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INDIA: Young women gain skills for tailoring jobs

Don Bosco Human Resource Development Center graduates 15 young women from basic training course in tailoring

INDIA

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Human Resource Development Center, located in Gagillapur, Hyderabad, India, has graduated 15 young women from a two-month basic training course in tailoring. The students performed a short cultural program at their graduation, and two of them also shared their experience and highlights of the training. All 15 students received a course completion certificate and a sewing machine. The center has trained more than 3,000 youth since 2010.

The course commenced in September while adhering to all COVID-19 regulations. The young women were able to safely take the course while wearing masks and practicing social distancing. The training helped them prepare for work in a tailoring shop or some may start their own small tailoring business to make a living, support themselves and help their families.

“This is a wonderful accomplishment for these young women to have a skill like sewing and tailoring for employment,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “Salesian programs not only educate, but they prepare students for work in fields that are hiring and jobs are available.”

Earlier in the year, the Don Bosco Development Center’s tailoring department was able to spring to action to sew 1,000 masks as part of the prevention efforts during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The masks were distributed free of charge to the poor in the local area and within the state of Telugu, in particular where there are Salesian programs.

The initiative was launched as part of the emergency response by Bosco Seva Kendra, the Salesian provincial planning and development office. Bosco Seva Kendra also created information posters to raise awareness on preventing the spread of coronavirus and launched a new fundraising initiative to help orphans and migrant workers during this challenging time.

“Salesian centers around the globe are working in their local communities to address the pandemic that is affecting us all,” said Fr. Baek. “Salesian missionaries live in the communities where they work and are perfectly positioned to respond in times of crisis. They are working within their programs to keep youth and staff safe and healthy and providing help to their communities when possible.”

India has the world’s fourth largest economy but more than 22 percent of the country lives in poverty. About 31 percent of the world’s multidimensionally poor children live in India, according to a report by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. A multidimensionally poor child is one who lacks at least one-third of 10 indicators, grouped into three dimensions of poverty: health, education and standard of living.

Salesian programs across India are primarily focused on education. Salesian primary and secondary education in the country helps youth prepare for later technical, vocational or university study. Other programs help to support poor youth and their families by meeting the basic needs of shelter, proper nutrition and medical care.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – India – Completion of the short-term Tailoring Course at Don Bosco Human Resource Centre

Bosco Seva Kendra

Salesian Missions – India

World Bank – India