Kushalta Ke Kadam Goes International, Empowers Women In Sri Lanka, Nepal

Jermegini, 26, had moved to India in 1990 due to the civil war in Sri Lanka. While in India, she stayed in a refugee camp at Kudiyatham in Vellore and learned basics of stitching and sewing. It was this skill that Usha Silai School later honed and helped her build a life from scratch in her home country.

When Jermegini and her family moved to India for temporary refuge, they left behind all their possessions. When they finally returned to Sri Lanka in 2010, they returned to absolutely nothing and felt like refugees in their own country. Jermegini struggle to find a livelihood to sustain her family.

Then came an opportunity, a 7-day training programme in sewing and embroidery at Usha Silai School in Trincomallee, Sri Lanka. After completing the course, she ventured out to set up her own tailoring business. Jermegini learnt stitching different styles of sari blouses during the Silai school training programme. Now, she is a renowned tailor in her village. She makes a variety of sari blouses and has become very popular for her signature princess cut blouse.

Today she is able to earn between 10,000-15,000 Sri Lankan Rupee per month.
"Our parents had moved us to India to escape from the war" said Nagawani, a victim of the 25 year long civil war that ripped through the lives of many in Sri Lanka. When Nagawani returned home, she used her skills of sewing and embroidery to rebuild her life.
After completing Usha Silai School's 7-day training, Nagawani received a sewing machine. She set up her own school to teach women sewing and earns nearly Sri Lanka Rs 6000 a month. She has now been able to expand her school with two more sewing machines.

"My work is my greatest support. I meet all the big expenses with my income, be it medicines, education fees, or weddings" said Nagawani who hopes that more women can take up sewing as a profession and become independent.
Living in a joint family of 8 members in a village of Lalitpur district located in the Lumbini Zone of Nepal is Sangeeta Dhawan, a woman who has pieced together her life with help of Usha Silai School.
When their 10 kattha (0.333 hectare) of land was insufficient to feed everyone in her family, Sangeeta decided to brush up on her forgotten skill of sewing and make a living out of it. Once she started her 7-day training at the Usha Silai School, she began learning different styles of stitching and soon became a master at tailoring women's garments.

'I am the first woman in my family who has been able to start a business through sewing. I have trained over 10 women,' she says with pride. She is very grateful to her in-laws for supporting her through this journey.