The first step is to reach out to people with our concept, aims and objectives and our needs. For this we use our personal contacts, social networking like whatsapp groups and circulation of printed pamphlets. There are two contact numbers on the pamphlets and members of the committee and volunteers give their own contact numbers. Usually some volunteer or office bearer gets a phone call from the donar and either the donar drops it to our office or someone from our group collects as per convenience and brings it to the office at the time of his routine visit.
We post and our messages seeking donations at appropriate times such as prior to season change or festivals when people are struggling with their excess old fabric.
Its important to mention that yield of cotton fabric is comparatively less in the total lot we get as as donation. Of late we are buying fabric for making nappies as they need more fabric. We make shirts, caps, and wipes out of cotton fabric, bedding out of cotton blended fabric and bed sheets, baby bags out of synthetic saris and nappies out of grey markeen cloth.
Although we focus on recycling, we touch almost all the aspects of women’s lives. Our activities are :-
(1) Awareness program- regarding Responsible use of natural resources. We reach out to schools, women organizations, Whatsapp groups, ICDS centers and other platforms through meetings, literature and personal communications.
(2) collection and distribution- of unwanted fabric and other items to needy people.
(3) Recycling of fabric – useful, comfortable, clean and attractive infant kits with wearable garments and bedding for economically weaker sections of the society.
(4) Training and skill development – the process of manufacturing of the infant kits involves various production related activities such as sorting, washing, cutting fabric, stitching, fixing buttons and ironing and packing. Training is provided in all these skills.
(5) Advanced training – in hand Embroidery, machine Embroidery, making pouches, purses, attractive bags, cushion covers etc. We also refer girls for diploma certificate courses to other institutions.
(6) joining hands with other social organizations – we coordinate with other social organizations who work for women from deprived sections. We procure ration to be given free of cost to poor pregnant women during pregnancy and upto three months after the baby is born. Milk for the baby till six months of the age. This is our humble contribution in preventing mal nourishment in our future generations.
(7) Skill development, entrepreneurship, confidence building and overall women empowerment.
(8) networking employment – we help our trainees get work orders from sources so that they can grow independently and earn more.
As we aim at skill development, we do not do any screening for training and recruitment. Ours is a fourteen step production process and each person willing to learn or work can join us. Barring cutting, stitching and button fixing none requires any special skills at entry point. Step by step they are given training and in a period of about 4-6 months they learn everything. After they achieve basic proficiency in cutting and stitching, depending upon their inclination either we train them to make purses, pouches, regular and fancy bags etc or we refer them to some good institute for a regular diploma course. Hand Embroidery and machine Embroidery is also taught at our center.
we produce 4 kinds of products :-
(1) The 16 piece infant kit which we have named “navjat” – this is the most valued product and is our identity in the society. We have not started any sale outlets for this. We provide this to ultimate beneficiaries free of cost. The kit costs rs 200/-per and is sponsored by sponsors. The sponsored kits are distributed in government hospitals to the new born babies. It is obvious that women from the poorest sections of the society come to the government hospitals for delivering their babies.
The products in this kit are in great demand but till this time we have not decided anything about making it available for sale.
(2) bulk items – grocery bags and recycled pouches are the items that are in general demand. Individuals as well as stores buy these products. Usually our doners only recommend us to our buyers. We are happy to find a good ecosystem evolving for us.
(3) fine crafted ladies vanity pouches, potli bags, coin purses, duffle bags, sari bags, jewelry pouches, messenger bags that are so popular among college going girls, Roti/sandwich wrapping clothes, tray clothes, tea mats, hand and machine embroidered articles and hand knitted woolen shoes and socks, scarfs etc are our products which are manufactured as the outcome of our specialized training. These are limited stocks and are instantly bought by our supporters.
(4) customized work – bulk orders for wedding gifts, cushion or pillow covers, alterations, customized up cycling, home decor articles also get us good business and earnings.
We have a good potential to survive in the market.