Manjari Corner

At Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, awareness programs on Livelihood Skill Development Training and Nutrition Management were conducted in four villages to equip individuals with the knowledge necessary to improve their socio-economic status and adopt healthy practices for a better quality of life. Successfully conducted a two-day Entrepreneurship Development Program training in collaboration with DS Group empowering 30 dedicated women and farmers with knowledge on entrepreneurial mindset, business planning basics, opportunity identification, and local enterprise development strategies. Successfully conducted a workshop on safe living, social media awareness, and cyber safety in collaboration with Kasturba Gandhi Hostel in Bhopal Sagar Members of Tarang and Navchetna Gram Sangathan in Amarpura Panchayat, Rajasthan, presented a comprehensive 10-year perspective plan to the village Sarpanch. The Sarpanch expressed admiration for their confidence and awareness, acknowledging the significant impact of Manjari Foundation's initiatives on women's empowerment in the village.

Setting the ball rolling…

The Second Chance Programme implemented by Manjari Foundation and supported by Pradan and UN Women has set the ball rolling for several women like Promilla Karmakar. Aged 24 years, Promilla is from Assam, now based in Jaisalmer where she is working as domestic help at the residence of an Airforce professional. Promilla is one of six children of a single mother.

Her late father was murdered in a family dispute. Unfortunately, owing to several family issues, she had to discontinue her education after Class 5 and start working at an early age to support her family. Even today, Promilla who is still unmarried, bears the sole responsibility of supporting her mother financially. She contributes INR 3000 every month, out of her earnings of INR 5000.

It was the intervention of Manjari Foundation that opened new prospects for Promilla. The moment she heard about the Second Chance Education Programme, she was eager to become a part of it. In 2019 she got her name enrolled under NIOS (Open University) for a Class 10 examination. The day she received the study kit, she got emotional. “I couldn’t express the joy I felt in words”, she says.

For the first time in her life, Promilla feels a strong will and motivation to do something for herself. We hope this Second Chance will brighten up her future…