In rural areas of Villupuram District, many young women face significant barriers to education and employment. Poverty, early school dropout, gender inequality and limited access to vocational training often prevent them from securing stable sources of income.
As a response, VCDS established in the 1980 the Navajothi Tailoring School, a non-formal vocational training centre dedicated to empowering rural women, regardless of their age (from 16 onwards) and their social status.
The 10 months programme provides practical training in tailoring, dress making, stitching, garment production and reusable bag manufacturing, enabling women to access employment opportunities, start small businesses and generate sustainable incomes which will benefit their whole family. All the students who have completed the ten months’ received a course completion certificate. This certificate is used by the students to receive free sewing machine issued by social welfare department.
To strengthen economic opportunities for graduates, VCDS has also established MISeT (Martine Institute of Social Entrepreneurship and Training), a social entreprise promoting the production of eco-friendly reusable bags and the processing of local agricultural products. This initiative creates additional income-generating opportunities while supporting environmentally sustainable practices and local value chains.
Over the years, more than 5,0000 women have benefited from the programme, improving their economic independence and contributing to the well-being of their families and communities, a pathway toward sustainable livelihoods.