Shakti

Shakti is a social enterprise which aims to drive female empowerment, targeting female burn victims and schoolgirls in Mumbai. The burn victims learn to sew underwear using pre-cut excess fabric sourced from our corporate partner JoJo Maman Bebe. Shakti trains these female burn victims how to stitch in a consensual, safe environment. This process takes place at the Mumbai Burns Centre. This gives the women confidence and hope for their futures. Most women will know how to hand sew; however, we teach them how to use a sewing machine, providing them a valuable skill. They are paid a stable salary rather than ‘pay per piece’ (the norm in India). During and after their treatment at the Burns Centre, the victims sew underwear which is then distributed to underprivileged schoolgirls through outreach programmes. The women present to the schoolgirls about menstrual hygiene and the importance of remaining in education. After their treatment, we do not just leave the women to integrate back into society by themselves. We offer flexibility and facilitate it since every woman and every case is different. 1) We are partnered with a women’s safe house called Sukh Shanti. The Shakti women can form and join a co-operative in Mumbai. 2) The women can move to Gujarat to work with Shakti's partner in a sewing factory. 3) They can receive a sewing machine to continue sewing for Shakti at home Therefore, the project positively affects three stakeholders. So far, 17,000 pieces of underwear have been stitched and 3,400 girls have been reached!