Sunita’s Story
Living in a society where women are rarely encouraged to step outside their homes, Sunita spent her days managing household chores and caring for her children. Like many women around her, she had few chances to imagine a different life.
That changed when AIF’s Livelihoods program stepped in with a three-month vocational training and skill development program for women that taught her tailoring, from basic stitches to advanced techniques, along with market order fulfillment, digital financial literacy, bookkeeping, and cataloguing. She began earning wages even before her training ended, marking an early step toward economic empowerment. With AIF’s support, she obtained her own sewing machine and steadily grew her pipeline of work and her skill set.
Sunita took up orders worth lakhs of rupees through the AIF Training-cum-Production Center (TPC) but didn’t stop there. She also trained three other women in her boutique through hands-on skill development, helping them earn and support their families. Her efforts built financial independence for women in her community. She even taught her husband the craft she learned. Together, they have continued to grow their tailoring work.
Stories like Sunita’s show why vocational training and skill development matter. As AIF marks 25 years of driving change, here’s to more economic empowerment, more financial independence for women, and building brighter futures for marginalized communities.
Join us by supporting our mission and enabling dignified livelihoods. Visit [LINK] today.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) What is the mission of AIF’s livelihoods program?
The mission of AIF’s livelihoods program is to expand access to work opportunities for vulnerable communities and empower them with skill development and sustainable livelihoods.
2) Who does AIF’s livelihoods program serve?
AIF’s livelihoods program serves women and youth from marginalized communities across India. Its long-term goal is to equalize the informal and formal sectors to provide equitable opportunities for all citizens.
3) How does AIF’s livelihoods program create impact?
AIF’s livelihoods program aims to create a reimagined job and entrepreneurship ecosystem in India that helps vulnerable communities build sustainable livelihoods. The initiatives under the Livelihoods portfolio include several integrated community-based interventions that provide these communities with access to dignified work opportunities.
4) What has been the impact of the livelihoods program so far?
AIF’s livelihood program has empowered over 3.9 million people, with 868,500 street vendors enrolled, 641,500 livelihoods created, 540,000 women impacted through skilling programs, and 306 skilling centers established.
5) How can I support AIF’s livelihood program?
You can make a meaningful difference by visiting aif.org to donate in honor of AIF’s 25th anniversary, helping empower women like Sunita with the work opportunities they deserve.
