2008 Appeals - Jan/Feb
APPEAL FOR A TAILORING UNIT FOR FISHERWOMEN
Midalam, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. INDIA
Midalam was one of the tsunami affected villages situated at the very tip of South India, with 450 families, including 950 females. The main occupation is fishing while women are confined to domestic works. Most are uneducated, vulnerable, married at a very young age, and, in their early 20’s bear many children.
Their personal problems are not looked at and they have no say in family matters. Any program that could empower them and make them independent and self-reliant is the pressing need. If a woman has the opportunity, she will take good care of her family and bring up her children well.
Father Kildos, the parish priest of St Joseph’s Parish, is appealing for funds to set up a Tailoring Unit where the poorest, most needy women will be selected to undergo training in tailoring.
As there is already an existing hall, initially. they will need 25 sewing machines, plus other accessories like scissors, threads, tables, zigzag machines, etc. Two tailors will be hired, for a period of 12 months, to train the women.
The first group has been selected and given priority, based on the following criteria, eg they are destitute, orphans, widows, or women living in utter poverty. Training will be a minimum of 5 hours daily, 5 days a week, which still allows time for the women to take care of their daily domestic work at home.
With the new skills acquired, the women will be able to network with textile industries, garment-making industries, etc. and earn some income. They already face serious challenges from money lenders, as some have borrowed to meet their daily needs.
With the opportunity for training, they will be free of such debt burdens in the future.
Budget Assessment:
| Items | Rupees |
| Sewing Machines - quantity 25 | 100 000 |
| 25 wooden tables and chairs | 50 000 |
| Other Accessories | 32 000 |
| Salaries for the 2 teachers | 48 000 |
| Total | 230 000 (AU$7187) approx |
