Empowerment for Women | Anahata Stiftung

Women's Projects

With our projects for women, we want to strengthen, encourage and inform women of their rights. Particularly in India, women need special support.

The Women-Empowerment-Project informs women about their rights, it helps in disputes and accompanies women to the police; it is committed to a good village community; in self-help groups women gain self-confidence and self-esteem. Five of the women self-help groups are now granting micro-loans.

Our Activities 2012

Rangoli Contest

In January 2012, there was again a Rangoli competition in three villages: Vengalammacheruvu (120 participants), Kesapuram (140 participants) and Buchaigaripalli (220 participants).

A girl draws a mandala — Rangoli Contest

A flyer was published to invite participants to the competition. Rangoli is the Indian tradition of chalk paintings on doorsteps. The base for the painting is disinfecting cow manure. The preliminary sketch originally was done with rice flour to feed off vermin from the house's front door. The three most beautiful Rangoli were awarded and the prizes were issued by the village's high-ranking personalities. One participant said that she particularly enjoyed that there was no age limit, another one pointed out that the competition spanned all castes and religions and that almost all the women of the village took part. A third one referenced the festival mood in the entire village.

Health Camp

On February 25, 2012, a homeopathic health camp was held in the Women's Centre in Kothacheruvu. It was a big success and thus the health camp was repeated on March 31. Commonly, homeopathic medicine has no side effects; It was generally recommended to drink more water and to take drum stick tonic every morning to avoid 90% of the diseases. 52 patients came to see the friendly doctor.

Further Information

For more information please consult the five-year report or visit the project's website:

PRDS Five-Year Report (PDF, 5 MB)
prdswomenempowerment.org

Join us and support our efforts!

Donation account of Anahata-Stiftung
Account number: 3751240124
Bank code: 70020500
Bank für Sozialwirtschaft (München)
IBAN: DE09700205003751240124
BIC: BFSWDE33MUE

Anahata-Stiftung is recognised charitable by German tax authorities (Finanzamt München für Körperschaften) and authorized to issue donation receipts.

Ladies Club Meeting

At the Women's Centre, there are so-called Ladies Club, where women are taught skills that they can earn some extra money with. In a three-day workshop women learned how to make candles and crayons. They also were introduced to bookbindery. The activity was headed by one of the college's directors.

Baby Massage

In India it is a tradition to massage babies before bath. This is a common health care for young children. Studies have shown that babies that were massaged regularly had to go to hospital less frequently, gained weight more quickly and showed signs of healthy growth. A regular massage calms the baby and thus ensures a good night's sleep. On the other hand, in waking phases the child is more alert and lively. Massaging the infant promotes motor activity and emotional security, digestion is stimulated and gases can escape more easily. At the Women's Centre Gloria, an Ayurveda therapist, introduced the young mothers to baby massage.

Women observe the lecturer — Baby massage

International Woman's Day

This year again the International Women's Day was celebrated on March 8. New government programs were presented, which aim at promoting girls from childhood to teenage age.

Four women sit on an improvised stage — International Woman's Day Celebration

More Activities of the Project-Center for Woman Empowerment

Sewing Schools

Students of the sewing schools proudly present handbags and embroidered saris of their own design.

Two sewing schools help girls and young women to generate extra income. The mobile sewing school, which locates every six months in another village, helps women to earn their own money. They learn how to manage their money and save it in a savings account.

At the girls' request a small computer school has been added to provide them with better professional opportunities.

Rangoli Workshop

Rangoli-Workshop

In January, there was a Rangoli project. Rangoli are mandalas drawn with chalk dust onto the floor. This is an art threatened by extinction. The Rangoli contest strengthened the village's community. It was the first time that all (!!!) women of the village, no matter what caste, participated. Even the Muslim women took part, a group where Rangoli has no tradition.

Visiting Kottacheruvu

Staff and Tailoring teacher Bargavi and Anahata-Stiftung president Monika Mueller, Germany

On Monday, October 17, 2011 Monika and Silvia visited the Woman Empowerment Project Center in Kottacheruvu. Monika: "We were received, as it is customary in India, with a flower mandala at the door. With a PowerPoint presentation we were informed about all the activities conducted throughout year. Also individual employees and participants presented their works."

Gender Equality

Another important issue is equal treatment of the sexes. For this purpose, in village schools of three communities educational films were shown to children and teachers. The films explained the disastrous consequences of gender specific education. The audience was enthusiastic about the presentation, the message fell on a very fertile soil.

Do-it-yourself: production of sanitary napkins

Another important issue was addressed with humour: hygienic production of sanitary napkins. These cannot be bought in the entire state. Women must manage with pieces of cloth, a procedure that easily leads to infection. Now, women have learned to make sanitary napkins from cotton. To produce in large quantities, women would like to have a machine that presses the cotton and thus replaces a major, time-consuming step.

Computer School

It was very impressive to see the students' enthusiasm about the facilities of the small computer school with six computers in a tiny room. The four-month daily training is split into half-hour blocks of theory and practice. As a result, an impressive amount of knowledge can be conveyed in short time. After this training, chances are good to be able to continue education or to find a well paid job.

There is still much to report. We were especially impressed by intense cooperation with official bodies. In a vast territory the Women's Centre is the only one of its kind.