A new dawn, a bright future

The 31st of May was a red letter day for 149 girls and young women from the tailoring centres of Aashray Abhiyan. In the hall of the prestigious St. Xavier's School, Gandhi Maidan, they received their graduation certificates, confirming their skills in the craft of tailoring.

The staff and trainees of the tailoring centres were delighted to receive their certificates from one of Aashray Abhiyan's strongest supporters, Ms Sharon Galstaun, director of St. Karen's High School, one of the leading Anglo-Indian minority institutions in the city.

In her address to the young women, Ms Galstaun appreciated the hard work and dedication of the trainees, who, despite their strained circumstances and precarious economic backgrounds, stayed the nine-month rigorous course, and emerged successful.

Encouraging the women to ignore trolls and taunts, and advising them to support and empower one another, she said, 'There is no small or lowly jobs, she told the women, only small and lowly mindsets!'.

Aashray Abhiyan director, Sister Dorothy Fernandes, admired the girls and praised those that had expressed their dreams: to become fashion designers, to work hard and one day own their own boutique, to go back to school and complete vocational education.

The staff and students of St. Karen's School contributed towards the cost of 60 sewing machines, which were handed over to the deserving graduates. The trainees start saving up to meet the cost of the machines the day they join the course, and usually come up with 70 to 80 percent of the cost of the market price. Thus the generous contribution from St. Karen's School helped 60 students meet the cost of a new machine.

Sr Dorothy acknowledged the efforts of the six course instructors and showered praise on the training and skill coordinator and assistant Director Mr Rajesh Kumar, who took on the main responsibility for organising the event.

The Emcee was Mr. Dilip Patel, and Mr Dharmendra composed and sang an appropriate song for the special event.