EDUCATE. EMPOWER. EMBRACE.
Empower
Our most extended scheme, the core of what we do here at DAIA, is empowering others. Often, women are stuck in their homes with limited education, leaving them with little opportunities to make a living. This cycle continues through each generation as they don't have the support to train and empower their children to start their businesses or focus on their academic pursuits. That's where we come in. We provide support for women and uplift them so they have the confidence to educate their children and secure a successful future.
RUPA Project — Rural Improvement
The RUPA Project, established in 2021, is tailored especially for low socioeconomic rural villages near Tuticorin. It pulls together aspects of our other initiatives, including our Education Scheme, Empowerment Scheme, and Awareness Programs, and takes them to small communities that need them the most. 110 people have started small businesses, with the majority running profitably. 131 women have been trained in tailoring, and 12 boys have been trained in driving, skills necessary to succeed in their communities. Among these, 90% of them are employed in reasonable-income jobs. Adult literacy and Financial literacy programs have played a significant part in developing these low-level income regions.
Awareness — Cleaner Communities, Happier People
It is common for some rural communities to be unaware of basic hygiene and health practices. We aim to educate people about sanitation and maintaining hygiene standards. To achieve this, we have partnered with local universities and their rural programs to implement these measures, offering residents a better quality of life through improved cleanliness. This initiative not only empowers individuals in these communities but also attracts educated individuals to engage with them, helping to break the cycle of poverty and promote community growth.
Adult Awareness — Mature Education
We provide a safe environment to discuss HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in adult life and also allow room for more mature conversations about disease transmission, prevention and management. Many young and older adults are not educated about these topics, so we start with the basics in a judgement-free zone and provide the critical information they need to stay healthy and safe.
VOTE — Vocational Training and Employment
In India, tailored clothes are in constant demand, which poses an excellent opportunity for women who haven’t been educated and don’t have the chance to gain employment to start their own businesses. Beginning in August 2024, DAIA will launch the next intake of the VOTE scheme, an 18-month program that trains women in clothes tailoring and provides driving lessons for men. This program is connected to a company that hires recent graduates, enabling them to contribute to their community.
