What we do for our communities can define who we are. This was certainly true for 31-year-old Ritu Saini from Rewari, Haryana.
Determined to support her family of six despite limited local work opportunities, Ritu joined AIF’s “Earn While You Learn” vocational training initiative. The program helped her develop sewing skills and taught her how to manage money, handle online transactions, and secure loans.
“I am now the proud owner of a small boutique! I also employ three women from my village and train others in entrepreneurship at AIF’s Training and Production Center. To date, I have trained six women to launch their own businesses.”
– Ritu Saini
AIF’s Market Aligned Skills Training (MAST) vocational training program helped Ritu become financially literate and understand how to plan strategically for her business–skills she is now passing on to the next generation of female entrepreneurs in her small town to foster economic empowerment. She takes pride in her empowering work that has transformed the lives of her family members and of other women in her community by paving their path to financial independence.
As AIF celebrates 25 years of impact, your support can help create sustainable livelihoods for female business owners like Ritu, empowering them to spark change within their communities and support even more women on their journeys to financial independence.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) What is the mission of AIF’s Market Aligned Skills Training (MAST) program?
MAST equips underprivileged youth, marginalized rural women, Persons with Disabilities, and nano-entrepreneurs with skills and market linkages to secure employment or start micro-enterprises. AIF’s goal is to foster long-term financial independence across underserved communities.
2) Who does the MAST program serve?
MAST serves underprivileged youth, marginalized rural women, Persons with Disabilities, and nano-entrepreneurs who face systemic barriers to employment. AIF’s programs are designed to meet these communities exactly where they are to help them build secure futures.
3) How does the MAST program create impact?
We provide vocational training, financial literacy, and direct market linkages across 20 Indian States and Union Territories. This includes specialized pathways in high-growth sectors, green skilling, and support for street vendors.
4) What has been the impact of the MAST program so far?
Since 2005, MAST has trained over 1.35 million youth and women, helping create more than 123,519 jobs in sectors like IT, retail, and healthcare.
5) How can I support AIF’s MAST program?
You can support our mission by making a donation at aif.org to fund vocational training and sustainable livelihoods for ambitious women and youth. Every gift helps us build a more equitable and inclusive world.
