Success Stories of Skilled Women from GMR Varalakshmi Foundation

GMR Varalakshmi Foundation is the CSR arm of GMR group of companies with a vision to make sustainable impact on the human development of under-served communities through initiatives in Education, Health and Livelihoods. The foundation runs skill training centers where over 5000 youth get trained every year and close to 80% are settled in wage or self-employment. The foundation offers skills training in diverse range of subjects including Tailoring, Data entry, Basic Computers, Machinery operation etc. Here we present few successful stories of women who have completed training at different centers of the foundation and later bagged jobs or created self-employment opportunities to earn decent salaries and making their lives better. Malini K, Sewing Machine Operator Malini is a 20 year old is a differently-abled girl (hearing Impaired) who hails from Bangalore and was shy and timid. She had faced many hardships in life. She could not complete her Std. 10 due to lack of proper special education facilities and the family financial issue. The only earning member of her family was her father who is a driver. He did not have work on a regular basis and this affected the financial condition of the family. Seeking a positive change in her future, Malini wanted an education and a career that would benefit not only her, but also her family. Malini came to know about the skill training programmes offered by GMR Varalakshmi Foundation and also learned about the placement opportunities for candidates completing the training. She went through counseling, after which she joined the 45 days intensive skill training to become a Sewing Machine Operator. Apart from the technical training, she also received soft skills and English inputs. After successful completion of her course, she got placement at the East West Foundation which makes dolls. Her salary is Rs. 8,000 per month which means a lot to her family. The family's financial condition has improved significantly after her placement. This achievement is not only about money, but also her increased self-confidence and improved social status. She is a role model for many young girls who are differently abled and drop-outs from the mainstream education system. Malini has been trained in our Bangalore centre. Pooja Kumari, Air India Sats Pooja, like any other 20 year old girl, was full of enthusiasm and aspirations. She wanted to complete her studies and get a stable job. A resident of Subrto Park, New Delhi, Pooja is the daughter of an Electrician and has 3 siblings. Pooja saw her family struggle to earn Rs. 10,000 per month. Financial difficulties led to Pooja leaving studies to try to support her father and elder brother to contribute to the household income. During this time, Pooja met a friend who informed her about the Basic Computer course at GMR Varalakshmi Vocational Training center, and to her joy, she found that the course was free of cost. She persuaded her family, and finally joined this course. During her time at the training center, she was taught all theoretical and technical aspects of operation and functioning of a computer. The training period also comprehensively covered subjects like personality development and Basic English which helped her to groom herself for the job market. After completing the course, she got a job working in Airport Pass section as a data entry operator. Pooja was earning Rs. 12000. After 8 months, she got an offer from Air India Sats as a Lead Assistant at the salary of INR.13000/- month and took up the same. Pooja now not only supports her family, she has also enrolled herself for graduation from open schooling. Pooja Kumari has been trained in our Delhi centre. Pavithra . M, Super Seva Pvt Ltd Pavithra is a high school dropout who has struggled against odds and has disciplined herself to reach her goal. She hails from a very poor family. Her father is a tailor, and mother a housemaid. Pavithra was interested in studies but she was forced to discontinue due to financial problems in the family. After dropping out from school, she worked a as house maid to support her family She came to know about Domestic Data Operator training offered by GMR Varalakshmi Foundation during a community mobilization program, and enrolled for the course .She was regular in attending classes and was eager to learn. Pavithra was one of the brightest and most determined learners. After completion of her course, she attended the placement interviews and secured a place as a data operator with Super sava Pvt. Ltd on a salary of Rs. 9000/month. Today, her family is very happy that their daughter earns a living and has become self-dependent. Her parents now support Pavithra’s decisions and also advise their neighbors to skill train their children at GMR Varalakshmi Foundation skill training centre. Pavitra has been trained in our Bangalore centre. Santoshi Turkane, Tailoring Santoshi Turkane is from a very poor SC family in Raikheda Village. Her husband as an agricultural wage labourer and gets work only for 5 to 6 months in a year. Santoshi came into contact with GMRVF volunteers in her village during a Self-help group Meetings and showed her willingness to join the tailoring training being conducted in the village. She was regular in attending the training as well as the Self Help Group meetings. She faced some opposition to her attending the classes due to caste dynamics in her village, but she did not let this deter her. Today she is earning about Rs 6,000 /month in her village, stitching petticoats, blouses, hospital garments, and making teddy bears and bags. With her dedication and hard work she became the President of Village level SHG Federation, and In due course she also became President of CHIRAG Samiti consisting of 4 Villages and 400 women as its member. Santoshi enhanced her skill and leadership by joining the GMRVF centre and is a role model for many young ladies in Village. Santoshi has been trained in our Chhattisgarh centre.

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