Meet Suman Bai Saini, a woman from rural Rajasthan whose determination helped her access a sustainable livelihood and reshape her family’s future.
With Suman’s husband barely making ₹5,000 a month, survival meant sacrifice. Suman knew that for her family to thrive, she would need to do her bit to secure a stable source of income to help support them.
Despite living with a disability, Suman traveled 16 kilometers daily to the AIF Market Aligned Skills Training (MAST) centre while raising three daughters. She never missed a day of training, driven by the belief that refining her workforce skills was the key to their future.
Through AIF’s MAST program, Suman and 39 other local women gained critical workforce skills in tailoring and entrepreneurship. This intensive vocational training gave them the tools to secure sustainable livelihoods. Today, Suman has doubled her household income and managed to keep her daughters in school.
As AIF celebrates 25 years of impact, your support can help scale this vital vocational training and extend it to more women like Suman in need of livelihoods. Your gift can empower the next generation of changemakers–because when one woman rises, many follow.
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.
