Saksham
India's adolescent population, which is around 243 million, is a significant portion of the country's total population, and the well-being and development of this group is crucial for the future of the country. Of this 120 million are girls. Ensuring access to quality education and health services for adolescents is essential to empower them and prepare them for successful transition into adulthood. Programs such as vocational training, education, and mentorship opportunities can help them acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to find employment and contribute to their communities.
*National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights
A high number of adolescent girls and women face adverse conditions when it comes to access to education or good healthcare, leading to various issues in their day-to-day life. United Way Mumbai's "Project Saksham" focuses on these aspects, principally in relation to adolescent girls and women from
underprivileged groups, to improve their chances for a better future. The programme is being implemented at a
shelter home for women and comprises 3 key components.
Saksham
Latest Updates
International Women's Day celebration 2024
29th February 2024
UWM Income team brought together the spirit of empowerment at the Yashwantrao Auditorium, Mumbai, for an International Women's Day celebration. 130 Saksham beneficiaries from Mumbai and Raigad districts joined us in the festivities, making it a day filled with inspiration and achievements. We were honoured to have Ms. Kusum Balsaraf, General Manager of Program at MAVIM, and Mr. George J Aikara, CEO, of United Way Mumbai as our esteemed Guests. The theme for Women's Day was "Invest in Women- Accelerate Progress," resonating with the essence of empowerment and growth. The event served as a platform to applaud the success of micro-women entrepreneurs and self-help groups. Plus, we launched the Marathi Entrepreneurship Development Module. Some glimpses of the Event.
Budget Diary Distribution:
29th February 2024
Our team distributed a total of 596 budget diaries to women entrepreneurs across Shravasti. These diaries serve as invaluable tools for managing finances, tracking expenses, and setting financial goals. By providing women with access to these resources, we aim to promote financial literacy and empower them to make informed financial decisions.
Chai pe Charcha
29th February 2024
The 'Shakti Vandana Abhiyaan' event, themed 'Chai pe Charcha,' held on 10th February, at Resource Bhawna in Shrawasti, saw United Way Mumbai (UWM) actively participating alongside the NRLM department. UWM highlighted the expansive reach of its EWE project spanning four states and provided insights into the 'Saksham' program's impact in Shrawasti's three blocks. This collaborative event facilitated valuable exchanges between Self Help Groups and NGOs, fostering community development and empowerment. UWM's involvement underscored its commitment to driving positive change and collaboration in the region, marking a significant step towards achieving sustainable community development goals.
Kerala Flood Relief Project
29th February 2024
we are working with 398 flood-affected vulnerable families to restore their livelihood. Today we distributed local and contextual livelihood assets such as Coconut tree climber (2), Compressor (painting) (2), Double with motor (139), Grass cutting machine (90), Jack Hammer 5kg (1), Table Top Lock machine (8), Milking machine (58), Motorized sprayer (24), Oven (3), Power machine (30), Single with motor (29), Tea vending machine (3), Tile cutter and grinder (4), Wood Cutter (3), and 7.5 Kol Vanchi (Boat) (2). The beneficiaries were trained in livelihood skill sets before this distribution.
The event witnessed the presence of esteemed guests, including Chief Guest Dr. Kavitha A District Mission Coordinator, Kudumbashree, and other dignitaries from the Thrissur district of Kerala.
Monthly health kit
29th October 2020
Stress Management Workshop
10th August 2019
A Stress Management workshop was conducted under Project Saksham, on 10th August 26, 2019, with the help of Samaritans Mumbai. The activities were conducted to help participants to understand their feelings. At the session, participants were asked to write down what was bothering them that day or in the recent past and how they felt about it.
Through a role-play session, the Samaritans team demonstrated the possible ways in which we deal with stressful situations and tackled the issue of why we don't usually share our feelings easily.
Saksham Scholarship Announcement
29th July 2019
The ‘Saksham Scholarship Programme’ focuses on enhancing employability and skill-building among young women from underprivileged backgrounds, through training courses such as animation, graphic designing, fashion technology, beautician courses, etc. As part of the programme, 20 women applied for the scholarships for skills training of their choice. The selection process included aptitude tests and personal interviews. The scholarship amount is used for course fees, conveyance and stationery.
An award ceremony was organised on 29th July 2019, to announce awardees of the Saksham Scholarships. An ice-breaking activity was conducted at the event with the Bloomberg team and participants for rapport building, after which the Bloomberg team and the participants were divided into 7 groups of 4-5 members for the group discussion. The Bloomberg team helped the participants to confidently talk about their chosen course. The participants presented the details of their course, the reason for their choice and how it will help them become financially independent. After the presentation, Bloomberg and the UWM team awarded Saksham Scholarships to ten women.
Project Saksham Launch
2nd May 2019
Project Saksham was launched on 2nd May 2019 at the Bloomberg office with an orientation and introduction by the UWM team. At the launch, a session on ‘Public Speaking and Self-Confidence’ was organized by Bloomberg, followed by a discussion on challenges such as fear, lack of self-confidence and the flow and duration of speeches.
At the end of the event, the Bloomberg team conducted an office tour for the participants, which served as an exposure visit to understand the workplace. A Health kit and stationery kit were also distributed by the Bloomberg team to the participants.
Women's Day Celebrations
8th March 2019
International women’s day is celebrated every year on 8th March. This year, on the occasion, UWM conducted a session on the basics of nutrition, health and hygiene for women and adolescent girls, who are participants in Project Saksham. The UWM team conducted an orientation for the participants on the project and its activities, which was followed by the beneficiary introductions.