This need was brought forth at the 2006 United National Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). Specifically, Mrs. Pretti Sangma, President of the Diocesan Women Fellowship for Christian Service, North East India Diocese, brought this need to the attention of UN delegates from the Anglican Consultative Council, a registered NGO at the UNCSW.
Mrs. Sangma explained that once cadres of women receive the necessary training, they will be able to establish and manage new Weaving and Craft Centers using an already established Model Center called Dorcas Center in Tezpur, which was funded by the Mother's Union to stimulate replication throughout the region of North East India.
The Reverend Eleanor Ellsworth, Delegate to the UNCSW from San Diego, CA agreed to work on behalf of this important educational project by bringing the need forward to persons committed to empowering women and girls, especially those living in poverty.
The Beijing Circle of San Diego has agreed to embrace the women of North East India by enlisting sponsorships for potential students, in cooperation with others interested in doing the same.
How is the training provided? How much does it cost?
The Don Bosco Center, a well established comprehensive Roman Catholic educational center, has developed a residential training program for these women. It is a six months experience. Room, board and training of each woman is approximately $US 700.00, inclusive. Each woman will receive a certificate of completion after successfully fulfilling the requirement. Armed with this training, the women will work with the Dorcas Center in Tezpur to develop new centers in remote regions of North East India where local crafts will be created and marketed.
The specific training in human resource management, finance, administration, and marketing will empower and equip these women to do great work and improve lives of many people in their regions. In addition, women who are reached through the new centers will learn how to continue the traditions of making crafts indigenous to the region. This is an invaluable cultural enhancement of this project which adds value to the already economically empowering dimension of educating women.
Contact Eleanor Ellsworth @ 858 509 2707 or Pam Browning @ 619 223 1076
Sponsored by Beijing Circle, San Diego
June – December 2007
Don Bosco Institute, Guwahati, Assam State, India
Kathleen comes from Western Meghalaya Pastorate in the state of Meghalaya. She belongs to the Garo tribe.
Wanheisuk is from Jowai town and belongs to the Jaintia Tribe of Meghalay State, and belongs to the Jowai Pastorate.
Jobani is 21 years old. With great hardship she could complete her Matric.
Monumoti also comes from the Khairabari village under Kobirali pastorate, Assam.
Himadarey comes from Pammanik Village and belongs to the Nongbah Pastorate.
Miss. Kathleen S. Sangma
Since her father retired from the service there is no one to support her for further studies.
She passed her Higher Secondary Education this year.
Miss. Wanheisuk Laloo
She has completed her Higher Secondary Education this year. She is 19 years old.
Miss. Jobani Moshahary
She has 3 sisters and 1 brother. Her parents and brother work as daily wage earners to support the family.
Jobani is active in her Deanery and help the Women's Fellowship as a secretary.
She is from the Khairabari village under Kobirali pastorate, Assam.
Miss. Monumoti Daimari
She is 22 years old and passed her Matric three years ago.
She attended the college but could not complete, and decided to join the training programme.
Monumoti has 3 sisters and a brother. She is the eldest in the family. She is also active in Women's Fellowship.
Miss. Himadaroy Talang
She is 19 years old and has passed her Higher Secondary Education this year.
Her father works as a local taxi driver and her mother is a housewife.
Himadarey belongs to Jaintia tribe in the state of Meghalaya.