. The women have also drawn a structured plan for the meetings that they will hold.

During the second year, the women will be trained on greenhouse horticulture. A greenhouse measuring 200 sq.m will be built in Aralaguppe village, wherein the trained women can cultivate high value vegetables and earn an income thereof. They will also supply vegetables to the local school.

At the end of the project, about 100 mothers, 300 school children and 25 school teachers from 5 schools would have enriched their awareness of environment conservation, etc. At least 4 women would be trained in awareness creation and will be running a social enterprise through greenhouse horticulture.