THE GREEN LION WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, GOA

The status of Women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. With a decline in their status from the ancient to medieval times, till today to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, their history has been eventful. The degree to which women participate in public life, which is being outside the home, varies by region and the background of these women. Contrary to the common perception, a large percentage of women in India work, however there are fewer women than men in the paid workforce. Empowerment, in broader sense, is the developing or building the power one needs to accomplish their goals.
Women empowerment is giving women the opportunity to participate in the social, economic and political spheres of the society equally to their male counterparts. The fact that women need empowerment stems from the perception that women are weaker than men, and that they often have a harder time in achieving their goals.
The Green Lion in Goa has recently started a “Women Empowerment Program”. The objective of this program was to make the women help themselves, to stand on their own feet and make them able to support their families. This program empowers women in various ways. In the beginning they will be supported financially and also the project helps psychologically to increase their confidence.

The targeted women were from families with low financial background residing in Aldona village. Most of them were housewives and some were from farming communities who work in large agricultural farms during the harvesting season. Giving them money to help them financially was not a good idea to bring them forward to the society. Instead, teaching them skills (vocational training) so that they can be financially stable was the option chosen. Even if they haven’t had a proper education, with a good training they have the ability to work.
The Green Lion Women Empowerment project started with making simple sellable items such as candles. We provided the women’s group with space, machinery and raw materials at our TGL Outreach Center. The women participated actively along with our community project participants who helped them and also gave innovative ideas to make candles. Now with a proper training and practice, they are able to produce candles of different shapes, colors, and scents candles to sell. At the moment, the program comprises of 15 women and the numbers are growing steadily as this program is much spoken about in the community. The women divide themselves into groups and each group manages a step in the process to make the production easier and faster. Everyone helps in packing and labeling the items.

The production is done in various volumes according to the demand in the market and sometimes according to customized orders. The price of the candles also varies from the kind of candles one wants to purchase at the shops. At the beginning, our TGL co-coordinators helped the women with the work, but now the women are handling and managing everything all by themselves.
The women daily spend 2 hours at TGL Outreach center in making candles. All the women are very keen on working and are highly dedicated to the project. Sometimes our TGL coordinators give motivational talks to increase their self-confidence and motivation. Apart from the project, we take the women for outings and picnics to make them relaxed and happy.

From the beginning of the program in January 2018 till the mid February, the women have made more than 3000 candles. Sale of candles is done by the women themselves at the local shops and the purchase of raw materials is done by TGL. The participants help the women in their daily tasks of making the candles. The women keep the earned profits from the candles and use it to divide among themselves which they use to take care of their daily needs at home.
In the coming months, TGL has planned to initiate training the women on jute bag making as coconut trees is an easily accessible raw material in Goa. We further plans to conduct training on making bakery products, organic soaps, bee keeping for harvesting honey, and a butterfly park. With our various efforts, the outreach center shall become a sustainable and supportive center to the local community as well as to the surrounding ecosystem.

Newest Posts