Overview

This project provides economic empowerment for 40 widows in a remote village in rural Uttarakhand.  The widows will be split into two groups.  One group will be given agricultural equipment and seeds, and taught how to maximise their outputs, and the women in the other group will each be given a goat and taught how to take care of it.  Each group will also be provided with business training and networks to sell to, enabling the women to maximise their returns and avoid being taken advantage of.  Finally, each widow will receive assistance to allow one of her children to attend school, an unheard of luxury in their current poverty.  The expectation is they will eventually be able to send all their children to school as their financial situation improves.

Why support this

While this is a pilot project, our partners have put a lot of thought into the design, identifying key risks and ways of mitigating these.  Our partners are also passionate about restoring the widows to positions of respect within their communities, by giving them financial independence.  Widows in rural India are the lowest of the low, and are often excluded from community events and never given assistance or shown they have worth.  Our partners are not just seeking improved financial stability, but culture change within the community.

Budget

The budget provides for tools and equipment, goats and project managers/trainers in each stream.  It also provides for school fees for 40 children.

Expected Life Change

• Widows will become financially independent and secure.
• Children will be able to attend school and improve their future employment chances.
• Widows will gain a sense of worth and self respect.
• Village communities will learn that widows have value in their own right.